Safety Improvements Underway Along Orange Avenue in Winter Park
Efforts to enhance safety along Orange Avenue in Winter Park are finally taking shape as construction continues on a long-awaited Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) project. The upgrades, which aim to improve pedestrian and roadway safety, are expected to be completed by early 2025.
Enhancements Along Orange Avenue Bring Hope to Residents
The safety improvements on Orange Avenue stem from years of advocacy by the Orwin Manor neighborhood following a devastating 2017 New Year’s Eve accident that took two lives. While progress has been slow, residents like Stephen Pategas, a neighborhood resident since 1985, are pleased to see the changes underway.
“This has been a long time coming, but FDOT has finally acted,” Pategas said. “Sadly, it took a tragic accident to get here.”
The upgrades include reducing Orange Avenue to one travel lane in each direction, adding a center turn lane, and installing a raised crosswalk near the neighborhood park. The crosswalk, featuring a rapid flashing beacon, is designed to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety.
“This crosswalk was a critical request from the neighborhood,” Pategas explained. “Before, residents had to walk half a mile to find a safe crossing. Now, we have a safer solution right by the park.”
Comprehensive Updates to Orange Avenue
FDOT’s project on Orange Avenue includes a range of enhancements, such as:
- Resurfacing and widening pavement.
- Constructing new sidewalks, bus pads, and drainage systems.
- Upgrading traffic signals and installing new mast arms.
- Adding lighting structures and relocating utilities.
- Pruning and removing trees where necessary.
Residents have noted immediate improvements, particularly with safer navigation at intersections and driveways.
“The community is overjoyed,” Pategas shared. “These updates have already made the area much safer.”
As construction progresses, the Orange Avenue project represents a major step forward in creating safer streets for Winter Park’s residents, ensuring a more secure environment for both drivers and pedestrians.
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