The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, March 16, 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 50^th 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.

• Expect daytime and nighttime lane closures with traffic reduced to one lane.

• Ongoing permit work for a utility crossing will begin Monday, February 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A one-lane flagging operation with an open cut will close northbound and southbound lanes one at a time, allowing one lane of traffic flow. This work is expected to last a week, with both lanes open outside working hours. Starting Thursday, March 6, crews will begin saw cutting a construction lap joint and performing road widening work on the east side of US 441. This work is expected to take 7 to 10 working days. Paving for the road widening is scheduled for the week of March 17, 2025

• Motorists should use caution and watch for workers in the work zones.

US 98 (SR 700) from NW 80th Avenue to NW 160th Street: Construction    Project: Crews will be working on a construction project along US 98 (SR 700) between NW 80th Avenue and approximately half a mile north of NW 160th Street. The project includes milling, paving, sodding, and striping to improve road quality and safety in the area. Daytime lane closures will occur, and traffic may be reduced to one lane at a time. Please use caution in the area and watch for workers in the work zones.

·       Crews will be grading, sodding, striping and paving through March 2025. Crews and equipment will be on-site daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please follow posted signs, be aware of possible delays, allow for additional travel time, or consider alternate routes. Flaggers will be present to guide traffic safely through the work zone.

· Motorists should expect intermittent eastbound and westbound lane closures while crews complete the paving and associated construction tasks.

Anticipated completion is early 2025.

SR 70 Temporary Road Closure for Special Event: Special permit project: The Speckled Perch Parade will take place on March 8, 2025, in Okeechobee County. The closure is necessary to accommodate parade participants and ensure safety. 

·       The event will take place from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Law enforcement will be on-site to assist with traffic control. Expect full roadway closure, with detours in place to direct traffic around the event. 

·   Motorists should use caution in the area and watch for pedestrians, parade participants, and law enforcement personnel.

SR 70 from Highlands County Line to SW 21st Avenue: Construction project: Crews will be working on radial widening, drainage, signage, traffic markings, roadway resurfacing, and rumble strip grinding. There will be lane closures during construction on SR 70.

• Motorists should expect intermittent daytime/nighttime eastbound and westbound lane closures while crews work on striping and thermo application.

Anticipated completion is early 2025.

SR 70 From East of US 441 to Northeast 17^th 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 will begin 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 17^th Avenue and NE 4^th 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.