{"id":70818,"date":"2026-06-15T20:43:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T00:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=70818"},"modified":"2026-06-15T20:43:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T00:43:50","slug":"polk-county-completes-imperial-lakes-boulevard-drainage-improvements-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/06\/15\/polk-county-completes-imperial-lakes-boulevard-drainage-improvements-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Polk County Completes Imperial Lakes Boulevard Drainage Improvements Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Polk County has completed the Imperial Lakes Boulevard Drainage Improvements Project, a major infrastructure effort designed to reduce roadway flooding and improve stormwater management within the Imperial Lakes community in Mulberry.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-dominant-color=\"575951\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #575951;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-20.webp?resize=1024%2C538&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-70819 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-20.webp?resize=1024%2C538&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-20.webp?resize=300%2C158&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-20.webp?resize=768%2C403&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-20.webp?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The $8.17 million project focused on a section of Imperial Lakes Boulevard near Country Club Lane, where roadway flooding has regularly occurred after significant rainfall. Imperial Lakes Boulevard serves as the only access route for several neighborhoods within the Imperial Lakes community. The completed improvements now protect the roadway from flooding impacts up to a 100-year storm event.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-dominant-color=\"6a7356\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #6a7356;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-6.webp?resize=1024%2C538&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-70821 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-6.webp?resize=1024%2C538&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-6.webp?resize=300%2C158&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-6.webp?resize=768%2C403&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-6.webp?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Polk County Roads and Drainage Division project included raising a 0.25-mile section of Imperial Lakes Boulevard, upgrading the existing storm sewer system and constructing wet detention ponds on the former golf course property to better manage and reduce stormwater runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additional improvements included a pipe replacement on Old Colony Road and the replacement of the Misty Lake outfall pipe to improve water flow from the lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Construction on the project began on Feb. 17, 2025, and was completed on April 20, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-dominant-color=\"5b694c\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #5b694c;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-14.webp?resize=1024%2C538&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-70820 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-14.webp?resize=1024%2C538&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-14.webp?resize=300%2C158&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-14.webp?resize=768%2C403&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_Imperial_Lakes_Blvd_Drainage_Improvements_6_15_26-14.webp?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project was funded using $7,118,649.93 in American Rescue Plan Funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The improvements are expected to enhance public safety, improve roadway reliability during severe weather events and strengthen stormwater infrastructure resilience within the Imperial Lakes community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more information about ongoing Polk County Roads and Drainage projects, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.polkfl.gov\/public-safety\/roads-and-drainage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.polkfl.gov\/public-safety\/roads-and-drainage\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;Polk County has completed the Imperial Lakes Boulevard Drainage Improvements Project, a major infrastructure effort designed to reduce roadway flooding and improve stormwater management within the Imperial Lakes community in&hellip; 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