The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Florida recently honored the US 17-92 Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Corridor Study with the 2026 Outstanding PD&E/Planning Project of the Year Award.
US 17-92 serves as a key regional connector in Osceola County, FL, facing rising congestion, safety concerns, and limited capacity as traffic continues to grow. VHB’s study presents a transformative vision that sets a new standard for how transportation improvements can enhance safety and connectivity without compromising community character. The awarded project introduces a forward-looking approach to addressing growing travel demand while preserving cultural and natural cornerstones of the community.
Spanning 3.8 miles from Ivy Mist Lane to Avenue A, the study evaluated widening the existing two-lane roadway to four lanes to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. The result is a safer, more efficient corridor designed to better serve residents, businesses, and regional travelers. Key enhancements include shared-use paths on both sides of the roadway to support walking and biking, a roundabout to improve traffic operations and safety, and targeted traffic-calming measures that respond to the needs of Intercession City’s rural context.
Environmental stewardship and historic preservation were central to the study’s success, guiding VHB’s solution to repurpose the existing bridge for eastbound traffic while constructing a new westbound bridge along an abandoned historic alignment. This approach features multimodal enhancements and avoids damage to conservation lands, including century-old cypress trees, and protects archaeological and historic resources. By restoring the corridor’s function and enhancing the area overall compared to the status quo, the project achieved a Net Benefit Section 4(f) determination, the first for NRHP-eligible resources in Florida.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our team, not only for the passion and teamwork they brought to this important collaborative project, but also for earning this award together. This recognition reflects the best of what we can accomplish when we work as one team toward a solution that benefits both the community and the environment,” said Kevin Freeman, PE, VHB’s Director of PD&E/NEPA Services.
Extensive collaboration with state and local agencies, community members, and stakeholders helped shape a solution that reflects shared priorities. Public engagement efforts, including meetings and ongoing outreach, confirmed strong community support, particularly for improvements that address safety concerns, manage speeds, and ease congestion.
Learn more about VHB’s comprehensive approach to highway design.
