POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A new tolled road in Polk County is ahead of schedule and could open next summer, offering drivers a more direct north-south route between U.S. 17 and the existing Polk Parkway.
The Central Polk Parkway is a 6.5-mile road that will connect U.S. 17 to the Polk Parkway at Winter Lake Road. The project was originally expected to be completed in 2029, but the Florida Turnpike Enterprise now says it is expected to be finished next summer.
The road is expected to help with congestion in an area that has seen increased development and heavier traffic, including more truck traffic…