While Michigan Avenue provides Kissimmee drivers direct access to Osceola Parkway and in turn Florida’s Turnpike and access to roads like State Road 417 and 528 and Interstate 4, it comes at a compromise to the safety of those who walk or bike it and have to eventually cross it.
In an effort to make it safer, Osceola County has embarked on a project to improve the safety design at six intersections between U.S. Highway 192 and Garden Street, just south of the Parkway. Along the way, the surface will be milled and repaved in the improved parts of the intersections.
The county held an open house last week to show residents plans to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety on the busy north-south thoroughfare, and to get their input on those safety plans.
Design Project Manager Laura Campos said the county’s been aware the roadway had not seen any improvements or safety enhancements in years.
“MetroPlan (Orlando) did two safety studies, and one of them triggered this project,” she said. “The focus will be on pedestrians and cyclists, as well as motorists.”
The design phase will take up much of 2025; construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with the entire project completed in mid-2027. No additional right-of-way currently needs to be acquired for this project, county leaders say.
Federal Housing and Urban Development funds will pay for design and most of the construction, with county funds filling in the rest.
Here’s an overview of the work planned: Michigan at 192: new pedestrian signals and added curb ramps; an extended concrete separator between the northbound and southbound lanes that will allow only right turns off sidestreet Lehigh Street.
At Boulder Lane: will feature a new “pedestrian refuge” island in the median and a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) that those walking can engage to signal to drivers a pedestrian is crossing.
At Mill Slough Road and Donegan Street: new pedestrian signals and curb ramps and restriped crosswalks.
At Carroll Street: replaces the dedicated right turn lane from Carroll to southbound Michigan (a spot of numerous past accidents) with sod, and adds new pedestrian signals and curb ramps.
At Garden Street: Moves the crosswalk from the south to north side of the intersection, with a PHB, and new pedestrian signals and curb ramps.
