OVIEDO, Fla. – Pile-driving activities along State Road 417 in Oviedo are expected to cause construction noise and vibrations for about a month, according to the city.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s work will take place between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. from Jan. 5 to Feb. 6, the city’s website states.
[VIDEO: Hear the pile driving noise annoying neighbors as part of SR-417 widening project in Winter Springs]
“Our project team will monitor these activities to minimize impacts on residents and businesses,“ the city said in a statement. ”(...) Please note that this schedule may change due to inclement weather or unforeseen conditions.”
The construction is associated with the S.R. 417 Widening Project from State Road 426 to State Road 434, according to the website.
According to FDOT, the $300 million project will widen S.R. 417 from four to eight lanes between Aloma Avenue/S.R. 426 and north of S.R. 434 in Seminole County. The work includes improvements at key interchanges in Oviedo and Winter Springs including:
- State Road 434
- Red Bug Lake Road
- Aloma Avenue
On Monday, our News 6 crew saw equipment staged near the bridge at Winter Springs Boulevard where pile driving is expected to begin. We also spoke to neighbors in nearby Seneca Bend who say the noise is already a concern.
“It impacts our children, our special needs adults we have here in this community, our elderly, our pets are affected,” said Nydia Torres. “Even down the road on Winter Springs Boulevard you get neighbors commenting, ‘How do you put up with that noise?’ People ask you about it.”
Nydia Torres says she has lived in the Oviedo area for 30 years and has seen how it has rapidly grown. She is looking forward to the improved infrastructure to accommodate that growth once the construction is complete but says right now, she and her neighbors are living with the growing pains.
“As the town grows, we have more cars, more traffic, obviously. And we need bigger roads,” said Torres. “My big question is, I mean, did they consider maybe putting up a temporary barrier to help mitigate some of that noise?”
Rafael Sepulveda’s backyard is right next to the 417. He says the noise has been bothering his family.
“Our son is autistic and he doesn’t sleep. He gets very agitated. He’s not happy. We are not happy,” said Sepulveda. “I guess they have to do this.”
FDOT has posted information about the project and notices for neighbors online, including a statement about the agency’s commitment to “reduce construction impacts” and make efforts to “limit traffic and noise disruptions.”
The agency anticipates that construction will continue through 2030.