Roundabout Construction Project to Continue Through February

Ongoing construction of a new roundabout will keep the intersection of Old Bartow Lake Wales Road and Rattlesnake Road (County Road 653) closed in Lake Wales through February. The project, which began in the fall, was expected to take about 60 days, but has been repeatedly delayed.

Local access will be maintained to the point of closure, but no traffic will be permitted to cross the intersection.

Local access is maintained to the point of closure, but traffic is not permitted to cross the intersection. Detour signs will reroute 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 roundabout is expected to improve the flow and safety of traffic through the intersection and provide access to both a new subdivision being built on the east side and a new elementary school under construction at the northwest corner.

A typical roundabout reduces the need for motorists to stop and wait, allowing only a yield to vehicles already in the roundabout. The widely-used design is considered a significant capacity improvement.

The roundabout is being built for Polk County through a developer's agreement to save the county time and money.