Polk County Road Work Report: Aug. 29 Through Sept. 4 from The Citrus Tea News
Drivers across Polk County face a heavy week of overnight lane closures, an ongoing 60-day detour at the I-4 and State Road 33 interchange in Lakeland, and a new closed median opening on U.S. 98 in Bartow that is expected to stay in place for about four months.
The Florida Department of Transportation released District One RoadWatch Report No. 35 on Aug. 27, covering the week of Aug. 30 through Sept. 5. Several Polk County projects run seven days a week, so weekend drivers on Saturday, Aug. 29, should expect the same conditions already in place.
Polk County Roads and Drainage has not announced any new county road closures for the coming week as of publication. The most recent county closure, a segment of Minute Maid Ramp Road One from U.S. Highway 27 to FDC Grove Boulevard in Davenport, was scheduled to reopen Friday, Aug. 28, at 3:30 p.m.
Lakeland and the I-4 Corridor
The North Combee Road detour tied to the I-4 at State Road 33 interchange project remains in place. That detour began Aug. 10 and is expected to last roughly 60 days, putting it in effect through the coming week. Drivers should follow posted routes using State Road 33, also known as Lakeland Hills Boulevard, and surrounding roads.
On I-4 itself, expect single lane closures overnight from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and double lane closures from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Lane closures, flagging and periodic overnight detours are also planned on State Road 33 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Detours at the interchange may occur Monday through Friday from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. for bridge work, with northbound traffic routed by way of I-4 eastbound and State Road 559, and southbound traffic routed by way of Tomkow Road.
The eastbound and westbound off-ramps at Exit 38 may close overnight on an as-needed basis, Sunday through Thursday nights from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. When that happens, drivers are directed to continue to Exit 33 and follow posted detour signs.
At the CSX railroad bridge replacement just west of Kathleen Road, the westbound I-4 on-ramp at Exit 31 is closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly, Sunday through Thursday. Drivers who want to enter I-4 westbound should continue north on Kathleen Road past the closed ramp, turn east on Griffin Road to U.S. 98, head north on U.S. 98 and use the westbound on-ramp at Exit 32.
Lakeland Hills Boulevard construction continues between Parkview Place and Griffin Road. Traffic recently shifted onto the newly built east-side lanes between East Bella Vista Street and Griffin Road, and the remaining stretch south to Parkview Place is expected to shift in mid-September. One lane in each direction stays open for most of the project, and the speed limit is reduced to 35 mph inside the work zone.
The intersection of State Road 600, George Jenkins Boulevard, at Wabash Avenue will close from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. while City of Lakeland crews install pipe liner through the sewer system at a manhole on Wabash Avenue North. Law enforcement will be on site to help move traffic, and drivers should follow posted detours.
North of the city, flagging operations are scheduled at various points on U.S. 98 between West Socrum Loop Road and County Road 54 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, through Friday, Sept. 4. The speed limit through that widening project remains reduced to 45 mph.
Overnight lane closures continue on State Road 700, Lake Parker Avenue, from U.S. 98 to U.S. 92 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. through Sept. 10 as crews clean and video the stormwater system. Southbound overnight closures also continue on State Road 37, South Florida Avenue, between West Christina Boulevard and Shepard Road from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for a new deceleration lane.
Bartow
The median opening on U.S. 98 at Lyle Parkway is now closed while crews pave the intersection and install a new mast arm traffic signal. FDOT expects the closure to last roughly four months, until paving is finished and the signal is operational. Drivers should continue to the next median opening and make a U-turn to reach Lyle Parkway.
Nighttime lane closures continue on U.S. 98 from State Road 60 to Bartow Regional Medical Center, Sunday through Thursday nights, for milling and paving at that intersection.
At the Fort Fraser Trail bridge over State Road 60, crews will move a crane from the south side of the highway to the north side on Monday, Aug. 31. Expect overnight lane closures between Wilson Avenue and U.S. 17 from 8 p.m. to midnight, with law enforcement directing traffic. The trail remains closed from the north trailhead just north of State Road 60 through the end of the trail on the south side. The north end of the trail is still open.
Eastbound overnight lane closures continue on State Road 60 from Rifle Range Road to Alturas Road, 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for storm drainage work in the median.
Winter Haven and Auburndale
Crews continue building gravity wall and sidewalks along State Road 544, Havendale Boulevard, between Lake Blue Drive and 26th Street Northwest. Expect eastbound daytime lane closures.
A separate utility project will bring overnight lane closures on Havendale Boulevard from 1st Street North to East Derby Avenue on Monday, Aug. 31, from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. while TECO crews service utility poles.
