ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 Construction tied to the Central Florida Expressway Authority\u2019s State Road 408 improvement project is expected to close a stretch of Tampa Avenue near Camping World Stadium for about two months as crews work on utilities, drainage and sidewalks.<\/p>\n
The closure on Tampa Avenue from Gore Street to Jacobs Place is scheduled to begin this week and go through Oct. 31. CFX said crews will install a water main, storm drainage and new sidewalks during the closure.<\/p>\n
The work is part of a larger project to add another lane on State Road 408 and redo ramps in the area. The full project, with the new lane on State Road 408, isn’t expected to be complete until early 2029, but local road construction is slated through mid-2027.<\/p>\n
The SR-408 project construction is happening as major renovations are also underway at Camping World Stadium, creating challenges for drivers and nearby businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a project that is needed all over Orlando,\u201d said Albert Fairley, who lives in Orlando. \u201cEvery little bit helps, I will say that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Legacy Caf\u00e9, located inside the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center on Tampa Avenue, is among the businesses navigating the closure.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t forget about the small businesses in your community,\u201d said Brittney Quarterman, co-owner of Legacy Caf\u00e9. \u201cWe need help as well throughout this process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quarterman said the caf\u00e9 serves as an access point to food in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a community that has food deserts,” Quarterman said.<\/p>\n
She said the business is looking forward to the improvements but is focused on getting through the current construction period.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is hard to just get past the right now,” Quarterman said. “What does it look like for our employees? How do we continue to have shifts for them, especially when we don\u2019t have the customers?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tampa Avenue work is taking place during a break in events at Camping World Stadium. However, construction on the larger SR-408 project will continue as events return in November, including the Electric Daisy Carnival, Warped Tour and the Florida Blue Florida Classic.<\/p>\n
Florida Citrus Sports Chief Executive Officer Steve Hogan said the area will continue to deal with construction impacts while major events bring people downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is going to be dusty,\u201d Hogan said. \u201cSo it is super important, especially the Florida Blue Florida Classic here and the two bowl games, just to kind of keep that economic activity downtown.\u201d<\/p>\n