The current state of road construction outside the bowling alley, with the infamous ACME barricade

The Road is a story by American author Cormac McCarthy, but this is about a real road, not the 2006 novel by the aforementioned writer. This is about County Road 419, which itself runs for about nine miles. Though, only about two of those miles matter for this article, as it has been the subject of quite a lot of construction, from Oviedo High School, to just past Jackson Heights Middle. But now, the construction is really beginning to pay off, but with a degree of drawbacks.

County Road 419 is no stranger to development, as it has been under work since the quarantine started. But the end of it all is, in fact, insight. The road houses entrances to properties like Jackson Heights Middle School, Knights Automotive, The Oviedo Bowling Center, everything on W Broadway Street, our school, and various other establishments.

In terms of the Oviedo Bowling Center, a regular visitor is Brendan Rauch, a sophomore, and player for the Oviedo High School bowling team. The Center, where the team holds practice, just happens to be on the same road where some of the largest construction is going on. However, he must also walk on these roads to get home. 

“I just want to use my sidewalks”, Rauch mentioned. The sidewalks he refers to are the sand-covered, under construction ones right outside the front of the school. 

On the topic of the roads by the bowling alley, he stated, “It’s terrible, you can’t even get out of  it. You can’t turn left, and you have to wait for traffic to stop on both lanes.” 

The other side of the road is meant to have two lanes of same-direction traffic, and to that, Rauch remarks, “I cannot wait for it to be done.” Brendan feels the construction is a nuisance, and hinders the ability of drivers to move efficiently.

These roads are also right outside the entrance to the front of the school, which can unfortunately prevent entrance to the front and back of the school, and sophomore Jonathan McBurney must deal with it.

“You see, it’s very annoying. I have had to change the ways I get to and from school. Sometimes I go the cemetery route, other times I go by CrossLife Church. That road is always messed up, and the traffic there almost makes me late for school. It should already be done by now.” Though McBurney currently has negative feelings, he sees light at the end of the tunnel. 

“Once the roads are done, hopefully they will be much easier to deal with. Traffic will be easier to deal with, and everyone will have a great time.” Jonathan also knows that nothing can be done to improve road conditions until the construction has concluded. 

“I mean honestly, there’s not much they can do, other than add a traffic officer. But it is really just annoying.” 

Everybody should have a say in how they feel about the roads, and sophomore Evan Colmenero is no exception. 

“I think it’s a good thing. I’m not too well-educated, but traffic is really bad around the school, and it could help facilitate that.” Colmenero’s view differs from McBurney’s, but he still recognizes the fact that it is an issue. 

“It will really give people more space to drive, and that is really good.” 

The entire operation will luckily allow for far better road conditions, and Colmenero, like McBurney and Rauch, cannot wait for these conditions to come. Evan, however, sees a big drawback coming from this project. 

“It is doing harm to our environment, and it’s not really going to change. People think it will, but it won’t.” 

Despite the flaws, the roads we have are a blessing, and luckily, unlike Geneva Drive, these roads are not closed. But the construction can be pretty hectic for roads, though their ending result is well worth it. Having a two-lane, two-side road will be a great gift, although we have to wait for it. But rest assured, the wait will be worthwhile.