ROADWATCH FOR WEEK OF JANUARY 9, 2012

Prepared by Florida Department of Transportation, District One Office, Bartow.

For additional information call (863) 533-6800 ext. 106 or (863) 303-3209.

TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE WEEKLY ROADWATCH REPORT, LOG ONTO:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/construc/constmap/d1roadwatch.shtm

Motorists are reminded to wear safety belts and drive with caution,

courtesy, common sense, and patience as they travel through work zones.

Remember, speeding fines are doubled in work zones.

US 17: From the Charlotte/DeSoto County Line to SW Collins Street: Construction project – Work is underway to widen this four-mile segment of US 17 from two to four lanes.  Due to utility work and road construction, SW Senate Street on the east side of US 17 will be closed 24 hours a day at the point where it intersects with US 17 during the work week from Monday, January 9, 2012 to Friday, January 13. Motorists can use SW River Street as an alternate route while SW Senate is closed.  One lane of SW Ogden Acres also will be closed for about two days this week for drainage and utility work. This operation will not impact traffic on US 17. Activities on this week’s schedule that will not require lane closures include construction of the future northbound US 17 travel lanes north of SW Liverpool; work on the future northbound US 17 bridge crossing Thornton Branch Creek; utility work along the recently abandoned US 17 travel lanes south of SW Liverpool; and the installation of retention ponds, water lines, silt fences, drain pipes, roadside swales, sod, mulch and embankment at various locations in the work zone. Northbound and southbound traffic along the segment of US 17 between SW Liverpool and Nottingham Road has been shifted to newly-constructed travel lanes to permit the reconstruction of the original travel lanes. Motorists are reminded to observe the posted speed limit throughout the work zone and to DRIVE WITH CAUTION.  The contractor is Better Roads, Inc. and the projected completion of the project is scheduled for the end of 2012.