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9 Investigates: I-4 Ultimate project shaking Orange County home

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County family told Channel 9's Daralene Jones that they're worried about losing their home because of the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project construction.

They said they’re not worried about eminent domain, but that they believe the work has moved dangerously close to their property line.

Brandon Weaver showed Eyewitness News the heavy-duty construction trucks that plow back and forth, just feet from his Holden Shores home.

“What do you do other than just trying to be cool with everything? Yelling and screaming isn't going to get you anywhere,” Weaver said.

SGL construction crews are digging 8 foot holes along his fence line on 28th Street to install oversized drainage pipes to handle heavy rain.

FDOT officials said no matter how close the equipment is, it's still within the right of way that the state now owns.

“Digging this deep down, this close to the foundation could literally crack the foundation, or create sinkholes,” Weaver said.

FDOT crews put up a fence as a barrier between the construction and the property, but there's only about a foot of space. Eyewitness News could feel the vibration of the construction.

“We've got to use all of the space we can to add the lanes, stormwater drains,” said Dave Parks of the I-4 Ultimate Project.

Steel boxes are being used to prevent dirt from caving in, FDOT officials said.

FDOT sent an email to Eyewitness News that read, in part: “They are monitoring and vibration requirements. And it is the contractor’s responsibility to set up."

“(We) have to make sure we are being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. (We) can't purchase every property along the I-4 corridor,” Parks said when he was asked why the state doesn’t buy the home to make room for the project.

FDOT has spent $483 million to acquire 654 properties along the I-4 corridor. That includes land, labor and relocation costs.

FDOT told Eyewitness News that the work will remain on hold until officials can meet with the homeowner.

Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke told Eyewitness News that FDOT was supposed to perform various engineering studies before starting this phase of construction so close to the homes. He said he has contacted FDOT to ask why that hasn't happened.

The parties are scheduled to meet this week. Eyewitness News will keep you posted on what happens.