Construction Delays Mean Commuter Headaches

A Polk County bridge replacement project is keeping Walk In Water Road east of Lake Wales closed until early November.

Crews are working to complete the new span over Tiger Creek and rebuild the roadway approaches, Polk County officials said today. The $1.63 million project was originally scheduled to be completed this month.

Residents of the area are finding the blockage to be a major inconvenience, and adding many miles to commutes for those working or shopping on the opposite side of the bridge project. Residents south of the bridge must travel to County Road 630, then west to Frostproof before coming north to Lake Wales, an extra distance of 15 miles or more.

For those living north of the bridge and working in the Frostproof area, it means a long trip north to State Road 60 (Hesperides Road) and west through Lake Wales to find a route south.

Site conditions prohibit an alternate crossing, county officials say. .