Project Overview
The purpose of the Central Polk Parkway is to provide additional north-south facilities to reduce traffic congestion, including truck traffic, on several corridors in central Polk County. These corridors include parallel facilities like U.S. 98, U.S. 17 and U.S. 27. In addition, north-south roadways connecting S.R. 60 and I-4 would not only relieve congestion by dispersing traffic, they would allow for better connectivity, thus enhancing mobility in Polk County and Central Florida.
The additional north-south routes will enhance mobility on the regional roadway network and work to improve emergency evacuation and response times. In addition, the Central Polk Parkway is anticipated to support the increased travel demands expected from projected residential and employment growth within the county.
The Polk Transportation Planning Organization is currently updating the adopted 2030 Transportation Improvement Program, now referred to as the 2035 Polk Mobility Vision Plan. The draft 2035 plan indicates that even with six-lane improvements to U.S. 98, U.S. 27, U.S. 17, and S.R. 60; construction of a four-lane Gateway East-West Road; and regional transit improvements, there is still a need for new multi-lane facilities in the Central Polk Parkway project area.
