Rebuilding South Florida Avenue through Lakeland’s Dixieland neighborhood is expected to take more than three years, with construction potentially beginning in mid-2027. The $26.3 million project will replace temporary concrete barriers that have frustrated motorists since 2020.
The so-called “permanent redesign” involves more than repaving, explained Lakeland Civil Engineering Manager Ryan Lazenby at an Oct. 16 City Commission workshop. Crews must rebuild drainage, traffic signals, and much of the roadway while relocating utilities. The work must be done in stages to keep drivers moving through the busy corridor.
Lazenby estimated that rebuilding the 1.03-mile stretch between Ariana and Lime streets will take approximately 1,200 days.
With a reported 25,000 vehicles using the corridor daily, “We’ve got to keep them moving through there while we’re in construction,” Lazenby told commissioners…