The Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise appreciates your interest in this project. Please use the navigation menu to view display boards. Clicking on the graphic will enlarge the view. The display boards are available for download on the main project website under the Documents section. If you wish to submit comments, please use the comment form below.
The planning phase is the first phase of FDOT’s Project Development Process. An Alternative Corridor Evaluation, or ACE, is a planning-level study. Key components of an ACE include establishing the project’s purpose and need, defining the environment and developing corridor alternatives. The engineering and environmental features of each corridor is evaluated, fatal flaws identified, and community feedback solicited. If a feasible corridor is found, it then moves to the PD&E Study phase for further evaluation.
The study area is located in northeast Polk County. The study area is a large swath that begins on SR 60 west of the US 27 corridor, and extends approximately 28 miles north to US 17/92 near Ernie Cauldwell Blvd.
A project’s purpose and need are the reasons why the project is necessary and serves as the basis for identifying reasonable corridor alternatives. The need for the Central Polk Parkway East includes accommodating population growth and the associated travel demands, improving regional connectivity and overall system linkage, enhancing freight mobility and economic competitiveness, and enhancing safety, emergency evacuation and response.
Increased travel demand within Polk County has led to congested roadways. Today, light, moderate or heavy congestion is regularly observed on several major regional roadways including Interstate 4, SR 60, US 27 and US 17/92 during the peak travel periods.
The congested conditions on these major regional roadways will continue to degrade if no improvements or alternative travel routes are constructed. Heavy traffic congestion is forecasted for Interstate 4, US 27, SR 60, US 17/92, Lee Jackson Highway, and County Road 532 by the year 2050.
This display board shows Corridors A, B, C and D, from US 27 to US 17/92, and existing sociocultural features within the study area.
This display board shows Corridors A, B, C and D, from SR 60 to US 27, and existing sociocultural features within the study area.
This display board shows Corridors A, B, C and D, from US 27 to US 17/92, and existing environmental features within the study area.
This display board shows Corridors A, B, C and D, from SR 60 to US 27, and existing environmental features within the study area.
Corridor alternatives A, B, C and D were compared against each other to help determine which corridor best meets the project purpose and need, while avoiding and minimizing impacts to existing features. The evaluation matrix shown on this display board summarizes the results of a preliminary comparison of the corridor alternatives.
After the January public meetings, one corridor alternative will be selected and presented for feedback at a Public Meeting tentatively scheduled for April of 2025. If a feasible corridor is identified the Enterprise can start a PD&E Study to develop project alternatives. Additional public meetings and a formal public hearing will be conducted as part of the PD&E Study. The final ACE documentation is anticipated to be complete by the 3rd quarter of 2025. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.
If you have any questions or comments on the project or ACE process, you may contact the Project Manager directly by email or phone, submit your comments via the project website, or submit your comments by US mail.
This project is being developed in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
