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Business owner moves to stop Casselberry flyover

CASSELBERRY, Fla. — Plans for a multimillion dollar flyover in Casselberry could be on hold.

The owner of the Orlando Jai-Alai fronton has filed an emergency injunction in an effort to stop the bridge project at U.S. Highway 17-92 and State Road 436. The fronton sits near that intersection.

Casselberry business owners and state officials have been battling over the flyover project for several years.

The fronton owner said that building the bridge over S.R. 436 would make it more difficult for people to visit nearby businesses.

The injunction suggests the department is building the $23 million flyover based on an outdated traffic study and it demands officials look at an alternative plan.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said it's unlikely the move will delay the project.

"This is a little too little, a little too late. The court is likely to find there were administrative remedies available that should have been pursued earlier," said Sheaffer.

The flyover project has been in the works for 10 years.

Some of the 110,000 people who drive along U.S. 17-92 every day said they are ready for the work to be done.

"The congestion here is ridiculous to begin with, so that would be a great convenience for the taxpaying community that is going to cover the costs anyway," said driver Sean Page.

Local business owners behind the injunction said they are holding out hope that Florida Department of Transportation officials will come around to their own plan for the project, which they said will be $10 million cheaper and will wrap up six months earlier.

FDOT officials are expected to select a construction team for the project later this month. They would not say if the injunction will delay it.