New Roundabout Construction to Cause Month-long Road Closure

Another traffic-delaying project is about to impact some motorists in the Lake Wales area. A roundabout project is now under construction at the intersection of Old Bartow-Lake Wales Road and Rattlesnake Road (County Road 653) in Lake Wales. The route is one of the few 'back-door" routes allowing commuters to avoid traffic delays between Lake Wales and Winter Haven.

The work will close the intersection for one month starting Tuesday morning, September 6.

According to Polk County Roads & Drainage Division spokesperson Bill Skelton, local access will be maintained to the point of closure, but no traffic will be permitted to cross the intersection.

Getting around to blockades will require some navigational skills and observing signs. Depending on starting point and direction of travel, detour signs will redirect traffic along a combination of roads that can include State Road 60, Rifle Range Road, County Road 540A (Eloise Loop Road and/or Thompson Nursery Road), Old Bartow Road, Mountain Lake Cutoff Road, and U.S. Highway 27.

Detouring may be lengthy for some commuters. Motorists are advised to add extra time to trips through this area.

The closure comes in the same month that a week-end closure of US 27 is expected to occur as crews raise steel beams to support a new three-lane eastbound bridge on SR 60, the second of two new bridges to support the six travel lanes.crossing US 27.