Roadwork To Cause Closures, Delays Throughout Polk County

POLK COUNTY, FL — Starting Monday, Oct. 9, new roadway improvements will close two Polk County roads while a current road closure is being extended to finish work within the right of way.

Ongoing drainage installations for a new townhome community will keep the east end of Derby Avenue from Jersey Road to Lake Jesse Drive in unincorporated Winter Haven closed through mid-January. Traffic will continue to briefly detour to nearby Sherry Avenue to bypass the closure. Travel delays are not expected.

Road demolition and reconstruction related to a new residential subdivision on the former site of the Sandhill Palms RV Resort will close Wilder Road just east of U.S. 98 in north Lakeland for 40 days. Through traffic will be detoured along U.S. 98 or North Socrum Loop Road to Marcum Road or West Socrum Loop Road to avoid the construction area.

The detour route may be lengthy for some commuters. Drivers are advised to add extra time to trips through this area because of increased congestion and queuing during peak hours.

Hillsborough Court in Poinciana will close for six weeks to install water and sewer services for new home construction. Local traffic should be unaffected by the closure of this loop road with two points of access along St. Cloud Road. During utility installations, access will be maintained to existing homes on Hillsborough Court.

A weeklong sewer extension project in Lake Hamilton previously scheduled to close Lake Hatchineha Road just east of Scenic Highway (SR 17) on Sept. 26 has been rescheduled to start Tuesday morning, Oct. 10, with an expedited reopening no later than Friday afternoon Oct. 13. Traffic will be briefly detoured to Water Tank Road and Detour Road to bypass the work zone.

Drivers should drive carefully, be alert to crews and equipment, and follow detour signs. Minor delays are possible, especially during peak-hour travel times.

Countywide heavy construction projects continue to slow traffic. Drivers should be alert to crews and equipment, drive carefully and follow detour signs. Drivetime delays can be expected with both lane and road closures.

For further details, call Bill Skelton with the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division at 863-535-2200.