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Highlands Today

FDOT Slates $23 Million In Highlands Road Projects

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: December 31, 2008

Expect to see more detour signs in 2009, but that's a good thing.

The Florida Department of Transportation has scheduled more than $23 million in road construction, resurfacing, airport improvements and landscaping.

The Five-Year Work Program, found on FDOT's www2.dot.state.fl.us, also shows $1.7 million for a bike trail from College Drive to Memorial Drive; $231,000 for a sidewalk from Thunderbird Road to New Life Way; $300,000 in 2010-11 for a sidewalk on Sun 'N Lake Boulevard. from Schumacher Road To U.S. 27; and four landscaping and lighting projects for the Lake Placid area totaling $660,000.

Cindy Clemmons-Adente, FDOT's public information officer, said the 2009 projects are likely to happen. Projects scheduled in future years are more iffy.

One is $1.25 million to add lanes and reconstruct the road for phase three of Sebring Parkway.

"That's funding for planning, signs and permitting for a new road from the 90-degree turn to College Drive," said Highlands County Engineer Ramon Gavarrete.

However, Highlands County has suspended the six-mile bypass from its own capital program.

"So I can't tell you when it will be constructed," Gavarrete said. "I'm not overly excited that I'm going to have (the money) when we get there."

Other Projects

•US 27 from Lake Isis to Polk County, add lanes and resurface, $4.4 million

Various locations, mowing and litter removal, $360,000 per year

Ridgewood from Kenilworth Boulevard to Helena Street; $2.1 million, resurfacing

SR 64 at US 27, add left-turn lanes, $471,000
Avon Park Executive Airport, $412,000, construction of a terminal; $140,000 in 2012 will add generators and solar power.

SR 66 at CR 635, $442,000, lighting project

SR 70 at Placid Lakes Blvd., $637,000, lighting project

SR 17 at Avon Park, $362,000, landscaping.

Highlands Today reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863-386-5828

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