The new toll road connector would allow travelers going from the Polk Parkway to State Road 60 to avoid heavily-traveled local roads.
Another extension of the Polk Parkway toll road is being planned, this time between Lakeland and Bartow. It is projected to move traffic more easily between Interstate 4 and State Road 60 to Florida’s east coast.
This is the second planned extension of the Polk Parkway, which circles Lakeland to the south and east and allows access to Interstate 4.
The first extension is planned to go from Winter-Lake Road between Lakeland and Bartow and go south to U.S. Highway 17.
During a recent public video meeting, Florida Department of Transportation planners said it would allow traffic traveling across the state to avoid busy U.S. Highway 98 between Lakeland and Bartow.
“The proposed Central Polk Parkway will provide better options for moving people and goods to and through Polk County, reduce congestion on U.S. 98, State Road 60, and other existing area roadways, provide an additional access route to I-4 and State Road 60 for travelers and truck traffic in the region,” they said.
It is projected to reduce travel times to Tampa and Orlando, improve freight movements and relieve congestion on State Road 60 and U.S. 98.
If approved, construction would begin in 2025 and take three to four years to complete. It’s expected to cost more than $200 million, with tolls eventually paying the bill.
The Central Polk Parkway project was first proposed in 2008. It was billed as a long-range alternative to relieving traffic congestion on U.S. 27 and would have traveled into eastern Polk County to connect with I-4 in the Four Corners region. That part of the project has since been put on hold by transportation planners.
I think its a great idea to do this, I’ve been saying they should fi this for years. It certainly would cut down on all the semi trucks on 98 and through Bartow.
Should start today
I think it is just a way to open up more land for development. I don’t find 98 or 60 all that bad to warrant this road. There is a lot of good open land out there. Since it has gone in from I4,, through Auburndale and Fred Jones, former DOT head, his family lands, it is growing exponentally (sp). Lets be really honest here. You can’t drive Hwy 92 without shaking your vehicle to death with the holes in the pavement, etc, and yet we plan this.
How about it is opening up more land for development in the that area. I think that is the biggest thing. We saw this when the toll road went in over Fred Joness’ family property in Auburndale. JOnes was one time head of DOT and oversaw the toll road being approved. The Putnams are another family that has extensive undeveloped lands, that will probably be treated the same way. Nothing new here, it was in the Lakeland Ledger when it was still a going concern and did investigative reporting. Hwy 92 between Auburndale and Lakeland is very rough and will shake your vehicle to pieces with the bad spots. Fix that first.