Westbound overnight closures continue on State Road 540, Cypress Gardens Boulevard, from 1st Street Southeast to 3rd Street Southeast between 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. through Sept. 11 as crews install a driveway and curb. Watch for additional closures on Cypress Gardens Boulevard between North Lake Florence Drive and South Lake Florence Drive, where crews are replacing a utility pole damaged in an earlier crash.
Overnight closures also continue on State Road 540, Winter Lake Road, at Thomas Wood Lane from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through the end of October for roadway stabilization and paving.
Nighttime lane closures continue Monday through Friday on U.S. 17 from north of Transport Road in Bartow to Avenue G Southwest in Winter Haven as crews place pavement markings. Expect nightly closures near the Snively Avenue and Lake Shipp Drive intersection on U.S. 17 as well, where a permit project is adding driveways at the Target development, a new signal at the Chain of Lakes Complex entrance and a second southbound left-turn lane onto Snively Avenue.
Striping and thermoplastic refresh work continues along Berkley Road, Recker Highway and Memorial Boulevard, with overnight closures on alternating nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Oct. 9. Flaggers will direct traffic.
Eagle Lake
Lane closures are scheduled to begin Wednesday, Sept. 2, at U.S. 17 and State Road 540, Cameron Road, where Polk County is building a new alignment of Thompson Nursery Road. Crews will shift lanes on both roads and install barrier wall at the northbound and southbound radius. Expect overnight closures from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights, and watch for changes in the traffic pattern.
Davenport and Northeast Polk
Inside lane closures continue in both directions at the U.S. 27 intersection with Holly Hill Road and Massee Road from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, as crews mill and repave to remove old striping.
On U.S. 27 from Ridgewood Lakes Boulevard to Holly Hill Road 2, expect northbound and southbound closures from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, for drainage work and a new median turn lane.
Daytime closures continue on U.S. 17/92 from Palmetto Street to Market Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for widening and a new turn lane. Overnight closures are in place on U.S. 17/92 at Powerline Road from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., and at the railroad crossing south of Ernie Caldwell Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for striping work.
In Haines City, expect an overnight lane closure on State Road 17 between Wood Avenue and Elizabeth Avenue on Monday, Aug. 31, while crews replace poles.
Lake Wales and South Polk
Drivers on U.S. 27 between Candle Road and Harbor Road should expect short-term overnight road closures of up to five minutes at a time on Wednesday, Sept. 2, while crews run overhead wires across the highway. Be prepared to stop.
Daytime and overnight closures continue on U.S. 27 from Cypress Gardens Boulevard to Hunters Glen in the Waverly area, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., as crews build new turn lanes. Daily southbound daytime closures also continue at U.S. 27 and Live Oak Drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for pole replacement.
Overnight closures with flaggers continue at the railroad crossing on State Road 37 at Agricola, north of Bradley Junction, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Three Signal Projects Wrapping Up
Three new traffic signals under a single contract are moving toward completion this fall. Crews are connecting electrical wiring, adjusting light pole bases and placing sod at State Road 17 and Kokomo Road in Lake Hamilton, State Road 33 at Mount Olive Road in Polk City, and State Road 544, Lucerne Park Road, at Old Lucerne Park Road East in Winter Haven.
Because all three sites fall under the same contract, crews may be working at any one of them on a given day. Expect periodic lane closures seven days a week at all three intersections. FDOT says all three signals are expected to be operational in the fall.
Toll Roads and Long-Term Work
Resurfacing continues on State Road 570, the Polk Parkway, from west of Lakeland Highlands Road at milepost 8 to south of U.S. 92 at milepost 17. The roughly $20 million Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise project includes paving the parkway, the U.S. 98 ramps, Lakeland Highlands Road and Winter Lake Road, along with new guardrail, rumble strips, reflective signs and drainage upgrades.
Construction also continues on State Road 570B, the Central Polk Parkway, a new four-lane toll road running about 6.5 miles from the Polk Parkway and Winter Lake Road interchange to U.S. 17. That project carries an approximate cost of $257 million and is scheduled to continue through 2029.
All schedules are weather dependent and subject to change. FDOT reminds drivers that speeding fines are doubled in work zones. Real-time conditions are available at FL511.com. For county road questions, the Polk County Roads and Drainage Division can be reached at (863) 535-2200.
Sources: District One Districtwide RoadWatch Report No. 35, Florida Department of Transportation, swflroads.com, August 27, 2026; Polk County RoadWatch, Florida Department of Transportation, swflroads.com, August 28, 2026; “Minute Maid Ramp Road One Closing on Aug. 27 at 7:30 a.m.,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, August 20, 2026; “A Portion of Exploration Avenue in Lakeland is Closing on Aug. 18 for Underground Sewer Utility Construction Work,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, August 17, 2026
