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US 92 from County Line Road to Wabash Avenue
Project Development
The FDOT’s project development process occurs in five (5) phases as detailed below. This project is currently in the design phase of project development, which follows the project development and environment (PD&E) phase completed in November 2017. Neither the right-of-way acquisition phase nor the construction phase is currently funded.
Planning Phase
The Polk County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) has identified the improvements to US 92 as a transportation priority. FDOT also considers this project as a priority and emphasizes its importance in Lakeland and Central Florida.
Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Phase
The PD&E phase ended in November 2017 with the approval of the preferred alternative by FDOT’s Office of Environmental Management (OEM), known as Location and Design Acceptance (LDCA). During the PD&E phase, the social, economic, natural, and physical effects associated with this project were identified. The PD&E phase required the combined efforts of professional engineers, planners, and scientists to collect and analyze project-related information to develop the best solution for transportation needs. The PD&E phase included public and agency coordination, identified impacts associated with proposed transportation improvements and specified commitments to mitigate those impacts. Documents developed as part of the PD&E Study phase are available on the Project Documents page.
Design Phase
The design phase takes the conceptual plan presented at the PD&E public hearing and develops it into a formal set of construction plans that are used to bid and build the job. The construction plans include design of the stormwater drainage system, traffic signals, lighting systems, median openings, bridges, signs, utility plans (if relocations are necessary to accommodate highway expansion), as well as design of the road itself. This project is now in the design phase.
Right-of-Way Acquisition Phase
FDOT needs to acquire property to build the roadway for a portion of US 92 and will use details defined during design to determine specifically how much right-of-way or additional land is needed for the project. In accordance with Florida statute, FDOT can only purchase property that is necessary for the documented transportation improvements and pays fair market value for any property or part of property acquired for road expansion. The department will notify property owners in writing if their land is affected and provide names and contact information for right-of-way agents managing this phase of the project. Additional information about FDOT’s right-of-way acquisition process may be found at https://www.fdot.gov/rightofway/documents.shtm.
Construction Phase
After design plans are completed and right-of-way acquisition concluded, FDOT advertises the project for construction. Typically, construction work starts three or four months after FDOT hires the contractor (who must mobilize crews and arrange for equipment and materials). Construction jobs may take two to three years and sometimes longer depending on complexities of the projects. More information becomes available about a project’s construction schedule and crews’ approach to the work after FDOT hires the contractor.
