Seminole County says the first pieces of its drainage overhaul in Midway, the historic community near Sanford, handled Wednesday's heavy rain as intended. Midway is in unincorporated Seminole County, not in Winter Springs.
On Oct. 7, WFTV reported, rainwater ran into new inlets and roads by Midway Elementary School did not flood. In a written statement to the station, the county said the completed early-phase improvements were working as designed during the rain. Emory Green Jr., who leads the Midway Coalition as its executive director, told WFTV the first phase is "well over 90% done."
Where the project stands
The county's project page estimates the full Midway drainage program at more than $30 million, split into eight smaller bid packages. Its October updates list:
- Phase 1A ($2.4 million): pipes along Water Street, Dixon and Sipes avenues, Hughey Street and Jack Court; completion estimated early 2027.
- Phase 1B ($2.6 million): work on Jitway Avenue and a stormwater pond by the Midway Community Center; crews are sodding the pond and starting final asphalt and concrete, with intermittent lane closures possible.
- Phase 1E: cross drains on Hughey Street east of Sipes Avenue; completion estimated early 2027.
- Phase 2B ($5.5 million): work on Beardall and Celery avenues and a new Beardall Avenue pond; water main relocation on North Beardall is expected to last about two more months.
