ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Next week Goldenrod Road will be shut down near the Beachline as Brightline begins an innovative way of building new railroad tracks.


What You Need To Know

  • Brightline moves along with construction 

  • Goldenrod Road will be shutdown next week for project

  • Brightline will be building new railroad tracks

  • The company recently dropped partnership with Virgin Group

The company, which plans to connect South Florida to Orlando International Airport in late 2022, is planning to use hydraulic jacks to push two concrete boxes under Goldenrod Road, near SR-528.

“What would have disrupted the roads for 9 months is only going to disrupt it for two weeks,” said Mike Cegelis, Brightline executive vice president of rail infrastructure.

It’s only the second time this has been done in the United States. Goldenrod Road will be shut down September 9-22, from south of SR-528 to Cargo Road.

Despite the pandemic shutting down their service in South Florida, it’s full speed ahead for Brightline’s construction in Orange and Brevard counties.

“It has enabled us to get more resources, there’s a little less traffic on the road, that’s helped us,” Cegelis said.

Construction is nearly halfway complete on the track that’ll run parallel to SR-528. It’s 30 percent done from Cocoa down to Brightline’s existing facilities in West Palm Beach.

Brightline, which announced this summer it was dropping the Virgin Trains name, is also looking to the future.

“Expansions are already being considered,” Cegelis said.

A connection to Disney World is in the works. That station could be completed shortly after the Orlando airport station opens. A Disney station, according to the company, could lay the groundwork for a Tampa connection as well.