Bumby Avenue will be closed to traffic from Colonial Drive to Corrine Drive for nearly two years starting Monday.
Christina Demas has lived in the Bumby neighborhood for 30 years. She said driving up and down Bumby Avenue is like a “habit.”
“Where’s the vein of traffic going to go? How are they going to reroute it? That’s my main concern,” said Demas.
A lot of other people share the Bumby “habit” and the concern. About 10,000 cars travel down this stretch of road from Colonial Drive to Corrine Drive every day. But for at least the next 20 months, drivers will not have that option.
Mike Roberts lives on Bumby Avenue he said his heart goes out to the people who rely on Bumby as a cut through route, but he’s more concerned for himself and the other people who live in his neighborhood.
“They say 20 months—but I don’t have faith in that. I’m scared it’s gonna take much longer than that,” said Roberts. He adds, “people do when they use this as a cut-through they do drive very fast and a lot of times it’s a little worrisome. I have a small boy. There are other kids on the block.”
The city says the purpose of the project is to fix potholes and bumps like also to improve drainage to minimize flooding.
The road closure will provide relief from cut through traffic, but it will also create huge inconveniences — especially considering the other big road project in Orlando, the I-4 expansion.
And speaking of I-4 construction, Tuesday evening, Orlando City Commissioner Samuel Ings is hosting a Town Hall about I-4 construction.
Representatives from the City of Orlando, I-4 Ultimate, SunRail, reThink and other transportation partners will be available to answer questions and hear concerns.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center 1723 Bruton Boulevard, Orlando 32805.
Link to invite (.pdf)