POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Drivers in Lakeland are frustrated over the ongoing construction on West Pipkin Road.

What You Need To Know

  • The widening project on West Pipkin Road started more than two years ago

  • Drivers and nearby residents are frustrated with detours, noise and traffic delays

  • Despite some of the construction frustration, officials say the $55 million project is on schedule

The widening project there started more than two years ago.

At the Lakeland Barber Company on Pipkin Road and Yates Road, the road work is often the topic of conversation in the barber chair.

“Customers hate it,” said barber Dayton White. “Everybody hates it. You hear about it all of the time.”

White, a Lakeland native, says the complaints are like many you’d hear about any major project.

That includes detours in the middle of the night, lots of noise and traffic delays during rush hour.

Some are skeptical the project will be worth it.

“I think it will be just how it was with two lanes,” White said. “It’s still going to be just as busy because they’re adding more people so it’s not going to change much,” White said.

Polk County and the city of Lakeland started the widening project there in August 2021. The road is going from two lanes to four lanes between South Florida Avenue and Medulla Road.

The county started the project as Lakeland continues to grow, especially along the stretch of Pipkin Road by the airport.

Despite some of the construction frustration, officials say the $55 million project is on schedule.

It’s expected to be done in November of next year.