Lakeland officials have a better timetable for the design and construction phases of the controversial, South Florida Avenue Road Diet, with the fall of 2025 marked as the date for public input on design, and a tentative construction start date of fiscal year 2027.
“We’re looking at about a two-year design table,” said Public Works Engineering Manager Ryan Lazenby. “So somewhere around next fall, September, we should have that concept in the real world where we can start doing some public involvement.”
The project began in 2020 as a one-year test of narrowing South Florida Avenue from Lime to Ariana streets, from five lanes to three lanes, using low, concrete barriers. It turned into a permanent configuration to adhere to those state guidelines until the city and FDOT could fund the design and construction of the project, which will create:
- Two 11-foot-wide travel lanes
- An 11-foot-wide, two-way left turn lane
- 11.5-foot-wide sidewalks along both sides
- Hardscaping and landscaping with appropriate trees
- New street signals, including a left-turn signal in at least one intersection
- Upgraded drainage infrastructure
- Corridor lighting
- Installation of Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations
Monday votes: The city will vote Monday to enter into a memorandum of understanding with FDOT for the city to pay $1.85 million for the design phase and the department to pay for “typical road construction.” Anything extra, like the hardscaping of sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, and the landscaping of trees, tree beds, and flowers, will come from the city’s budget.
The city will also vote Monday on hiring Patel, Greene & Associates for roadway engineering and design services.