Polk County Road Work for Aug. 3 to Aug. 8: S.R. 60 Stays Closed West of Lake Wales

State Road 60 remains fully closed at the CSX railroad crossing west of Lake Wales through the coming week, and it is not scheduled to reopen until Monday, Aug. 10, weather permitting.

The closure took effect Sunday, July 26, and put all four lanes out of service while CSX Transportation removes the existing track structure, rebuilds the crossing foundation and repaves. Local traffic and school buses are detoured on Old Bartow Road and Old Lake Wales Road. Commercial trucks are barred from that route and are running a 31-mile regional detour on U.S. 27, U.S. 98 and U.S. 17.

New flagging operations on U.S. 98 north of Lakeland

The one genuinely new item on the Polk County list this week is on U.S. 98 between West Socrum Loop Road and County Road 54, where crews will run periodic flagging operations at various locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 3 through Aug. 7. Drivers should be prepared to stop. The speed limit through that widening project stays reduced to 45 mph.

I-4 work continues in Lakeland

At the I-4 and S.R. 33 interchange, Exit 38, crews are clearing vegetation, setting barrier wall, paving ramps, striping and working on drainage and utilities. Expect single-lane closures on I-4 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 continue on S.R. 33 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Northbound detour traffic is routed via I-4 eastbound and S.R. 559, and southbound traffic via Tomkow Road. The eastbound and westbound off-ramps at Exit 38 may close overnight as needed, Sunday through Thursday, from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., sending drivers to Exit 33.

The University Boulevard entrance from S.R. 33 has been closed since June 16 and will stay closed for roughly 60 days. The S.R. 659 North Combee Road detour, originally set for July 6, is now scheduled to begin Aug. 10 and run about 60 days.

At the CSX railroad bridge just west of Kathleen Road, Exit 31, the westbound I-4 on-ramp closes daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. Drivers wanting westbound I-4 should continue north on Kathleen Road, turn east on Griffin Road to U.S. 98, then north to the westbound on-ramp at Exit 32. The resurfacing project from Galloway Road to U.S. 98 has no planned lane closures this week.

U.S. 98 and Lakeland Hills Boulevard

On U.S. 98 from south of Griffin Road to Sharon Drive, crews are on punch list items, with periodic overnight lane closures in both directions and periodic daytime closures north of I-4. On U.S. 98 from S.R. 60 to County Road 540A in Bartow and Highland City, expect overnight lane closures Sunday through Thursday for pavement markings.

On S.R. 33, Lakeland Hills Boulevard between Parkview Place and Griffin Road, traffic has already shifted to the new east-side lanes between East Bella Vista Street and Griffin Road. The remaining stretch south to Parkview Place is expected to shift in mid-August. This week, crews are grading and pouring sidewalks and driveways on the east side, installing signal and lighting conduit, and removing old curb and gutter. One lane stays open in each direction, and the speed limit is 35 mph through the zone.

U.S. 27 and U.S. 17/92 on the east side

At Live Oak Drive in Lake Wales, expect daily daytime southbound lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through August while crews replace poles. Between Cypress Gardens Boulevard and Hunters Glen in Waverly and Lake Wales, turn lane construction brings daytime closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and overnight closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

In Davenport, the U.S. 27 intersection at Holly Hill Road and Massee Road has inside lane closures in both directions from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, for milling and repaving. On U.S. 17/92 between Palmetto Street and Market Street, a daytime lane closure in both directions runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through late August for widening and a new turn lane. Farther north, U.S. 27 from the Minute Maid Ramp 2 to Citrus Ridge has northbound outside lane closures from 7:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, through the end of August.

Bartow, Winter Haven and Eagle Lake

U.S. 17 from north of Transport Road to Avenue G S.W. has overnight lane closures Monday through Friday as crews pave the final asphalt layer and place sod. At U.S. 17 and S.R. 540, Cameron Road, in Eagle Lake, traffic is shifting into a new pattern so crews can widen median asphalt and add turn lanes for the realigned Thompson Nursery Road. Watch for overnight closures from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.

In Winter Haven, signal work continues at Lucerne Park Road and Old Lucerne Park Road with periodic lane closures for electrical hookup. Utility crews on Lucerne Park Road between East Conine Drive and Winter Ridge Boulevard are setting three mid-span poles, with overnight closures from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. On Havendale Boulevard between Lake Blue Drive and 26th Street N.W., gravity wall and sidewalk construction brings daytime eastbound lane closures.

Two more Bartow projects stay active. On S.R. 60 between Rifle Range Road and Alturas Road, eastbound overnight closures run 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for storm drainage work in the median. At the Fort Fraser Trail bridge between Wilson Avenue and U.S. 17, pile driving and drainage work continue, and the trail is closed from the north trailhead just north of S.R. 60 through the south end.

Smaller projects around the county

Signal installations continue at S.R. 33 and Mount Olive Road in Polk City and at S.R. 17 and Kokomo Road in Lake Hamilton, both with periodic lane closures. Striping crews are working at railroad crossings at S.R. 60 near Mosaic east of Bonnie Mine Road in Mulberry and on S.R. 17 south of Griffin Fertilizer in Frostproof, both with overnight closures and flaggers from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. On U.S. 92 between Southampton Boulevard and S.R. 570, utility crews installing a mid-span pole will close lanes or shoulders periodically.

Resurfacing continues on the Polk Parkway between west of Lakeland Highlands Road and south of U.S. 92, a $20 million Turnpike project running through mid-2026. Construction on the Central Polk Parkway, the new 6.5-mile toll road from the Polk Parkway and Winter Lake Road to U.S. 17, runs through 2029 at an estimated $257 million.

Every schedule above can shift with weather. Drivers can check conditions in real time at FL511.com or by dialing 511. Questions about individual projects go to FDOT District One public information specialist Janella Newsome at 863-519-2828.

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Sources: District One Districtwide RoadWatch Report No. 31 for Week August 2-8, 2026, Florida Department of Transportation, swflroads.com, July 30, 2026; 453830-1 S.R. 60 Railroad Crossing Reconstruction in Lake Wales, Florida Department of Transportation, swflroads.com; City of Lake Wales News Flash, lakewalesfl.gov