SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Ongoing construction along Oxford Road near English Estates Elementary School has parents concerned about student safety as children navigate blocked and damaged sidewalks during their daily walks to school.
The construction project, which includes sidewalk repairs and utility work, has been underway for months in the Seminole County community between Maitland and Casselberry. Some sections of sidewalk are completely blocked or torn up, forcing students to walk in the street or through potentially hazardous areas.
“It would be horrible if somebody were to get hit by a car,” said local parent Sage Weisshaupt. “It is very hard to see around these big construction vehicles. Especially for a small child to look around. Even if they leaned out too far and a car hit them, that would be catastrophic.”
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The work zone stretches along Oxford Road, directly affecting access to English Estates Elementary School. While the project aims to improve sidewalks and drainage, parents say the current conditions pose significant risks to children.
Weisshaupt suggests additional safety measures could help. “I think if they just had a flagger, somebody to have another set of eyes to alert these children that it’s safe to go around, rather than them just walking in the street.”
Seminole County officials say safety measures are already in place. According to a county spokesperson, “The contractor continues to stop construction activity while pedestrians are passing and students are being safeguarded by on-site personnel when walking through the active work zone. The County has restricted the contractor’s work hours due to school being in session as well as the amount of local traffic before 9:00 a.m. and after 3:00 p.m.”
However, parents remain worried about areas where there is no active construction but sidewalks are still unusable. Some families have altered their routines to avoid the construction zone entirely.
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“My kids are walking home from the back of the school,” Weisshaupt said. “I don’t want them to have to walk through all this. I don’t want them to trip and fall. I don’t want to have to navigate this to come and get them.”
County officials expect the construction to continue for another year. Meanwhile, families in the area maintain heightened vigilance as they navigate the affected routes.