OKEECHOBEE COUNTY — The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, March. 30, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Motorists are reminded to wear safety belts and drive with caution, courtesy, common sense, and patience as they travel through work zones. Remember, speeding fines are doubled in work zones.

• US 441 at NE 50th Drive (Hillard Road): US 441 at NE 50th Drive (Hillard Road) (Permit project): Crews are constructing a temporary road connection to rebuild Hillard Road, including a new driveway connection and right-turn lane for the South Florida Water Management facility. Crews will continue installing the water main and force main piping along U.S. 441 North within the easements. This includes grade work, which will not impact traffic.

• Expect daytime and nighttime lane closures with traffic reduced to one lane.
• Lane shift will occur on March 31, 2025
• Motorists should use caution and watch for workers in the work zones.

• SR 70 From East of US 441 to Northeast 17th Avenue (Construction project): Crews will be working on milling and resurfacing, base work, drainage improvements, curb and gutter, guardrails, traffic signals, signage, pavement markings, lighting, and other incidental construction.

• Crews began paving operations on Sunday, January 12, continuing through March 2025. Paving crews and equipment will be on-site. Motorists are advised to follow posted signs, anticipate possible delays, and allow for additional travel time or consider alternate routes during this work. Motorists should expect intermittent nighttime eastbound and westbound lane closures while crews complete paving operations.
• Motorists should expect intermittent daytime and nighttime lane closures to take place both eastbound and westbound on SR 70 between NE 17th Avenue and NE 4th Avenue for curb/sidewalk removal and pour back. Lane closures will take place in the outside travel lanes.
• Anticipated completion is early 2025.

As a reminder, travelers can visit www.FL511.com or dial “511” from their phone to learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state.