AUBURNDALE – The Florida Department of Transportation will host a public meeting Tuesday, March 21st to hear public feedback about a proposed overpass over the CSX rail line on Recker Highway.
The meeting, scheduled to run from 5 to 7 p.m. at Auburndale Civic Center, 115 West Park Street, will review alternatives for constructing a new bridge to carry State Road 655 (Recker Highway) over the CSX railroad crossing located just south of US 92 in Auburndale.
The project covers an area from Recker Highway east of Barton Park Road to US 92 and Thornhill Road and from Recker Highway to one-half mile south of Recker Highway.
Transportation officials say the project is designed to improve safety by separating roadway traffic, especially trucks, from train traffic and reduce travel delays by removing the need to stop traffic for trains.
During the meeting, the transportation department will display information about the proposed new overpass and show a video that will play continuously explaining the alternatives.
Residents can ask questions and provide comments to FDOT representatives in a one-on-one setting. Written comments will be accepted.
The proposed bridge is listed as a “cost feasible” project in the Polk Transportation Planning Organization’s Momentum 2040 Plan, the county’s long range transportation plan. A no-build alternative also is a viable alternative throughout the study process. The no-build alternative means the bridge would not be built, and only routine maintenance would be done on the highway.
For more information about the project, contact project manager Patrick Bateman or visit the project website www.swflroads.com/sr655/recker/overcsx.
