BARTOW, Fla. – Work is scheduled to begin October 7, 2024, on an FDOT Complete Streets Project on State Road 33 (Lakeland Hills Boulevard) from south of Parkview Place to Griffin Road. This busy and important corridor serves as a connection between Downtown Lakeland, Lakeland’s Medical District, Joker Marchant Stadium/Tigertown Complex, Interstate 4 and Florida Polytechnic University.

To better serve all users of the corridor, the new roadway will include four travel lanes with curb and gutter and a 12-foot raised median from Parkview Place to north of Miami Street. From north of Miami Street to north of Granada Street the roadway will maintain four travel lanes with a continuous 12-foot-wide bi-directional left turn lane.

The project will also provide an upgraded drainage system to better accommodate storm water and alleviate roadway flooding. The FDOT and the City of Lakeland will partner to upgrade the water and sewer systems during construction to reduce future impacts to the corridor.

Additional safety enhancements will include, a reconstructed/resurfaced roadway, two new mid-block pedestrian crossings (south of Channing Road and north of Swannanoa Street), new 8-foot sidewalks on both sides of the roadway with upgraded ramps and pedestrian signals, upgraded LED traffic signal equipment with additional lighting at signalized intersections, and street lighting on both sides of the road from Parkview Place to Granada Street.

During construction, Lakeland Hills Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes, one lane in each direction, with limited left turn lanes, primarily at signalized intersections. U-Turns will not be possible for most vehicles, so expect congestion and add time to your schedule to reach your destination.

Although Lakeland Hills Boulevard will remain open throughout construction, motorists may want to consider alternate routes such as US 98/Florida Avenue and West Lake Parker Drive.

Citrus Connection currently services the Lakeland Hills Boulevard area via the Pink Line but will establish micro-transit routes starting October 21, 2024. For more information on Citrus Connection Routes, please visit https://ridecitrus.com/.

Lakeland Hills Boulevard construction is scheduled to take approximately two years to complete and cost $27.6 million. For more information and to follow along with changes during construction, visit fdot.cc/Lakeland-Hills-Boulevard.