Latest news with #OUC
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
South Street traffic squeeze officially underway in Downtown Orlando
After a one week delay, a new phase of construction is finally underway in the Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project near Downtown Orlando. Crews lined sections of South Street and Summerlin Avenue with new construction barrels Monday morning. A stretch of busy South Street was reduced from three lanes to one. Here's how the changes are expected to affect drivers over the next five months: South Street impact: Only one westbound lane of South Street will be open to traffic from South Mills Avenue to just west of Summerlin Avenue. Traffic on South Street will then resume three lanes. Summerlin Avenue impact: Traffic traveling north and south on Summerlin Avenue will be rerouted around the closure between East Anderson Street and Pine Street. The City of Orlando and Orlando Utilities Commission said the temporary changes are necessary because of the long-term project that aims to upgrade OUC's drinking water and Orlando's sanitary sewer and stormwater systems. For more information about this phase of the Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project, click HERE. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
South Street snarl: When will traffic delays begin near Downtown Orlando?
There's been a one week delay in some construction work that will significantly impact drivers near Downtown Orlando. Channel 9 has learned that lane closures along a section of South Street will now start on Monday, May 5. The stretch of busy road will go from three lanes down to a single lane. Here's how it will affect drivers: South Street impact: Only one westbound lane of South Street will be open to traffic from South Mills Avenue to just west of Summerlin Avenue. Traffic on South Street will then resume three lanes. Summerlin Avenue impact: Traffic traveling north and south on Summerlin Avenue will be rerouted around the closure between East Anderson Street and Pine Street. The City of Orlando and Orlando Utilities Commission said the temporary changes are necessary because of the ongoing Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project. The long-term project aims to upgrade OUC's drinking water and Orlando's sanitary sewer and stormwater systems. The South Street lane reductions are expected to be in place for about five months. For more information about this phase of the Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project, click HERE. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Traffic Alert: Extended closure for a section of South Street begins Monday in Orlando
Traffic headaches near Downtown Orlando could begin to rise on Monday. That's because on April 28, City of Orlando and Orlando Utilities Commission will start the next phase of the Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project. This part of the project will put the squeeze on traffic along a well-traveled stretch of South Street. Officials said the temporary traffic changes are necessary in their ongoing efforts to upgrade OUC's drinking water and Orlando's sanitary sewer and stormwater systems. What does it mean for motorists? For the next five months, drivers should prepare for delays on South Street and might even consider an alternate route. South Street impact: Only one westbound lane of South Street will be open to traffic from South Mills Avenue to just west of Summerlin Avenue. Traffic on South Street will then resume three lanes. Summerlin Avenue impact: Traffic traveling north and south on Summerlin Avenue will be rerouted around the closure between East Anderson Street and Pine Street. Detour signage should help drivers navigate the temporary changes. As for the traffic headaches, an occasional aspirin might help over the next 150 days. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Orlando's Summerlin Avenue project to reduce South Street lanes for 5 months
Beginning April 28, Orlando and OUC—The Reliable One- will start the next phase of the Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project. This multiyear plan upgrades OUC's drinking water and Orlando's sanitary sewer and stormwater systems, enhancing service reliability, safety and residents' quality of life. Motorists should prepare for delays on South Street and are encouraged to consider alternative routes. In the upcoming phase, the westbound lanes of South Street will be narrowed to one lane for traffic, starting from South Mills Avenue and extending until the road expands back to three lanes just west of the Summerlin Avenue and South Street intersection. The intersection can be seen from a better view of the map adjustment is expected to remain in place for about five months. Traffic traveling north and south on Summerlin Avenue will be rerouted around the closure between East Anderson Street and Pine Street. This phase aligns with the completion of work at the Robinson Street and Summerlin Avenue intersection, which will reopen to traffic on April 18. Additionally, new work is anticipated to commence on Summerlin Avenue between Robinson Street and Ridgewood Street, lasting roughly 70 days. Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project Details: Project Timeline: The entire project is scheduled for completion in Spring/Summer 2028. Upcoming Project Work Areas: The intersection of Summerlin Avenue and South Street Summerlin Avenue between Robinson Street and Ridgewood Street Temporary Traffic Disruptions: Work will result in temporary traffic disruptions to facilitate work. A partial intersection closure is required at South Street and Summerlin Avenue for a five-month duration. Possible Night and Weekend Work: Work is scheduled to occur primarily Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. but some night and weekend work may be required. Visit here for more information, including project updates, maps, and the latest traffic or access changes. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Radio traffic sheds light on Orlando firefighters' call for help in 2024 house fire
An Orlando family says it has settled with the city after its house caught fire during Hurricane Milton. This comes as 9 Investigates received and reviewed the radio transmissions from that call. It happened in October 2024 as Hurricane Milton was barreling down on Florida. A power line fell, sparking a fire at the Darr family's house. Dispatchers listened as call after call came in. Dispatch said at least six to 10 calls came in concerning two to three houses, with one seeming to he almost completely burnt. Just after the fire engulfed their home, the couple's daughter posted a GoFundMe campaign to try to raise money for her parents to rebuild. Emily Darr is questioning the fire department, claiming they did not put the fire out when they first arrived that night. She wrote on the fundraiser description, 'After leaving the scene without notice, the fire continued to burn, and less than an hour later, it grew out of control, engulfing the entire house, truck, and food truck. When the fire department finally returned, it was already too late, and everything had been lost.' 9 Investigates got a hold of the the radio traffic from that day that shows exactly why fire crews left an active fire. They were worried about a live power line. Here is what the call said: Dispatch: 'Orlando to Engine 6. Be advised. OUC (Orlando Utilities Commission) is no longer responding due to the weather.' Response: 'Engine 6 to Orlando. I find that response unacceptable. We need them to control power to this before we can put this fire out.' Dispatch: 'Engine 6, stand by.' Second dispatcher: 'Orlando to Engine 6. OUC is not responding. You can return to service.' Without those firefighters, the flames grew and more 911 calls came in. Crews were dispatched again and arrived back at the scene of the fire for a second time with power to the home still active. Here's what happened next on the radio traffic: 'Heavy rescue to command. Engine 101′s officer is down. He is conscious and alert, but he looks like he might have been shocked.' Firefighters then demanded help, saying, 'Command, I need OUC here now.' On that second call, a firefighter was shocked by electricity, burning a hole in his foot. According to firefighters on scene, Orlando Utilities Commission finally turned the power off remotely after the injury. That allowed crews to fight the fire. However, it's unclear why the power couldn't have been remotely turned off in the first place. 9 Investigates reached out to Orlando Utilities Commission via email. The commission responded by saying it is working on our request. Now the Orlando fire union's president, Doug Zabin, says a full investigation from multiple agencies should be done and charges should be filed. 'It's just unconscionable to me that we're not looking into this situation. In my 23 years here at the fire department, this is the closest that we've come to losing a member in the line of duty. And to not have a transparent, full investigation and reviewing of everything that happened on that call and on that day to ensure that it never happens again, it's just unacceptable,' said Zabin. Zabin has asked the fire marshal to investigate. So far, the fire marshal has not agreed to look into the incident. As for the Orlando Fire Department, a representative said, 'With respect to the incident referenced, the Orlando Fire Department administration has reviewed all pertinent facts involved. We have determined that our current protocols do address this situation, which has also been covered in our Safety Officer training. Incidents of this type were also discussed by the Departments Health and Safety Committee and all Firefighter injuries are referred to Risk Management. As a result of this incident the Department is drafting safety messaging to remind fire personnel to review and reference the SOPs which outline important guidelines to respond to structure fires involving power lines, and we're in the process of partnering with OUC for additional training.' Do you have a story for WFTV's 9 Investigators? Click the banner below to submit a tip.
