A swan recently waddled on SR 408, the East-West Expressway, in Orlando causing quite a scene – but it was a happy ending for all involved.
This month, the Orlando Police Department received several calls about a swan spotted waddling along the 408 near Bumby Avenue in downtown Orlando.
Officers and Community Service Officers quickly responded and safely secured the swan before transporting it to the Lake Eola House for further evaluation, according to local law enforcement.
Although this swan does not appear to call Lake Eola home, law enforcement and local officials were happy it was safely out of harm’s way.
According to FDOT, State Road 408 (Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway) is the backbone of the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s 125-mile network. The 22-mile toll road runs east-west, connecting Ocoee from Florida’s Turnpike in west Orange County to SR 50 (Colonial Drive) east of Alafaya Trail near the University of Central Florida in east Orange County. At its peak, more than 164,000 vehicles a day travel the 408 as it crosses downtown Orlando.
SR 408 provides a faster, more convenient alternative to heavily traveled SR 50, a four- to six-lane arterial road congested with stop-and-go traffic in Orlando. In certain portions of east Orange County, 45,000 vehicles a day use SR 50, making it one of the busiest stretches of asphalt in Central Florida.
The swan waddling on the 408 in Orlando was another reminder to slow down and stay focused while driving in Central Florida, as you never know what you will encounter on the road – and always proceed with caution for a swan crossing.
