{"id":56432,"date":"2025-06-18T15:46:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T19:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=56432"},"modified":"2025-06-18T19:13:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T23:13:16","slug":"big-improvements-are-coming-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2025\/06\/18\/big-improvements-are-coming-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Big improvements are coming this summer!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traffic impacts are expected with several projects underway along the Polk Parkway and Lakeland Highlands Road. These include resurfacing the Polk Parkway, installation of a new wastewater force main, extension of the Fort Fraser Trail, and a new traffic signal at Deerfield Drive!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-dominant-color=\"9f6859\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56434 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #9f6859; width:424px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp?resize=250%2C250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can learn more by going to <a href=\"https:\/\/l.facebook.com\/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Flakelandgov.net%2Froadprojects%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZFlCZ202NHltSFlqSEx1bQEeEF-8pupnAWEZ-0I4fg28GaUfw4uc5YT0Dyuq0ORtvIyyB0wTDQl57O02MLo_aem_9wbwHw5mICFK9_bUFFjV7Q&amp;h=AT2S_tygwBS6iL2TDJWMzrHPllHhIzenHcE-y3c9iUhw4wBRZsKRJXZzWvbsDin2j4GkxLbkrGAcpV4-LPiF8FEA0FCUHBtwTGs0ltxJ8gXeW97ZUQ9jxnhOvyb7iRQtRmsJ2DIH1FSBVL7b&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2X3_DIUrf79IlwGIG_2uFlIkmq_pELmk09_qwQQlYnarHuUjSiDUiT5N4B-NxN8tbo-BPCxK5Fi9fjbRkGMIX1qJMqWGK1dp1LGaZaY6feKoLcdhttuQBPrs9XB51aDHtq8qUY7ZNc95p06oNFSqfCyDy8E6rUtFEJMLoiOxjxT5jnVxkCnakDN-5iuBdLFh1Gi24HY6bW8xgFuDmXnEAZ4u4QS6PTSlILHObJK56jW5X232U8syVWEA0\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lakelandgov.net\/roadprojects<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Expect the most significant construction to occur at night; daytime construction will also include delays and lane closures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider alternate routes if you would like to avoid construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn more about all Lakeland construction projects here: <a href=\"http:\/\/lakelandgov.net\/roadprojects?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZFlCZ202NHltSFlqSEx1bQEeRLUzHCQtStwaA81eMw8NXKBzvsEMJ63wsVGmtMgKcQS2pG2n52W63Z8bjH4_aem_7a42DJ55UOfEvBP0iSljvw\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lakelandgov.net\/roadprojects<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-dominant-color=\"535c59\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #535c59;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" data-id=\"56435\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509276350_1128775302626561_7856676666171247635_n.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56435 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509276350_1128775302626561_7856676666171247635_n.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509276350_1128775302626561_7856676666171247635_n.webp?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509276350_1128775302626561_7856676666171247635_n.webp?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509276350_1128775302626561_7856676666171247635_n.webp?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509276350_1128775302626561_7856676666171247635_n.webp?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509276350_1128775302626561_7856676666171247635_n.webp?resize=250%2C250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509276350_1128775302626561_7856676666171247635_n.webp?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-dominant-color=\"716466\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #716466;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" data-id=\"56437\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/508689514_1128775322626559_7807095344792670769_n.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56437 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/508689514_1128775322626559_7807095344792670769_n.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/508689514_1128775322626559_7807095344792670769_n.webp?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/508689514_1128775322626559_7807095344792670769_n.webp?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/508689514_1128775322626559_7807095344792670769_n.webp?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/508689514_1128775322626559_7807095344792670769_n.webp?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/508689514_1128775322626559_7807095344792670769_n.webp?resize=250%2C250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/508689514_1128775322626559_7807095344792670769_n.webp?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"716466\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #716466;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"2048\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" data-id=\"56436\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509361991_1128775299293228_7483784271047580015_n.webp?fit=2048%2C2048&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56436 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509361991_1128775299293228_7483784271047580015_n.webp?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509361991_1128775299293228_7483784271047580015_n.webp?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509361991_1128775299293228_7483784271047580015_n.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509361991_1128775299293228_7483784271047580015_n.webp?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509361991_1128775299293228_7483784271047580015_n.webp?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509361991_1128775299293228_7483784271047580015_n.webp?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509361991_1128775299293228_7483784271047580015_n.webp?resize=250%2C250&amp;ssl=1 250w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Motorists traveling along Lakeland Highlands Road and the Polk Parkway should prepare for significant traffic disruptions beginning in mid-June. Several major infrastructure and improvement projects will be underway over the next several months, with construction expected to last approximately 180 days. The work zone will stretch from south of Glendale Street to the entrance of the Village at Lakeland Highlands Apartments. Planned improvements include resurfacing the Polk Parkway, installing a new wastewater force main, extending the Fort Fraser Trail, and adding a new traffic signal at Deerfield Drive. While the most intensive work is scheduled to take place at night, drivers should still expect daytime construction, lane closures, and traffic delays throughout the duration of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Upcoming Construction Phases<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Polk Parkway Resurfacing:\u00a0June 2 \u2013 June 9<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wastewater Force Main Construction:\u00a0June 16 \u2013 June 23<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deerfield Drive Signal Installation:\u00a0August 1 \u2013 August 29<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fort Fraser Trail Extension (near Lowe\u2019s):\u00a0Expected late September<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Traffic Impacts and Timing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Night Work:\u00a0Major construction activities will occur\u00a0overnight from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Daytime Work:\u00a0Will include\u00a0lane closures\u00a0and potential\u00a0traffic delays<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Alternative Routes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Northbound Lakeland Highlands Road<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Turn\u00a0left on Lake Miriam Drive<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn\u00a0right on Cleveland Heights Boulevard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn\u00a0right on Edgewood Drive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Southbound Lakeland Highlands Road<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Turn\u00a0left on Cleveland Heights Boulevard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn\u00a0left on Lake Miriam Drive<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn\u00a0right back onto Lakeland Highlands Road<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Motorists are advised to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and use alternate routes, when possible, to avoid delays. For more information on this project and other roadway projects, please visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lakelandgov.net\/roadprojects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/lakelandgov.net\/roadprojects<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Traffic impacts are expected with several projects underway along the Polk Parkway and Lakeland Highlands Road. These include resurfacing the Polk Parkway, installation of a new wastewater force main, extension&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":56434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"7591","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDZcLzUwOTE1MTg3Nl8xMTI4Nzc1MzcyNjI2NTU0XzI5ODU5MzQzNjIwNjE0OTA5Nzhfbi0xLndlYnA_Zml0PTEwMjQlMkMxMDI0JnNzbD0xIiwidHh0IjoiQmlnIGltcHJvdmVtZW50cyBhcmUgY29taW5nIHRoaXMgc3VtbWVyISIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiaGlnaHdheSIsImJsb2dfaWQiOjE2MzA0MDY2MX0.fPmOEVr2WdvVVnQYe_O9-VBvhAAp5cizJ4kQ4betBvsMQ"},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":56434,"url":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/509151876_1128775372626554_2985934362061490978_n-1.webp","type":"image\/jpeg"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[7591],"tags":[11714],"class_list":["post-56432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-of-lakeland","tag-big-improvements-are-coming-this-summer"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56432"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56449,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56432\/revisions\/56449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}