Orlando starts Magnolia Avenue reconstruction to convert downtown corridor to two-way traffic and improve walkability

Construction begins on key downtown north–south route

The City of Orlando has started work on Phase 1 of the Magnolia Avenue Streetscape Improvements, a project designed to reconfigure the corridor between South Street and Livingston Street. The effort is intended to make downtown travel more intuitive while expanding conditions for walking and access to nearby businesses, offices, and destinations.

Magnolia Avenue runs parallel to Orange Avenue through the Historic Business District. City planning documents describe the work as part of a broader strategy to adjust street designs that were historically optimized for faster, higher-volume commuter traffic, and to rebalance the corridor for multiple users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and drivers.

What will change on Magnolia Avenue

The Phase 1 project centers on converting Magnolia Avenue from one-way travel back to two-way traffic, reversing a configuration that dates back to mid-20th century downtown traffic patterns. The city’s project outline also includes operational and streetscape changes intended to support the redesigned roadway.

• Two-way conversion along the project segment
• Removal of most dedicated LYMMO bus-lane space and integration of buses into general traffic
• Addition of on-street parking
• Sidewalk and streetscape upgrades, including landscaping and hardscape improvements

Closures, access, and timeline

Construction is expected to last about six months and proceed block by block. The city has indicated that work may involve full roadway closures from curb to curb in active construction blocks, with some temporary intersection impacts. Sidewalks are planned to remain open throughout the project, though short detours may occur at intersections.

In the early stage of work, the city has said Magnolia Avenue will be closed between Livingston Street and Jefferson Street for roughly six weeks. Intersections along the broader Magnolia corridor are planned to remain open, and traffic is expected to be redirected to nearby routes during the closure period. Drivers are being advised to plan for delays and alternate routes.

City project materials describe Magnolia Avenue as an alternative north–south route intended to help maintain downtown circulation during construction on nearby streets.

How the project fits into larger downtown plans

The Magnolia Avenue work is one of the first major on-the-ground projects linked to the DTO Action Plan, a multi-project program that outlines roadway conversions, streetscape reconstruction, and new public-realm elements across downtown. Planning materials for later phases reference additional reconstruction on Magnolia Avenue, including the segment from Livingston Street to South Street, as well as future roadway reconfigurations on other downtown corridors.

City materials indicate the Magnolia Avenue changes are being implemented alongside ongoing coordination on nearby transportation work, with the stated goal of improving downtown navigation and creating safer, more accessible street environments during and after construction.