Bartow, Fla. (June 14, 2023) — Upcoming heavy construction projects will slow traffic in Lakeland, Bartow, Haines City, and Winter Haven with road closures and detours. Three projects will be underway on Monday, June 19 and another starts on Wednesday, June 21.
For 68 days, starting Monday morning June 19, South Pipkin Road, Old Medulla Road, and Airside Center Drive will be closed at West Pipkin Road to install a water line and drainage crossings as part of Polk County’s West Pipkin Road widening project. Installations require extensive road reconstruction. Traffic will be briefly detoured along Waring Road to Old Medulla Road to bypass work zones.
A Polk County project to replace a failing cross drain will close Murphy Road from Surveyor’s Lake Road to Lake Buffum Road West for 45 days beginning Monday, June 19 in the Alturas area of unincorporated Bartow. Detour may be lengthy for some motorists. Construction area is located in a rural area with few alternate roads. Depending on destination or direction of travel, traffic will be redirected to Alturas-Bason Park Cut-Off Road or North Lake Buffum Road to get around closure.
Fletcher Fish Camp Road from Old Haines City Lake Alfred Road to Richardson Road will also close on Monday, June 19 for four days of road reconstruction for a new residential subdivision in Haines City. A short detour to Government Center Boulevard will bypass the construction area closure.
Construction of turn lanes and a drainage crossing for the new South Pointe Elementary School in southeastern Winter Haven will close the Old Bartow Lake Wales approach to the roundabout with Rattlesnake Road (County Road 653) for three days starting Wednesday morning June 21. Traffic will be detoured along Rattlesnake Road, County Road 540 (Eloise Loop Road and/or Thompson Nursery Road), and Rifle Range Road. While access to Logistics Parkway and local residences will be maintained during construction, detour will create longer trips for area commuters.
Other active road construction projects continue to slow traffic countywide. Driving delays can be expected and motorists should add extra time to trips through these areas. For details, call Bill Skelton with the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division at (863) 535-2200.
