SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The long-awaited flyover scheduled to be built at one of busiest intersections in Central Florida has hit another speed bump.
State transportation officials are reviewing a newly submitted proposal from a local businessman that calls for the state to scrap plans to build the flyover at U.S. 17-92 and State Road 436 in Casselberry. The project has been in the planning stages for years and construction is scheduled to begin next year.
But the president of the company that owns the Orlando Jai-Alai fronton near the intersection has urged the state to dump plans to build the flyover, saying it would discourage new businesses from locating near the area. Birdoff’s company owns 50 acres around the fronton near the intersection and says the flyover would hurt his plans to build an indoor sporting facility and hotel next to the fronton.
Last week, Richard Birdoff presented the Florida Department of Transportation with a new design that doesn’t include a flyover. FDOT spokesman Steve Olson said the agency was looking at the proposal.
“Well, you have to look at it this way,’’ Olson said. “This project has been on the book a long time. It's funded; it's set to go. … We will look at the information that was submitted to us and we'll see if there is anything new it.’’
But Casselberry city commissioners worry that this could mean another delay for the project.
“We are very lucky to have someone like Mr. Birdoff come in who wants to put some funds into that corner,’’ Commissioner Sandy Solomon said.
But she added that she’s not sure it should come at the expense of a project that’s been planned for nearly 20 years.
“Can it be changed at this late date? I am not sure,’’ Solomon said.
Birdoff did not immediately return phone calls requesting comment.
WFTV
