OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Kissimmee) announced more than $13 million in FEMA funding for Osceola County infrastructure projects.
“So, for about ten years, we’ve seen flooding in the Buenaventura, Mill Slough area, especially after Hurricane Irma and Ian, so we’ve been working with the county to make sure these systems are upgraded,” Soto said.
The funding includes $10,032,614.25 for drainage improvements in the Buenaventura Lakes subdivision in Kissimmee.
The project will build a new positive outfall system to improve stormwater collection and conveyance, lower peak pond stages, and reduce displacement and road and structural damage.
As the area recently saw historic flooding levels, officials say the drainage work will be designed to provide protection against a 50-year storm event. Soto said the improvements will allow increased discharges by addressing deficiencies in the existing system.
The second award, $3,060,716.57, will fund wind-protection retrofit work at five intersections across Osceola County. The project will convert span-wire-mounted signals to mast-arm-mounted signals at five intersections and 13 traffic control devices so signals remain operational during storms.
“This is getting more of these traffic signals from these dangly wires that are vulnerable, to more hardened infrastructure. So we don’t have traffic accidents and, God forbid, deaths, and especially with our first responders as they’re going around during these hurricanes, we need to make sure that our traffic system is safe,” Soto explained.
The signal upgrades will be built to withstand 150 mph winds and meet the Florida Department of Transportation standards.