ORLANDO, Fla. — A new year is set to bring a whole new construction project near Downtown Orlando.
With that could come some disruptions for people and living along Summerlin Avenue.
It’s part of the city of Orlando and Orlando Utilities Commission’s (OUC) Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project, stretching from Marks Street to South Street.
The goal is improving the city beautiful’s not-so-beautiful aging infrastructure by including the installation of new water mains, fire hydrants and other enhancements to stormwater systems.
While some in the community embrace the changes accompanied by this project, others are more apprehensive.
Traffic disruptions, road & sidewalk detours and closures, and noisier streets, are just some of the potential impacts the city of Orlando warns residents will have to be wary of once the first phase of the Summerlin Avenue Improvement project hits the ground running early next year.
The 39-month long project is set to begin on January 13th.
The city’s goal for the project is revamping its nearly 80-year-old infrastructure and giving the road a whole new look all while improving pedestrian safety.
In a press release, the city of Orlando says, “This project will modernize OUC’s potable water system and the City of Orlando’s sanitary sewer and stormwater systems to enhance service reliability, streamline safety systems and improve quality of life for residents through infrastructure upgrades.”
Even though the road will be closed one block at a time during the construction phase, those by the Summerlin Avenue and East Robinson Street intersection will feel the effects first, since a complete closure of the already congested intersection is set to begin early January, for a duration of 90 days.
Howard Middle School parent, Livia Andrade, says, “We have traffic every single day and imagine with the construction now, it’s going to be just a mess,” while picking up her son from school for the Winter break.
She says the Robinson Street project from the beginning of the school year has already added an extra twenty minutes to her nearly half hour morning and afternoon commutes.
Not to mention, many Howard Middle School parents like herself have started using alternative parking spots for pick up and drop off.
“It’s a normal thing; everyday single day is the same thing here. A lot of cars,” says Andrade.
A lot of cars also mean drivers need to be extra cautious.
“We almost had one, one time that I was dropping him off, one of the cars was driving too fast and they didn’t saw one of the students but thank God nothing happened. But it’s very concerning, the traffic in here,” says Livia Andrade, Mother of a Howard Middle School student.
For the general manager of the RareTea Bubble Tea shop on Summerlin Avenue, between E Washington St and E Central Blvd, Colleen Casey says this isn’t the first time they’ve dealt with a construction project similar to this one.
“We don’t even have a parking lot, you can’t park out in front of us, so we’re getting most of that business is just people that walk by and are like why not come on in, we keep that door open, and people keep coming in,” says Casey.
Since a big chunk of the project requires upgrades to the area’s utility system, the city says disruptions to the water service are possible. But Casey says that won’t be a concern for her either.
“We have a twice filtered system in our back, so that’s where our ice is for our teas just to make sure that regardless of what does go on, especially with Orlando water you’re never really sure and we want to make sure we’re giving out the best we can,” adds RareTea’s General Manager, Colleen Casey.
The city says construction for the project will take place during the day between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, which could be subject to change to nights and Saturdays depending on weather and other circumstances.
In the event of an emergency, the city emphasizes that first responders and emergency vehicles will have priority access.
Trash pickups will be maintained on their regular schedules.