Lakeland likely to approve roundabout at awkward and busy intersection near Lake Beulah

Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger
·2 min read
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Lakeland city commissioners are expected to approve a contract to begin construction on a Five Point Roundabout at the awkward intersection where West Main Street, West Lemon Street and Sloan Avenue come together just north of Lake Beulah. The work would shut down the intersection completely for about eight months.
Lakeland city commissioners are expected to approve a contract to begin construction on a Five Point Roundabout at the awkward intersection where West Main Street, West Lemon Street and Sloan Avenue come together just north of Lake Beulah. The work would shut down the intersection completely for about eight months.

LAKELAND — Lakeland officials have to decide whether to spend $2.2 million to transform one of the city's most awkward intersections into a roundabout.

Lakeland commissioners will vote Monday on a proposed $2,207,555 contract with Gibbs & Register Inc. to construct a Five Points Roundabout on the north side of Lake Beulah, using circular logic to solve a multi-pronged traffic issue.

"The intersection improvement project will reduce intersection delays, improve safety and serve as a gateway feature to the Downtown West area," reads the city's contract.

The Five Points Roundabout is designed as a single-lane traffic circle where West Main Street, Lemon Street and Sloan Avenue/Bonnet Springs Boulevard meet. It's just south of George Jenkins Boulevard, adjacent to a CSX railroad bridge.

"This will be very, very welcome," Mayor Bill Mutz said. "It will make such a difference in the wait time at that intersection.

The problematic intersection first came to the city's attention after Hurricane Irma caused significant damage to the traffic signal in 2017, rendering the roadway impassible. The city hired GAI Consultants to perform a traffic study to determine whether a roundabout would improve traffic flow.

A rendering of what Lakeland's Five Points Roundabout will look like at West Main Street, West Lemon Street and Sloan Avenue once fully constructed. Lakeland officials are expected to vote on the roughly $2.2 million construction contract Monday.
A rendering of what Lakeland's Five Points Roundabout will look like at West Main Street, West Lemon Street and Sloan Avenue once fully constructed. Lakeland officials are expected to vote on the roughly $2.2 million construction contract Monday.

Ryan Lazenby, Lakeland's civil engineer manager, said about 10,000 vehicles per day use the intersection. Most drivers approach it southbound, after turning onto Sloan Avenue from George Jenkins Boulevard. Roughly 370 vehicles approach the intersection on that route during the evening rush hour near 5 p.m.

Construction of the roundabout is anticipated to take about eight months, Lazenby said, with an additional 30 days allowed to the contractor to finish up details. The contract imposes a $1,690 fine per day if the contractor fails to finish on time.

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Lazenby said the city has sent out notices to surrounding residents and businesses that it plans to shut down all traffic through the intersection during construction, as well as any traffic going under the CSX bridge. Downtown West residents on West Orange, West Lime, Sycamore and Olive streets will have to travel around Lake Beulah to the south. Once completed, the roundabout will have designated pedestrian and bicycle crossings over West Lemon Street and the eastern branch of West Main Street in hopes of helping improve future accessibility to Bonnet Springs Park.

The project will be funded through a variety of sources with Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency contributing nearly $1.16 million, about $433,000 from the city's Transportation Fund, $370,000 from Public Works Lakes and Stormwater Division and more than $86,000 from the Department of Water Utilities. City officials will be asked to appropriate roughly about $203,000 from Transportation Fund's surplus funds to fully fund the project.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: One of Lakeland's most awkward intersections may soon get a roundabout