The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One is preparing design plans to widen US 27 from four to six lanes between Polk/Highlands County Line and County Road (CR) 630A in Polk County. The project also includes adding sidewalks to both sides of the road.

Need for the Project
US 27 is included on the Florida Interstate Highway System and the Strategic Intermodal System, is a regional freight corridor providing a vital link between Interstate 4 and Miami, and is designated as a hurricane and emergency evacuation route. FDOT anticipates this project will improve regional connectivity, accommodate projected population and employment growth, enhance safety and improve emergency evacuation.

Project Funding
This project is identified as a need in the 2040 Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Cost Affordable Plan. Funding for the right-of-way acquisition phase of this project is included in fiscal year 2022 in FDOT's Adopted Five-Year Work Program (fiscal years 2021-2025). Construction is currently not funded.