A mid-block crossing with Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) is being installed on US 98, between West 2nd Street and West 5th Street, to help pedestrians safely cross US 98 near Bryant Stadium and Henley Field in Lakeland. This Florida Department of Transportation project is scheduled to begin in early December 2024 and be completed in early 2025.

The PHB consists of signal heads that include two red lenses above a yellow lens attached to an overhead mast arm above the roadway. The signal remains dark until a pedestrian desiring to cross the road pushes the call button to activate the beacon. Once activated, the beacon will first begin flashing yellow before turning to a solid yellow indicating that vehicles should be prepared to stop. Once the beacon changes to a steady red and motorists are stopped, the pedestrian can safely cross the roadway.  For more information on how the signal works from both the motorists and pedestrian point of view, please see the demonstration under videos below. 

PHBs are designed to help pedestrians safely cross higher-speed roadways at midblock crossings and uncontrolled intersections. Nearly 74% of pedestrian fatalities occur at non-intersection locations. PHBs are used where it is difficult for pedestrians to cross a roadway, such as when gaps in traffic are not sufficient or speed limits exceed 35 miles per hour. The speed limit on this section of US 98 is 40 miles per hour.