ORLANDO, Fla. – Construction under a bridge on U.S. 17/92 is causing major traffic delays.
As cars slowly inched along the highway Friday afternoon, Matt Desoremeaux got stuck in the traffic while running errands. He said it took 15 minutes to go to the Ace Hardware that is only a mile away.
Crews are removing concrete slabs and replacing the road with asphalt. The construction was not only causing headaches for drivers. Some stores say it's bad for business.
"It's killing my business today," said Roy Arenth, store manager of the Maitland Ace Hardware. "I already sent two people home, because we just didn't have the customers supporting them being here."
All southbound lanes of U.S. 17/92 are closed between Park and Monroe avenues. The Florida Department of Transportation told News 6 it expected challenges with the project.
"We knew there could be some traffic issues," said FDOT spokesperson Steve Olson. "We're trying to get people off at Maitland Boulevard, maybe at Lake and Kennedy up the road."
Olson said they had an officer helping with traffic overnight, but they did not give enough notice to have someone out there on Friday.
"We're going to be watching this and see how it sets up during the weekend, but it may be something where the traffic takes care of itself, and we might not necessarily need off-duty law enforcement out here," Olson said.
The roadway is expected to reopen Monday at 6 a.m.
Olson said crews hope to finish all the work this weekend. If they don't, the same detour will be set up starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19.