ORLANDO, Fla. — Replacing undersized and aged sewer pipes is causing a traffic and parking headache in Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village.

What You Need To Know

  • Orlando is replacing sewer pipes in the Ivanhoe Village area

  • Eryn Modica at Hammered Lamb says the construction has hurt business

  • Work is forcing streets to close, making access challenging

  • City hopes sewer project will wrap up in October

Eryn Modica says the last year of construction has hit the Hammered Lamb and other businesses hard.

“We’re doing less than half of what we were doing last year, even during our slowest month,” Modica said.

She says it’s already difficult to park in the area, but the construction has made it worse to access businesses.

On top of the sewer line work, a development project has also caused streets, like Alden Road, to be blocked on one side.

“The only way to get to this parking lot if it’s open, will be to go through (the construction),” she said.

Much of the current focus is on Alden Road, which has traditionally been the go-to spot to park.

We reached out to the city of Orlando and a spokesperson said they’ve delayed work until that developer’s construction on Alden Road is complete, ensuring at least one end of the street is open for traffic and parking.

“Once you’ve kind of decided you’re frustrated over something, you don’t really go back,” Modica said. “I mean, how many times do you return to a place you decided that you don’t want to experience that again? Really never.”

Modica announced this week that they are closing the Hammered Lamb on Tuesdays and Wednesdays because of the construction. 

However, the city expects construction to be completed in October.

“No place has ever felt like home like this does, and yeah I want everyone else to feel the way I feel,” said Modica. “At least a little bit.”

Modica’s other concern is the parking lot that she, the customers and others in Ivanhoe Village have used for several years.

It’s owned by Lake Highland Preparatory School, and on select nights, the school has closed the lot.

“Historically, this is where everyone parks safely,” she said. “We’ve always had permission to park here. This is where the community comes to park and know they won’t be towed.”

When the city gave the school the parking lot, there was no agreement for businesses to use the spaces for parking, per a city spokesperson.

We reached out to Lake Highland Prep multiple times, but never heard back.

If you have a traffic trouble spot, let us know about it here.