ORLANDO, Fla. — A state road project running through the heart of Orlando that has created headaches for drivers and business owners is facing delays.
What You Need To Know
- A new law, CS/CS/CS/HB 1301, which was signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in April of this year, requires certain road projects to have additional studies conducted
- Officials say the new requirement will halt construction on Robinson Road while additional studies are completed
- Local and state agencies have been working on installing power and waterlines underground and to make the roadway safer for pedestrians and drivers
- Most of the construction began early this year on sections of Robinson, which closed traffic and created challenges for business owners along the street
The rebuild of Robinson Street to improve walking and biking could be on hold for a year or even longer because of a new law — CS/CS/CS/HB 1301, which was signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in April of this year — that changes the process of repurposing of lanes on construction projects involving state roads.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani said the delay was not expected with the initial planning of the two projects currently underway.
Eskamani, who was on the infrastructure strategies committee for street improvements prior to the recent election, said the new law has significantly affected the Robinson Street project.
“It requires that if anybody is going to repurpose a lane, a state road lane, there has to be additional studies done," she said. "To basically prove that the land repurposing is not going to impact traffic negatively."
Eskamani, who recently won re-election in Orlando’s district 42, said she was not in favor of the law when in was proposed.
“The Department of Transportation, they are trying to mitigate this impact," she said. "They have said there is going to be an additional half million-dollar cost to do more research on the road changes. And there could even be up to a year delay for this project."
The $15 million transformation project is about improving Robinson Street for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, residents and business owners along the busy roadway.
The project's planning began in 2016, while visible construction got underway in early 2024.
Part of the project also includes installing power and waterlines underground.
Stasio’s Deli & Market owner Diana Palo, whose restaurant is located in the area where the construction started, said it was tough when the project got underway earlier this year.
“You could not come through — you could not come through at all," Palo said. "So, it was a big detour for a lot of people."
But construction outside her door recently finished up, and Palo said business is back to normal.
“So, everything is clear and ready to go,” Palo said.