Sinkhole Depression Closes Rose Street And Lake Parker Avenue Intersection In Lakeland
The intersection of Rose Street and Lake Parker Avenue in Lakeland is closed after a depression opened in the roadway, and police say it is not yet clear how long the closure will last.
The Lakeland Police Department announced the closure in a public advisory Sunday afternoon, describing the problem as a sinkhole depression at the intersection. A photo shared by the department shows an opening in the pavement near the center of the intersection, circled in orange paint, with cones and a work truck staged nearby.
State Florida Department of Transportation team members are onsite to oversee the repair, according to the police department. Traffic is being detoured, and police are asking drivers to choose an alternate route.
The department has not released an estimated reopening time or said what caused the depression. No injuries have been reported.
Sinkholes and roadway depressions are a recurring hazard in Polk County, which sits in a part of Florida where limestone bedrock is prone to dissolving over time. Depressions like this one often require engineers to determine how far the void extends beneath the pavement before repairs can be scheduled, which is a common reason closures stretch beyond a single day.
Drivers who normally use Lake Parker Avenue through that intersection should plan for delays until the city and FDOT announce the roadway has reopened.
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This is a developing story. The Citrus Tea will update this report when the intersection reopens or when additional details are released.
Sources: Lakeland Police Department public advisory, August 16, 2026; Lakeland Police Department, lakelandgov.net; City of Lakeland, lakelandgov.net
