SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. –
Work is officially underway on a long-awaited plan to fix the flooding issues that have plagued the Midway community for decades.
On Wednesday, Seminole County broke ground on a multimillion-dollar drainage project outside the Midway Community Center.
Emory Green, who is the executive director of the Midway Coalition, attended the groundbreaking ceremony and has been advocating for improvements in Midway for years.
Green said the flooding problems have gotten worse with development with older neighborhoods flooding after heavy rain.
“It just created an unbalanced situation our system could not manage,” Green said. Especially not having the infrastructure in place."
In 2018, residents went straight to the Seminole County Commission to voice their concerns over the flooding problems.
The action sparked a conversation with county leaders that got the ball rolling toward the beginning steps of the project.
Commissioner Andria Herr, who represents the district that includes Midway, said it has taken time, money, and a lot of cooperation to get to get to this point.
Through advocacy and action, easements were acquired from property owners for construction to begin.
“We broke it into pieces around where right of way was acquired so we could start the project moving forward. Then with progress, you’ll have more adoption,” Herr said.
The total cost of the project has grown to $33.5 million. It is being paid for with both federal and state grants, along with county funds from the sales tax.
The drainage improvement consists of eight phases with work now happening on the first three.
Green said the Midway community is excited to be past the starting line, but mindful of the long work ahead before all of the flooding issues are resolved.
“Without infrastructure and a great foundation, you have nothing,” Green said. “This is the bedrock of where we want to go.”
For more details on the Midway Drainage Improvement Project, visit www.seminolecountyfl.gov/midway