DELAND, Fla. — A local DeLand business owner says he is concerned about a road construction proposal that could force his business to relocate.

What You Need To Know

  • The Florida Department of Transportation has plans to build a turning lane from southbound Spring Garden Avenue to westbound New York Avenue

  • Officials say the goal of the project is to reduce traffic backups

  • Rick Haas, the owner of Bob's Barber Shop, worries that the space required for the turn lane could force him to relocate his business 

  • Haas said he has already been contacted by FDOT

“If they put in that turn lane, I'm going to have to relocate, because the right-of-way is supposed to come right between these two chairs," said Rick Haas, the owner of Bob's Barber Shop.

Haas’ father started the business near the corner of Spring Garden Avenue and New York Avenue in 1972.

Just three years later, Hass said he joined his dad’s business cutting hair.

He said traffic backups are common in front of the barbershop.

The Florida Department of Transportation wants to build a right turn lane, from southbound Spring Garden Avenue to westbound New York Avenue to relieve the slowdowns.

Right of way activities will begin this fall, with FDOT estimating it will cost $4.3 million to take over all the land it needs.

Haas said FDOT has already contacted him about his property. 

“It is an issue. It is," he said of the traffic backups. "But I don't know if a right-hand turn lane is going to solve the traffic problem."

An FDOT spokesperson said no final determinations have been made regarding the project's potential property impacts.

Haas said there are plans in the works to keep his family’s legacy going.

“My son, at this point in time, is going to barber school with hopes of taking this place over," he said. "My daughter works here part time."

Haas said he’s able to keep prices low because he owns the property, and he's concerned that finding a new spot will mean higher costs for haircuts.

That's something he doesn’t want to happen.

“Hopefully, I can find just a small place similar to this that we can continue having decent conversations in here,” he said.

According to FDOT, design on the traffic construction project won’t be completed until the fall of 2026.

Construction is then expected to begin in the summer of 2027.

Between design, right-of-way and construction, FDOT officials say the total cost of the project is estimated to be $7.7 million.