A virtual public meeting will be held for this project on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. An in-person public meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the Lake Eva Event Center located at 799 Johns Avenue in Haines City, FL. A second in-person public meeting will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the Tom Fellows Community Center located at 207 North Boulevard West in Davenport, FL. The in-person meetings will be conducted as informal open houses from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration is not required for in-person attendance.
The same information will be presented at each public meeting, including the project alternatives for all three project segments.
Use the “Locate an Address” tool to view the proposed highway alignment and interchange alternatives. Additional interchange alternatives will be presented at the public meetings.
Introduction
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (Enterprise) is conducting three Project Development and Environment (PD&E) studies for Central Polk Parkway East from US 27 to north of US 17/92.
Collectively, the studies will evaluate alternatives for a new tolled, limited-access highway from US 27 to north of US 17/92. Access points will be evaluated at US 27, SR 17, Lake Hatchineha Road (County Road 542), Marion Road (County Road 544), Johnson Avenue (County Road 580), Adair Road and US 17/92.
The proposed Central Polk Parkway East project will provide a link to Interstate 4 and SR 429 (Western Beltway) through the future Poinciana Connector (SR 538).
The PD&E study is the second phase of the FDOT project development process.
- Each PD&E study requires the combined efforts of professional engineers, planners and scientists, to collect data, and analyze project-related information to determine social, economic, physical, and environmental impacts.
- Click here to see the PD&E Process video
- Noise Studies will be performed as part of this PD&E Study.
- Click here to see the Turnpike Traffic Noise video.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Located in the geographic center of Florida and along Central Florida’s I-4 corridor, Polk County is one hour from both Tampa and Orlando, and close to Central Florida attractions, making it a hotspot for growth.
In fact, Polk County ranks as the fastest-growing county in Florida. Between 2020 and 2025, more than 121,000 people moved to Polk County, and based on the Bureau of Economic and Business Research projections, the county’s population is on track to grow by 64 percent by the year 2050. The proposed Central Polk Parkway East project is just one infrastructure improvement project planned to address existing and forecasted transportation capacity deficiencies.
The need for the Central Polk Parkway East project includes:
- Accommodating Year 2055 transportation demand
- Improving regional connectivity
- Enhancing freight mobility and economic competitiveness
- Enhancing safety and emergency evacuation
The No-Build (No Action) alternative will also be analyzed and compared against the Build alternatives during the PD&E study.
Project Area
The proposed projects are in northeast Polk County. Study limits for project 451419-3 are from US 27 to north of Lake Mabel Loop Road. Limits for project 455878-1 are from north of Lake Mabel Loop Road to south of Johnson Avenue, and limits of project 455879-1 are from south of Johnson Avenue to north of US 17/92. The projects will then connect to project 451419-1, a recently approved PD&E study with limits from US 17/92 to the future Poinciana connector.
The proposed Central Polk Parkway East project will provide a direct link to Interstate 4 and SR 429 (Western Beltway) through the future Poinciana Connector (SR 538).
ENVIRONMENT
Potential impacts to the unique natural, social, cultural and physical environments and related avoidance, minimization and mitigation measures will be evaluated during the PD&E Study.
The environmental analysis will include a traffic noise analysis and an assessment of potential wildlife corridors. The results of these evaluations will be available for public review.
INNOVATION
The Enterprise is at the forefront of planning for a safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced transportation system for the future. The Enterprise continually seeks opportunities to integrate emerging transportation technologies that can help reduce congestion, create mobility choices, minimize environmental impacts, and improve safety. The Enterprise also recognizes that connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies hold unprecedented opportunities for enhancing mobility and increasing safety on our roadways.
SCHEDULE
Note: This schedule is subject to change.
Stay Connected
Project inquiries, comments, innovation/technology ideas, or requests to be added to the project mailing list, can be mailed or emailed to:
JAZLYN GEORGES, PE
Project Manager
Consultant to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
RONALD KAREIVA, PE
Project Development Engineer
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, Public Information Office using the contact information below:
If you choose to provide feedback on this site or in an email, such information is a public record under Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Laws and available for public inspection upon demand. Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status.
If you need special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or require translation services (free of charge), please contact the Project Manager using the contact information listed on this page. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or 955-8770 (voice).