Babson Park Area to See Highway Reconstruction, Possible Traffic Delays

Motorists passing through Babson Park are warned to exercise caution as work crews will be conducting a major reconstruction of Scenic Highway through the heart of the village.

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The stretch of Scenic Highway marked in dark blue will be undergoing a Full-Depth Reconstruction project over the next several months. The Florida Department of Transportation project runs through the heart of Babson Park from North Crooked lake Drive to Fifth Avenue.

The Florida Department of Transportation has begun a Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) Project on SR 17 (Scenic Highway).

The project zone includes about one mile from 5th Street to North Crooked Lake Drive. That zone include the Polk Fire and EMS station as well as Webber International University.

In addition to the new roadway, project improvements include drainage improvements, shoulder widening, reconstruction of side street entrances and some driveway aprons. Motorists should be prepared for delays as crews move equipment and materials for the project.

The project is slated to last until "early" in 2025. It is the third construction effort presently impacting traffic along the thoroughfare in the Lake Wales area. Others include an ongoing drainage project at Lake Serena to alleviate a repeated washout in a steeply-sloping area, and the reconstruction of the intersection at Park Avenue downtown to improve pedestrian safety and esthetics as part of a downtown renewal effort.

According to the announcement from the FDOT, Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) is the process of recycling or reclaiming the old roadway and underlying base and using them to create a stronger base for the new roadway.

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"As the reclaimer grinds the old roadway asphalt and base together, a mix of Portland cement and emulsifiers are added to form a new stronger roadway base," the announcement said. "This is all done in place, followed by a roller to compact the material and a grader to grade it to the desired level and slope, before a prime coat and new asphalt layer is paved on top."

The benefits of this process reportedly include a stronger, more uniform and moisture resistant base, recycling of the existing materials, saving money, time and natural resources, removal of deep cracking within the existing pavement structure, and less impact to traffic when compared to full reconstruction of the roadway.