Oviedo approves $3.5M in safety upgrades for Mitchell Hammock Road
OVIEDO, Fla. —
Oviedo city leaders have approved a $3.5 million project to enhance safety along Mitchell Hammock Road, including a raised median, new sidewalks, and other upgrades.
The project, approved Monday, is designed to reduce crashes and improve access between State Road 426 and South Lake Jessup Avenue. The improvements are based on recommendations from a 2018 safety study aimed at making the road safer for drivers and pedestrians.
“Right now, yeah, you’re almost taking your life in your own hands if you’re going to turn left into any of these businesses. This is going to create a full, real turning lane that’s protected all the way up and down this area,” said Megan Sladek, mayor of Oviedo.
“It’s a really difficult place to respond to emergencies because there is no place for the fire truck to go without stopping all of the cars going both directions in some situations. So, by having a median there, at least we’ve got a little bit of a chance of keeping one lane open in a much safer way,” Sladek said.
The $3.5 million project will be funded with $2.3 million from the city’s third-generation sales tax, while an additional $1.5 million will be reimbursed by the state at the end of the project.