RENDERING VIA CITY OF ORLANDO
According to a January 8 report from our friends at WESH 2, the City of Orlando is preparing to begin Phase I improvements on Magnolia Avenue, a downtown street redesign that will convert the corridor from one-way to two-way traffic and change how buses, parking, and everyday travel work along the route. The project covers South Magnolia Avenue from South Street north to Livingston Street, near the Orange County courthouse.
According to the City of Orlando, Phase I is intended to create a “safer, more intuitive, and more walkable downtown corridor.” The City notes that many downtown one-way streets were designed for fast, high-volume traffic, which can make walking, biking, transit use, and basic navigation more difficult. The project will convert Magnolia back to two-way traffic, remove most of the dedicated LYMMO lane and integrate bus operations into general traffic, and add on-street parking.
Construction is expected to start in early February, weather permitting. During construction, the roadway is expected to close to vehicle traffic at two-block intersections at a time, while pedestrian access on the sidewalks will remain open throughout the project.
The City lists the project as a Community Redevelopment Agency-funded effort with a budget of $2.8 million and an expected six-month construction duration.
Phase II is expected to begin in Q2 2027.
