A major detour for drivers is underway in Orange County.

The southbound lanes of U.S. 17-92 near the Maitland-Winter Park border will be closed for the rest of the weekend.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, almost 38,000 vehicles drive southbound on this stretch of U.S. 17-92 between Park Avenue and Monroe Avenue every day. 

The $2.1 million project will not only cost taxpayers money but precious time during rush hour. 

PER FDOT:

Southbound Detour Information

Option 1: Traffic traveling southbound along U.S. 17-92 will make a right turn onto Maitland Boulevard, take the I-4 westbound ramp onto I-4 westbound, exit at Exit 88 for State Road (SR) 423 (Lee Road), take a left onto Lee Road and make a right turn onto southbound US 17-92.

Option 2: Traffic traveling southbound along US 17-92 will make a right turn onto Lake Avenue, make a left turn onto Wymore Road, turn left onto State Road (SR) 423 (Lee Road) and make a right turn onto southbound US 17-92.

Motorists in Seminole County might also want to consider using State Road 436 as an alternate.

Using the SunRail commuter system is an option, too, during the Friday closure.

“It depends on what your flow is for traffic, if you need to be a certain direction and you have to be there, you have to leave a little bit earlier. It’s going to be over the weekend so that’s good, so Friday is the only bad day we’re going to have for morning traffic,” said Orange County resident Bobby Serros.

Detours to alleviate backups are posted in Casselberry and Maitland. It’s a project FDOT says they need to complete for public safety. 

“The road needs some sort of improvement. As we were working on it, we found that the soil underneath it the road was just not up to par, so we’ve got to remove that. Plus we’re trying to lower the profile of that road there so we don’t have trucks striking that SunRail bridge,” said FDOT spokesperson Steve Olson.

The goal is to be done in three days. However, FDOT has built in backup days next weekend. Drivers want the detours resolved as quickly as possible.

“It’s going to be very important, especially for those that travel down here every day all night, this is their main commute. That’s going to drive them crazy and it’s going to drive the homeowners crazy, because they’re pushing all these people right through their backyards,” Serros continued.

Meanwhile, Bobby Serros realizes all he can do is pack an extra helping on patience.

“What you resist will persist, so you have to accept it and you just gotta go with it. What are you going to do?” Serros said.

Crews are hopeful they’ll be able to finish this project by Monday morning, so drivers don’t have to go through these same detours next weekend.