POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Motorists traveling near the US 98 corridor this weekend should prepare for significant delays and a lengthy detour.
Officials have announced that Rock Ridge Road will be closed to all traffic on the east side of the US 98 intersection starting this Friday night. The closure is necessary for crews to reconstruct the intersection, paving the way for a traffic shift into the project’s next construction phase.
The shutdown is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 23, and the road is expected to remain closed until 6 a.m. on Monday, January 26.
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While the closure is specific to the east side of the intersection, it is expected to disrupt local traffic patterns significantly. However, officials noted that access to and from the west side of Rock Ridge Road will remain available throughout the weekend. Additionally, US 98 itself will stay open to thru traffic, preventing a complete bottleneck of the north-south corridor.
The Detour Route
Drivers who typically rely on this intersection to head east are being urged to plan ahead. The official detour route involves a circuitous path using:
- Deen Still Road
- Moore Road
- Old Polk City Road
- Marcum Road
- US 98
Project managers have issued a frank advisory regarding this alternate route: the full detour is very long. It will add “considerable travel time” to the commute. Local drivers familiar with the area are encouraged to seek their own alternate routes or avoid the area entirely if possible until the intersection reopens Monday morning.
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