Polk County drivers who pass through Mulberry on SR 60 are about to learn a new way in and out of town. 

Starting Friday morning at 10 a.m., a two mile stretch of SR 60 will close for a month as C.S.X. and F.D.O.T. work on the rail crossings.

More than 3,000 trucks travel SR 60 between Nichols Road and SR 37 every day and the wear and tear on the rail road crossings is evident.

F.D.O.T. spokesperson, Robin Stublin, said in addition to the rail crossing replacements there is much more work to be done in Mulberry.

"This is a total repaving project. It's going to start at Nichols Road and it's going to go back toward Bartow. We will be doing signalization improvements. There are other railroad tracks where we are going to be installing the concrete approach pad, but we won't be closing the entire road there," Stublin said.

Work outside the crossings at Nichols Road and SR 37 will happen during overnight and off-peak hours and will not require a full closure of the road.

C.S.X. work will take five days to remove and replace the rail road tracks. The state's portion of the project, installing large 10-foot concrete pads on either side of the tracks will take approximately 21 days. Project time estimates are weather permitting.

Local traffic will be permitted to access SR 60 via any of the cross streets between Nichols Rd and SR 37 for the duration of the project.

F.D.O.T. has provided a link for additional information at this link.