BVL drainage project to close Royal Palm this week
A project to replace drainage culverts under a short stretch of Royal Palm Drive in Buenaventura Lakes will address critical stormwater issues and close a stretch of that street.
Osceola County officials say the pipe replacement is slated to improve pond function and peak stages in the pond north of Royal Palm Drive and west of Seal Street. The new culverts will be lowered to provide additional capacity and quicker recovery to the pond.
The road closure is set to start June 9 (Friday) and focuses on the area Royal Palm between Solomon Lane to Eden Lane. The county notes that noise and traffic delays can be expected.
The replacement of the three 60-inch culverts should allow stormwater to discharge at a lower elevation and allow for quicker recovery during storm events, officials said. The project cost is over $1.1 million. But, it is the start of more stormwater improvements planned in the area. Grants have been secured to improve internal drainage infrastructure within Buenaventura Lakes and improve pond functionality of a pond near Buttonwood Drive and West Cedarwood Circle.
Resurfacing on North Thacker Avenue
Osceola County is scheduled to resurface North Thacker Avenue, north of Osceola County to John Young Parkway, between The Loop and Loop West, starting Sunday, June 11 through Thursday, June 15.
All work will be performed nightly from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Schedules may vary based on weather conditions or equipmentrelated issues. There will be temporary lane closures but no road closures, and traffic delays can be expected in the area.
FWC report: zero boating fatalities over Memorial Day weekend
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers had one main objective over Memorial Day weekend: to keep boaters safe. Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer and is one of the biggest boating holidays of the year.
Between May 27-29, FWC officers removed approximately 100 unsafe and impaired vessel operators across the state of Florida for boating under the influence and responded to over 30 boating accidents. There were zero fatalities reported.
“I credit the visibility and the hard work of our officers and partner agencies educating the public, removing impaired boaters from behind the wheel and responding quickly to accidents. Nothing would make me happier than to report the number zero every year,” said Lt. Col. Brian Smith, Acting Director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement. “Florida is considered the boating and fishing capital of the world for good reason. Operating a vessel while impaired not only puts yourself and everyone on board in danger but also everyone else around you trying to enjoy a great weekend on the water.”
FWC officers were laser-focused on boating safety enforcement over the busy holiday weekend. Statewide, officers issued more than 4,000 warnings and nearly 900 citations for boating violations. They responded to more than 40 emergency calls for assistance and search and rescue.
