POLK COUNTY, Fla. - Two of Rosemary Esala’s neighbors lost their lives earlier this month on a busy stretch of road in Polk County.
What You Need To Know
- Cypress Lake community has 1,500 homes and counting
- U.S. 98 goes from 4 lanes to 2, is dangerous location
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It’s in the Cypress Lakes community on U.S. 98 – 1,500 homes and counting.
There is a lot of construction and a lot of traffic in the area. Esala said it’s more than the road can handle.
The speeds here generally exceed the posted speed limits, and where U.S. 98 narrows from four lanes to two is the most dangerous spot.
"Two people that we lost in our community among other people who have also been lost on this stretch of highway - to do nothing is not an answer,” Esala said. “To do something, maybe their names will be remembered."
She has reached out to local traffic officials and was told the road would be looked into, but that was the end of the communication.
The amount of traffic on U.S. 98 is only going to get worse. Esala sees what appears to be a simple solution.
"What I'd like to see done is four lanes of highway, 55 miles an hour just like the other part of 98 to just keep any more fatal crashes from happening,” she said.
Real Time Traffic Expert Chuck Henson asked Brian Rick with the Florida Department of Transportation about the road and any future projects in the works. The section of road is on their radar.
“There is an upcoming PD&E study on U.S. 98 from Socrum Loop Road to CR 54,” Rick said. “This is a widening (two lanes to four lanes) and should begin in January of 2021.”
Once the project development and environmental studies begin, the public will have plenty of opportunities to give input for the project.