Crews working for Polk County began constructing the first three sections of sidewalk that will be built along the west side of Old Dixie Highway in Lakeland.
The 1,300-foot long initial segment between Schalamar Creek Drive and Carroll Road includes a 6-foot wide concrete walkway connected to curb and gutter bordering the southbound travel lane. A 60-foot long aluminum pedestrian bridge installed to cross Schalamar Creek, ditch realignment and drainage upgrades will complete the planned work.
Depending on weather, sidewalk construction should finish Oct. 3. Several weeks later, the fabricated bridge structure will be delivered and secured to concrete foundations to link sidewalk.
Limited right-of-way requires lane and road closures for worker and public safety. Starting Sunday, Old Dixie Hwy. will be closed for a week to through traffic between Schalamar Creek Drive and Carroll Road. Detours bypassing work zone will be along Fish Hatchery Road and Berkley Road. Another closure for offloading and positioning bridge is scheduled on Oct. 20 to coincide with a student holiday. Advance public notice will alert motorists, area residents and school staff to changing traffic conditions and detour routes.
This “Community Investment Program” safety project is part of an overall plan to construct sidewalk from Tenoroc High School to U.S. 92. Other segments are Clover Road to Schalamar Creek Drive and Carroll Road to U.S. 92. This segment was chosen first as the most construction-ready frontage. Needed closures also lessen project cost and shorten schedule.