Despite the near completion of $1.3 million in upgrades at a dangerous Orlando roadway, a business in the area says the road isn't any safer.

  • $1.3M in safety upgrades at SR 436, Old Cheney Highway almost done
  • Intersection sees a lot of pedestrian traffic, vehicle crashes
  • Business operator at corner doesn't think upgrades have helped

Debbie Copeland of Harry's Famous Flowers on busy State Road 436 has seen quite a few changes throughout the store's 35 years of business.

"Well, it's gotten wider, it's gotten more dangerous,” Copeland said. “We've got a lot more traffic."

Copeland can remember a time when conditions were much calmer, but now, the area has developed a reputation for being dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike.

"When they run that traffic light on (S.R.) 436 at Old Cheney (Highway) and T-bone someone, you can probably hear it for a couple of blocks. And it's a horrible sound, because you don't know if there's a fatality involved,” Copeland said.

In early June, a woman walked into traffic trying to cross the street. A vehicle hit and killed her. Copeland said that although driving habits have to improve, the number of pedestrians crossing the street is overwhelming for most drivers.


Florida Highway Patrol troopers investigate a June crash in which a pedestrian was struck and killed on State Road 436 near Old Cheney Highway. (News 13 file)

"They cross anywhere,” Copeland said. “They pay absolutely no attention to the traffic, and it's become a big problem. There are too many of these crosses with the flowers on them on this section of 436."

In the next few days, the Florida Department of Transportation will complete its $1.3 million project for the area that it started in January.

"We have a raised median that prevents some turning motions that used to be in place there,” FDOT spokesman Steve Olson said. “That was for safety. We are putting in enhanced traffic signals, and then we're also doing work on the pedestrian crosswalks."

Copeland, for her part, has not been impressed with the improvements so far.

"We haven't seen it assist in traffic in any way, shape or form,” she said. “It's only made it more dangerous."

Copeland claims that the presence of the medians means shorter windows for maneuvering and more dangerous habits.

"Now, it's congesting all the traffic that needs to make a U-turn to one specific area, and I've seen a lot of people taking a lot of risks trying to make that U-turn to turn around and go south."

As for businesses such as Harry's Famous Flowers, FDOT said its goal was not to make things more difficult for local businesses, but safer all-around.

"If people feel safer driving through that area, then eventually we would hope it would be better for business," Olson said.

News 13 has partnered with the Florida Department of Transportation on its “Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow” campaign. The idea is to make sure we’re all sharing the road with people who walk or ride their bikes, and everyone makes it where they need to be safely. FDOT has all kinds of resources for you on alerttodayflorida.com.


Debbie Copeland of Harry's Famous Flowers, a business near the corner of State Road 436 and Old Cheney Highway, doesn't think the $1.3 million Florida transportation project to improve safety in the area has helped. (News 13)