WINTER PARK, Fla. — If you’ve driven into Winter Park from the east side of town, then you are likely familiar with the high speed traffic that swerves through two big curves on State Road 426.
Now the Florida Department of Transportation is about to begin a construction project that experts hope will slow down drivers and make the area safer for pedestrians.
What You Need To Know
Construction is expected to begin this spring on State Road 426, from Park Avenue to Lakemont Avenue in Winter Park
The group Fix426 has been advocating for safety changes along this segment of SR-426, which includes two sharp curves
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, from January 2017 through October 2024, there were 828 crashes on this segment of SR-426
The FDOT project includes speed tables, signalized pedestrian crossings and a pedestrian barrier to slow down drivers and improve pedestrian safety
David Albertson lives off of SR-426, near one of those curves.
“When I come home and I go into my left-hand turn lane, I’ve lost two mirrors over the last 20 years,” he said.
On this segment of SR-426, the road goes by Fairbanks Avenue, Osceola Avenue, Brewer Avenue and Aloma Avenue.
According to FDOT, from January 2017 until October 2024, there were 828 crashes on this stretch of roadway. Two were deadly, 29% involved injuries and 69% of those crashes resulted in property damage.
Albertson said statistics like those are what prompted him and his neighbors to form Fix426, an advocacy group pushing for the city of Winter Park and FDOT to make the road safer.
After years pushing for change, their efforts are finally paying off.
This spring, FDOT will begin construction on a SR-426 project that includes four raised intersections with high visibility crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety; three new signalized pedestrian crossings to make it safer to walk across the street mid-block; three raised speed tables to slow down drivers; and an LED lighting system and a pedestrian barrier wall will be installed at the two sharp curves, with the goal to heighten driver awareness.
The improvements are coming between South Park Avenue and North Lakemont Avenue in Winter Park.
“I think this will slow traffic down,” said Albertson. “It’s a betterment. Not enough of a betterment.”
Albertson said the work of Fix426 is far from over because he still wants more to be done to make the road safer.
“I’m pushing as hard as I can push against the state, the city, not to lose sight that this is not enough,” he said.
FDOT estimates the State Road 426 project will cost close to $8 million.