Orlando begins 1st phase for Church Street construction

ORLANDO, Fla. — The first phase of a major overhaul in downtown Orlando is starting Tuesday as city leaders gather to revive Church Street.

The Church Street Festival Street project will be broken up into three phases.

Phase one spans Garland Avenue to the railroad tracks. The street will have two 11-foot lanes, a curbless roadway connecting to pedestrian spaces, loading and unloading areas, and landscaping. Officials expect to complete construction of this phase in the winter.

Phase two starts at the railroad tracks to Orange Avenue. It will add benches, planters, and movable furniture to the area. Officials expect construction to be completed in spring 2028.

Phase three, which picks up on Orange Avenue through Magnolia Avenue, will convert the area from one-way eastbound traffic to two-way operations. They will also integrate the LYMMO bus service. Officials expect construction to be complete in summer 2028.

The Church Street Festival Street project is part of the DTO Action Plan, which are construction projects that are researched and planned by the city to revitalize downtown. Other projects include The Canopy and a pocket park along Orange Avenue. Both are expected to start construction this year as well.

The city encourages drivers and pedestrians to plan for any travel delays downtown during construction phases.

Tuesday’s groundbreaking begins at 10:30 a.m.