A portion of North Thompson Road is closed for about 30 days as Orange County Utilities continues work on its Wekiwa Springs Septic-to-Sewer Project.
The full closure began Monday, Aug. 10, on North Thompson Road between Reagans Reserve Boulevard and Yvonne Street. The closure also includes the Thompson Road intersection at Sandpiper Street, according to a notice posted by the city of Apopka on its website.
Crews are constructing new underground sewer infrastructure as part of Phase 4 of Orange County’s multiyear effort to convert homes in the Wekiwa Springs area from septic systems to the county’s central sewer system.
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North Thompson Road is expected to remain closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week for about 30 days, although the schedule is subject to weather and site conditions. Through traffic will not be permitted during the closure.
Teresa Sargeant A “Detour Ahead” sign alerts motorists near Votaw Road to a closure of a portion of North Thompson Road. The road is expected to remain closed for about 30 days while Orange County Utilities performs septic-to-sewer construction in the Wekiwa Springs area.
Local access to Pat Patterson Court, East Sandpiper Street and Reagans Reserve Boulevard will remain available.
Motorists are being directed to follow posted detour signs using Votaw Road, Park Avenue/Rock Springs Road, East Welch Road and North Wekiwa Springs Road.
Orange County Utilities launched the Wekiwa Springs Septic-to-Sewer Program in summer 2021. The program is a partnership among Orange County, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and is intended to convert nearly 2,000 homes from septic tanks to the county’s central sewer system.
According to Orange County, septic tanks have been identified as the source of 29% of the nitrogen entering the springs. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus can contribute to algae growth that impairs water quality and harms fish and local ecosystems.
The county is carrying out the septic-to-sewer program in multiple phases involving neighborhoods in the Wekiwa Springs area. The first three phases of the program have been completed. Phase 4 includes 396 properties in Rolling Oaks, Carlton Woods and Carlton Oaks. Construction includes two pump stations, 21,400 feet of gravity sewer main, 10,150 feet of force main and 98 manholes.
The North Thompson Road work is an Orange County project in unincorporated Orange County, not a city of Apopka project.
Questions about the project or road closure may be directed to the Orange County project team at 407-329-4334.
Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.