Traffic Detours in Effect at Three Locations in Southeast Polk

The closure of SR 17 (Scenic Highway) at Hillcrest Avenue, originally announced as a 30-day project, is expected to continue well after the beginning of the school year, forcing additional traffic onto South 4th Street past McLaughlin Middle-High School.

Robert Connors

Johnson Avenue, along with neighboring Tillman Avenue, will see temporary closure to allow the installation of new railroad crossing signals with led lights, bells, and crossing arms.

Crews closed Scenic Highway from Grove Avenue to Hillcrest Avenue in June to begin installing new drainage structures. Sidewalks in the area are also detoured.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the drainage improvement project includes adding curb inlets, cross drains, and pipes to improve drainage of the highway at a low point just above Lake Serena. The highway at that location has been washed out on at least two occasions following torrential rains, including during Hurricane Charley in 2004.

Work includes reconstructing curbs, gutters and sidewalks on the west side of Scenic Highway and improving ADA accessibility. Workers will also replace the guardrail, update signage and reconstruct the intersection at Hillcrest Avenue.

Motorists should follow the posted detour using Winston Avenue, South 4th Street and Domaris Avenue. Northbound travelers may choose to connect to SR 60 and the downtown area by following Winston Avenue to South First Street.

Truck traffic has been detoured using Hunt Brothers Road, US 27, and East Mountain Lake Cutoff Road.

The project is now scheduled to be completed "in late 2024," according to the FDOT. For more information on this project, visit http://www.swflroads.com/project/446369-1.

Lake Mabel Loop Road will be closed for about a month between Tindel Camp Road and Lake JL Massey Road through Friday, August 9 as crews from Duke Energy replace aged wooden poles with light-duty steel poles.

News file graphic

The work requires closing Lake Mabel Loop Road "to allow for traffic and worker safety, as well as room for the stationing of oversized equipment within the right-of-way," according to the Polk County Roads and Drainage Division.

Traffic will be detoured along Tindel Camp Road, Lake Mable Loop Road or Lake JL Massey Road to Scenic Hwy. 17 or St. Helena Road to bypass the work zone, officials said.

Johnson and Tillman Avenues

Meanwhile, installation has begun on the upgrading of railroad crossing signals on Johnson Avenue just east of Scenic Highway in Lake Wales, with work on the nearby Tillman Avenue crossing to follow close behind.

The Florida Department of Transportation previously notified the city that they would be upgrading the railroad crossings at Johnson and Tillman Avenues to a Class III railroad crossings.

The two crossings are now protected only by static signage, which will be replaced by flashing signals and crossing arms.

The $328,000 upgrade project will include new flashing gates and signals equipped with LED lights. Bells will be mounted on the poles as well. Equipment at each crossing will be installed in a new shelter. Lake Wales will assume annual maintenance costs of $1,967.00.

Both crossings are expected to see short-term closings during the work in coming weeks.