The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One is proposing safety improvements on SR 544 (Martin Luther King Boulevard) by replacing the two-way left turn lanes with a raised median on SR 544 from 5th Street Northwest to 1st Street North. Directional median openings are also being evaluated as part of this project.

Current conditions: (447874-1) SR 544 NW at the US 17 interchange and (447877-1) between 5th Street Northwest to 1st Street N in Winter Haven is a four-lane highway. Within the study area, SR 544 NW at US 17 is a four-lane intersection with additional turn lanes in each direction. From 5th Street Northwest to 1st Street North, the four-lane roadway has center left and right turn lanes. The posted speed is 35 miles per hour. There are sidewalks on both sides of the roadway. There are no bike lanes.

Design conditions: The design for SR 544 proposes removing the center turn lane and adding a raised grassed median.

• The raised grassed median will close access for left or right turns just west of 5th Street Northwest to just west of 1st Street North.
• Median opening at Unity Way NW
• There will be a left turn lane for eastbound drivers on SR 544 who are turning onto 1st Street North.
• Directional median openings are also being evaluated

Documents and Publications

• Public Meeting Flyer
• SR 544 Crash Data
• SR 544 Intersection Safety Study
• SR 544 Traffic Data
• SR 555 Signal Warrant
• SR 544 Concept Plan
• SR 555 Concept Plan
• MLK Concept Plan 1
• MLK Concept Plan 2