The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, invites you to a Design Public Meeting to inform you of design change improvements on SR 70 from County Road (CR) 29 to Lonesome Island Road, in Highlands County. A Project Development & Environment Study was completed in June 2025 and found this segment of SR 70 experiences roadway deficiencies, operational conditions issues, safety concerns, does not support economic development in the region, and does not provide system linkage to the area wide transportation network. An alternative that widens SR 70 to 4-lanes was chosen as the Preferred Alternative to address these items. The project has now moved forward to the next phase, final design. 

During the August 2025 public meeting, design changes were shared with the public, including modifications to access management and stormwater ponds.

A public meeting was held to update the community on design changes and provide the public with an opportunity to meet the project team, ask questions, and offer feedback. The in-person meeting took place on August 21, 2025, at the Town of Lake Placid Government Center, Community Room, located at 1069 US 27 North, Lake Placid, FL 33852. A self-guided virtual meeting room was also available from August 21 to September 5, 2025, where participants could view and provide feedback on project materials at their leisure.

The project documents for both the in-person and virtual public meeting can be downloaded below.

This project is currently in the DESIGN phase of development. For more information or to obtain a copy of archived PD&E Study documents, please contact:

Joseph M. Lauk, PE, Design Project Manager
Patel, Greene and Associates, LLC (PGA)
GEC Consultant Support for FDOT District One
Florida Department of Transportation
801 North Broadway Avenue, MS 1-41, Bartow, FL 33830
863-519-2525, Joe.lauk@dot.state.fl.us