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US 92 from County Line Road to Wabash Avenue
Project Overview
This project will include the development of design plans to widen US 92 from a two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway. The proposed alignment consists of a typical section for US 92 that includes four 11-foot travel lanes, curb and gutter, and a 30-foot median. Six-foot sidewalks and seven-foot buffered bicycle lanes will accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic along the corridor. Existing right-of-way width is approximately 100 feet along the corridor, and a total of 122 feet of right-of-way is needed to accommodate the proposed improvements.
With two exceptions, the proposed alignment widens to the north side of the existing roadway. The widening shifts to the existing alignment under the Polk Parkway bridges to minimize impacts to the existing structures. At the east end of the project from Twin Lakes Circle East to Wabash Avenue, the alignment shifts to the south to minimize impacts to residential communities and their internal circulation roadways.
Project Purpose and Need
The purpose of this project is to increase the capacity of US 92 from County Line Road to Wabash Avenue in order to achieve an acceptable Level of Service (LOS) on the facility in the future condition. While the roadway currently operates at an acceptable LOS, conditions will deteriorate below standards if no improvement occurs by 2035 as the roadway will have insufficient capacity to accommodate the projected travel demand.
The proposed widening improvements for US 92 will accommodate traffic demand generated by projected population and employment growth in Polk County. FDOT anticipates this project will improve connectivity between downtown Lakeland and Interstate 4 for both industrial and residential traffic, enhance safety along the project corridor, and improve emergency evacuation.
Consistency with Transportation Plan Goals and Objectives
The goal of the Polk TPO’s 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is to “develop and maintain an integrated multi-modal transportation system to provide safe travel for all users, the efficient movement of goods and services, and to promote livable communities and economic activity.”
This project supports the following objectives in the Polk TPO’s 2040 LRTP:
- Maintain stable flow of traffic on major roads – roads that serve intercity travel and the movement of freight (arterial roads)
- Maintain stable flow of traffic on the Freight Network
- Provide transportation options for intercity and local travel
- Safe and fatality-free travel conditions on all Polk County roads
- Provide travel options for persons of all ages and abilities
- Provide transportation infrastructure and services that support livable communities and ensure mobility for all residents
- Provide transportation infrastructure and services that support economic vitality and job creation
- Maintain highway infrastructure in a state of good repair
- Minimize environmental impacts from transportation projects
This project is identified as a cost affordable project in the 2040 Polk TPO’s LRTP.
