ORLANDO, Fla. — The first phase of a major overhaul in downtown Orlando is starting Tuesday as city leaders gather to kick off the revival of Church Street.
The Church Street Festival Street project will be broken up into three phases.
Phase 1 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 2 will run from 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 3, which picks up on Church Street from Orange Avenue to Magnolia Avenue, will convert the area from one-way eastbound traffic to two-way operations. Changes 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 includes 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.