The city of Orlando recently approved plans to rebuild the roadway on Raleigh Street. A local pastor said the project is long overdue but also commends the project. 

Long-Overdue Project

In a report with Spectrum News, Pastor Wesley Leonard said that the road work project would help prevent accidents. Leonard is the current pastor of the Southside Church of Christ. 

According to the news report, the city plans to spend $ 6.5 million to rehabilitate the roadway.

The pastor noted that much work is needed on the two-lane stretch of road. 

He then explained that the rehabilitation project would prevent people from turning lanes. Leonard claimed that accidents have happened in the past in the area, which involved children or senior citizens.

Car Crashes

The pastor recalled a car crash that happened more than a year ago. 

He told the news outlet that he was in the church with the deacons at the time. A driver was reportedly in a hurry and shifted to the other lane. The car crashed head-on into an elderly couple. 

According to the report, Raleigh Street is a busy but neglected stretch of road. The street has also seen much wear and tear over the years. 

As mentioned, the street serves as a connector between John Young Parkway and MetroWest. 

Center Turn Lane

Corey Knight, the Division Director of Public Works Project Management, explained that the city was adding a center turn lane. 

Knight told the news outlet that drivers could get into that lane and use it as a bidirectional turn lane. 

The city also reportedly plans to make stormwater improvements. Another part of the rehabilitation plans was to fill in gaps where there were missing sidewalks. 

The pastor added that he was fighting for the city to make improvements to Raleigh Street. He said he advocated for the rehabilitation of the street for over a decade now. 

He explained that the church wanted to be a "beacon of light" in the local neighborhood where it might matter. 

The city hopes to begin construction on the street later in the year. 

Shooting Incident

In an earlier report with WESH, an unidentified suspect shot a man outside the Indigo Apartments. The apartment complex is located along Raleigh Street, on the west side of Kirkman Road. 

According to authorities, the suspect shot the victim on Tuesday morning, Oct. 26. 

A response team then rushed the man to the hospital. It was reported that he was in stable condition. The police announced that there was no immediate threat to the community. 

Improvements in City

In a report with The Orlando Sentinel, the negotiations between Orlando and Orange County dated back several years. 

The residents said the improvements on the streets were something they waited for a long time. 

Juanita Vinson said the residents had heard the city's plans for improvement for years. She added that many of them have lost faith that any projects would come to fruition. 

Vinson is the president of the Carver Shores homeowners association. She said the residents attended meetings in the past and have yet to see any improvements. 

She noted that she was wondering when it was their time to see improvements in their neighborhood. Vinson hoped to see the rehabilitation project come soon. 

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