Timberlane Road Added to Growing List of Closures, Detours

A new road closure will require long detours for yet more motorists in eastern Polk County, while other projects extend well beyond their announced completions.

Drainage upgrades will close Timberlane Road just south of the intersection with Canal Road northeast of Lake Wales beginning Thursday, August 8. The work is scheduled to take two weeks. The cross drains beneath the roadway leading to Lake Pierce are being replaced ahead of a county project to resurface Timberlane Road from Lakeside Drive to Canal Road.

Traffic will be detoured during drainage work along Canal Road or Tindel Camp Road to Lake Mable Loop Road to bypass closure. Polk County also plans to resurface Canal Road from Hacksaw Heights Trail to Black Road.

Aptly-named Detour Road in Lake Hamilton also remains closed north of Lake Hatchineha Road to Kokomo Road (CR 546). A portion of Powerline Road north of Johnson Avenue in Haines City remains closed as well.

Robert Connors

Ongoing work on Scenic Highway in Lake Wales will requires several more months to complete, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Heavy rains associated with Hurricane Debby also caused apparent problems for work crews, eroding the area. The detour is forcing heavy traffic onto streets fronting McLaughlin Middle-High School. Large trucks ignoring the special truck-route detour have caused damage in the area as well, knocking over street signs and a utility pole at corners.

Crews closed Scenic Highway (SR 17) from Grove Avenue to Hillcrest Avenue in Lake Wales in early June for an announced 30-day project to begin installing new drainage structures. That project timeline has been extended to "late 2024." Heavy rains from Hurricane Debby have caused a serious wash-out at that location, dumping flows of muddy water into Lake Serena after "silt curtains" were undercut by the flow.

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

Sidewalks in the area are also detoured, affecting some students at nearby McLaughlin Middle-High School. The detour directs traffic along Fourth Street, adding congestion to the busy school zone in front of the school.

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 previous occasions following torrential rains, including during Hurricane Charley in 2004.

Robert Connors

A washout uphill from the construction site on Scenic Highway in Lake Wales allowed heavy flows of muddy water to pass under an erosion-control "silt fence" and pass directly into Lake Serena.

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.

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

Drivers should expect slightly longer commutes. Motorists are advised to drive with caution, be alert to detour signs, and to add extra time to trips through these areas, especially during peak-hour traffic.

drains beneath the roadway are being removed and replaced ahead of another county project to resurface Timberlane Road from Lakeside Drive to Canal Road.

Canal Road will also be resurfaced from Hacksaw Heights Trail to Black Road. Traffic will be detoured during drainage work along Canal Road or Tindel Camp Road to Lake Mable Loop Road to bypass closure.

Aptly-named Detour Road in Lake Hamilton also remains closed north of Lake Hatchineha Road to Kokomo Road (CR 546). A portion of Powerline Road north of Johnson Avenue in Haines City remains closed as well.

Crews closed Scenic Highway from Grove Avenue to Hillcrest Avenue in June for an announced 30-day project to begin installing new drainage structures. Sidewalks in the area are also detoured. That project timeline has been extended to "late 2024." Heavy rains from Hurricane Debby have caused a serious wash-out at that location, dumping flows of muddy water into Lake Serena after "silt curtains" were undercut by the flow.

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 previous 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.

Drivers should expect slightly longer commutes. Motorists are advised to drive with caution, be alert to detour signs, and to add extra time to trips through these areas, especially during peak-hour traffic.