S.R. 60 Closes West of Lake Wales Beginning July 26 for Railroad Repairs
Lake Wales drivers face the most significant road disruption in Polk County this week. S.R. 60 will be fully closed at the railroad crossing just west of the Lake Wales city limits beginning Sunday, July 26, for emergency railroad track repairs, according to the Florida Department of Transportation’s District One RoadWatch Report No. 30.
The closure is expected to last approximately two weeks. Local passenger vehicles and school buses will be detoured via Old Bartow Road and Old Lake Wales Road. Large vehicles and commercial trucks will face a 31-mile regional detour using U.S. 27 and U.S. 98.
Two additional FDOT projects are also active along U.S. 27 within the Lake Wales area this week. See the full list below.
Drivers with questions about the S.R. 60 closure can visit swflroads.com/project/453830-1 for detour maps and to sign up for email updates. For additional information, visit FDOT District One at fdot.gov or contact the City of Lake Wales at lakewalesfl.gov.
For a full overview of all active FDOT projects across Polk County this week, visit our county-wide road work roundup: FDOT Road Work Hits Polk County the Week of July 26: Here’s What Might Affect Your Commute
FDOT reminds all motorists that speeding fines are doubled in active work zones across the district. Real-time traffic conditions are available at FL511.com.
| Location | Work Type | Start | Est. Completion | Traffic Impact / Detour Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.R. 60 at railroad crossing west of Lake Wales city limits | Railroad track repairs | July 26, 2026 | Approx. two weeks | Full road closure. Local/school bus detour westbound: Old Bartow Road north, Old Lake Wales Road west, S.R. 60 west. Eastbound: Old Lake Wales Road north, Old Bartow Road south, S.R. 60 east. Truck/large vehicle detour: 31 miles via U.S. 27 and U.S. 98. Visit swflroads.com/project/453830-1 for detour maps |
| U.S. 27 from Cypress Gardens Blvd. to Hunters Glen, Waverly/Lake Wales | New turn lane construction | Ongoing | Mid-summer 2026 | Daytime closures 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; nighttime closures 7 p.m.–6 a.m. |
| U.S. 27 at Live Oak Drive, Lake Wales | Pole replacement | Ongoing | August 2026 | Daily southbound lane closures 9 a.m.–4 p.m. |
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Sources: Florida Department of Transportation District One Districtwide RoadWatch Report No. 30, fdot.gov, July 23, 2026; SWFLRoads.com, swflroads.com; SWFLRoads.com Project 453830-1, swflroads.com
