Sidewalk Work Forces Students Into Street Near English Estates Elementary

Sidewalk and utility work along Oxford Road, stretching between Maitland and Casselberry, has disrupted pedestrian access to English Estates Elementary and raised safety concerns among parents and neighbors. Sections of sidewalk have been blocked or torn up as crews rebuild sidewalks and utilities, leaving students who walk to school to navigate the roadway or make unsafe detours around active work zones.

Parents and community members said the conditions are particularly dangerous for the school’s youngest children during busy arrival and dismissal periods. They have called for visible safety measures such as flaggers, clearer pedestrian routes and tighter site controls by the contractor at peak school times to prevent vehicles and students from coming into close contact on narrow or partly obstructed roadways.

Seminole County officials told reporters that the county has required the contractor to pause work to allow pedestrian passage, that on-site personnel are present to safeguard students, and that work hours have been restricted to avoid school peak times. County representatives said the overall project is expected to continue for about a year while the sidewalk and utility improvements proceed.

The disruption highlights a common challenge for municipalities balancing necessary infrastructure upgrades with day-to-day safety for vulnerable road users. For families who rely on walking to school, temporary closures of continuous sidewalks can markedly increase exposure to traffic risks, add stress for caregivers and complicate already limited arrival routes.

Local officials face pressure to ensure contractors meet stricter on-site safety standards and to provide clear, enforceable measures during school hours. Measures requested by parents would limit active construction near crosswalks and school access points, and add trained personnel to manage pedestrian flows at key times.

As work continues, the county’s restriction of work during school peak hours and the presence of personnel on site aim to reduce immediate risks, but parents remain concerned about gaps in protection when crews are working near sidewalks. With the project slated to last about a year, community leaders and school officials will need to monitor progress and safety practices closely to minimize the impact on students and keep daily school walks as safe as possible.