WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – The residents of the Verde Park community are facing an unexpected challenge in their everyday lives due to the recent expansion of Florida’s Turnpike near mile markers 272 and 273. On Wednesday, several homeowners invited News 6 into their backyards to share how the changes have impacted their tranquility and comfort at home.
Sean Legasse, a homeowner in the area, reminisced about the time he first moved in, stating, “When my wife and I purchased our home, you couldn’t see the turnpike from our backyard. You could hear it faintly, but it was largely out of sight. Now, it’s in full view and completely unobstructed.”
The recent construction has removed a significant number of trees, which previously acted as a natural sound barrier. This deforestation has not only increased the visibility of the highway but also intensified the noise pollution for those living nearby.
Linda Nemecek, another resident, voiced her disappointment, “We can’t enjoy our backyard anymore. It’s that simple. When we bought our house, we did not anticipate this level of intrusion.”
The noise is particularly troublesome during peak traffic hours, when large trucks, motorcycles, and morning commuters fill the turnpike. Legasse described the experience, saying, “It’s impossible to have a normal conversation outside. You have to shout to be heard, and eventually, it drives you back indoors.”
“You can’t talk even like this,” said Legasse. “You gotta scream. And then at some point you just go back inside.”
Some neighbors also say the years-long construction process caused vibrations and damage to homes.
“The majority of us experienced damage to our homes,” Legasse said. “I had structural cracks in my ceilings.”
Now that the project is mostly complete, residents say they want Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise to conduct another sound study and reconsider installing sound walls.
Neighbors say a previous sound study was conducted years ago, before the expansion was complete and before many of the homes in the area were finished.
“Just do another sound test,” one resident said. “Follow your own rules and do what’s right.”
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise acknowledged News 6’s questions Wednesday afternoon and said it is working on a response, but would not be able to provide a statement before deadline.
