Stretch of Bumby Avenue will close for 20 months

A 1-mile residential stretch of Bumby Avenue in northeast Orlando will close later this month for nearly two years, as part of a construction project aimed at resurfacing the well-worn roadway and repairing its drainage system.

Starting April 20, Bumby will be closed to through traffic from East Colonial Drive to Corrine Drive. City spokeswoman Cassandra Lafser said construction is expected to last about 20 months — as is the road closure.

“We understand this will be an inconvenience, but Bumby Avenue will still remain accessible for residents that live on Bumby and one sidewalk will remain open at all times to allow pedestrian access through the work zone,” she said.

According to the city’s transportation-engineering data, the sections of Bumby that will close for construction average between about 9,600 and 12,800 vehicles daily.

In addition to revamping the road’s drainage-collection system, crews will also improve the sewer system, repave the roadway’s surface, connect existing sidewalks and improve bus stops along Bumby, Lafser said.

Northbound traffic will be redirected to Hampton Avenue, while southbound traffic will detour to Fern Creek Avenue. The project will be done in two parts: Crews will start on Bumby between Oregon Street and Colonial Drive, then move north to the stretch between Oregon and Corrine Drive.

The Orlando City Council approved a $6,780,000 bid for the project Feb. 23 from contractor Gibbs & Register Inc. of Ocoee. The bid was accepted despite being more

than $1 million over the city’s original estimate for the project.

But in a financial impact statement prepared for commissioners, city planners indicated the construction will leave Bumby Avenue “much easier to maintain” in the future.

The stretch of Bumby that will be closed for construction intersects with several significant residential roadways, including Weber, Oregon, Illinois and Montana streets, Virginia Drive and Rosedale Road.

It also runs directly between Fern Creek and Lake Silver elementary schools, within a campus.

One longtime resident, 90-year-old Maxine Pickett, expressed concern Wednesday, saying she relies on Bumby to get to her doctor and the grocery store. But she said she supports the repairs “as long as I can get to my appointments.”

“The road needs to be replaced, that’s for sure,” Pickett said.

Commissioner Patty Sheehan, whose district includes this stretch of Bumby, said that while “construction is never fun,” the project is necessary to replace the roadway’s drainage infrastructure, which she said is failing.

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