Pipe project in Winter Garden will close Avalon Road

WINTER GARDEN  Orange County officials have announced a section of Avalon Road (County Road 545) will be closed from March 18 to 27.

Between Egret Hammock Drive and Knox Nursery, traffic will not be allowed through, based on work on a temporary bypass needed for a pipe replacement project under the road, where Johns Lake and Black Lake connect.

The Orange County Highway Construction Division is working on a $1.4 million removal and replacement of corrugated metal pipes with double box culverts, total asphalt resurfacing and curb and gutter additions.

"As someone who regularly uses C.R. 545, I recognize what an inconvenience this closure will be to the motoring public," District 1 Orange County Commissioner S. Scott Boyd said. "However, it is necessary to accomplish the mission, and it's the safest and most fiscally responsible approach."

The contractor started installing a bypass system with a 30-inch pipe, but an abnormally wet winter and high lake levels have necessitated a bigger bypass system, a statement from Boyd's office said. That bypass system will contain four 60-inch pipes -- the reason for the road closure -- that will imitate current flows.

For detours, traffic south of Knox Nursery will have to take Stoneybrook West Parkway east to drive north to State Road 50 via Daniels Road, and traffic north of Egret Hammock Drive will need to reverse that route.

Officials expect the box culvert to be finished this summer. Another road closure of a few days might occur at that point.

For more information, contact Diana Dethlefs at (407) 836-5918 or [email protected].

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].