Nearing the western end of Florida 570 Toll (Exit 27) on Interstate 4 east. Florida 570 Toll (Polk Parkway) ventures south from Exit 27 to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport and east through southern reaches of Lakeland. Connections with U.S. 98 lead travelers to Bartow and Florida 540 to Winter Haven. Frontage roads parallel Interstate 4 closely between County Line Road and the Exit 27 trumpet interchange. Photo taken 12/16/03.
Exit 27 carries drivers southward onto Florida 570 Toll (Polk Parkway) eastbound. Polk Parkway travels three miles to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, 10 miles to junction U.S. 98, and 15 miles to junction Florida 540. The toll road passes by the Medulla and Eaton Park communities of south Lakeland before turning northward near Auburndale and a return to Interstate 4. Photo taken 05/27/05.
The next four interchanges serve the city of Lakeland. Interstate 4 curves northeast toward Exit 28 and Memorial Boulevard first. Signed simply as To U.S. 92 - Lakeland, Memorial Boulevard actually carries the designation of Florida 546 between the Exit 28 diamond interchange and junction U.S. 92 at Wabash Avenue. U.S. 92 never actually directly meets Interstate 4 in Lakeland. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Memorial Boulevard is mentioned on an auxiliary overhead for Exit 28. Memorial Boulevard comprises the main east-west route through Lakeland, carrying U.S. 92 east from Wabash Avenue to Carters Corner. Photo taken 05/27/05.
One half mile out from the Exit 28 off-ramp to Florida 546 (Memorial Boulevard). Exit 28 originally consisted of a partial "Y" interchange from Interstate 4 eastbound. Polk County widening of Interstate 4 resulted in the expansion of the interchange into a full diamond to provide westbound access. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Before construction was completed, the right-hand lane of Interstate 4 eastbound defaulted onto Memorial Boulevard east. Interstate 4 now carries six lanes throughout Polk County. U.S. 92 overtakes Memorial Boulevard in one half mile from Florida 546. The federal highway proceeds two miles east toward Downtown Lakeland. Photos taken 12/16/03 & 11/04/06.
Swindell Road passes over Interstate 4 one mile west of the Exit 31 diamond interchange wit Florida 539 (Kathleen Road). Florida 539 spurs southeast from Exit 31 to Florida 563 (Sikes Boulevard) near the Lakeland Center and downtown Historic District. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Kathleen Road continues north from Interstate 4 Exit 31 as Polk County 35A to the community of Kathleen itself. Polk County 35A also passes through the Griffin, Galloway, and Mt. Tabor settlements along the way. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Exit 31 departs Interstate 4 eastbound beyond the Bella Vista Street overpass. Florida 539 ends as Florida 563 overtakes Sikes Boulevard from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Sikes Boulevard constitutes a short expressway west of downtown and the historic district, passing underneath Main, Lemon, and Orange Streets in the process. Florida 563 continues southward along Sikes Boulevard to junction Florida 570 Toll and Medulla. Photo taken 03/18/06.
U.S. 98 (Providence Road) interchanges with Interstate 4 at Exit 32 in north Lakeland. U.S. 98 represents the longest federal highway within the state of Florida, traveling between Palm Beach and the Alabama state line west of Pensacola. Locally the highway comprises an arterial by the Lakeland Square Mall. Photo taken 03/18/06.
U.S. 98 follows Providence Road southward onto Florida Avenue through downtown Lakeland. Points of interest reached by U.S. 98 include Florida Southern College, a campus designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Carpenters Home Auditorium, a 10,000 seat religious-based venue. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Eastbound at the Exit 32 diamond interchange with U.S. 98 (Providence Road). U.S. 98 joins Lakeland with the Polk County seat of Bartow to the south and Dade City to the northwest. Gibsonia and Providence lie within four miles of Interstate 4 via Providence Road north. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Florida 33 meets Interstate 4 twice in the Lakeland area. The first meeting occurs at the Exit 33 folded-diamond interchange near Lake Gibson. Ramps tie Interstate 4 eastbound directly with the parallel Florida 33. Westbound ramps utilize Polk County 582 (Socrum Loop Road) to the north. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Florida 33 begins in downtown Lakeland and follows Massachusetts Avenue and Lakeland Hills Boulevard northward to junction Polk County 582 (Florida Avenue). Once at Exit 33, Florida 33 branches eastward toward Lake Deeson and Polk County 582 turns north onto Socrum Loop Road. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Drivers bound for Florida 33 leave Interstate 4 eastbound via Exit 33. Florida 33 intersects Old Combee Road ahead that provides access to Polk County 582 (Socrum Loop Road) to the north. Florida 33 north otherwise arcs eastward to junction Florida 569 (Combee Road) and Exit 38. Florida 33 south meanwhile heads toward Joker Marchant Stadium, home of the Minor League Lakeland Tigers. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Along the northern reaches of Lakeland, Interstate 4 and Florida 33 again cross paths. The state highway meets the freeway at a diamond interchange near USA International Speedway. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Florida 33 continues parallel to Interstate 4 between Exit 38 and the Polk City line before veering northward. Drivers destined for Polk City can use Florida 33 north or Florida 559 north from Exit 44. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Interstate 4 eastbound at the Exit 38 ramp departure to Florida 33. Florida 33 continues north from Polk City to Eva and Groveland in Lake County. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Polk Parkway returns to Interstate 4 at Exit 41. The 25-mile toll road travels north-south from Florida 540 (Winter Lake Road) alongside Auburndale to Interstate 4 near Polk City. Photo taken 11/04/06.
This upcoming exits sign predates the 1999-completion of the Polk Parkway and thus references Florida 559 (Exit 44) as the next interchange. Florida 570 opened completely on December 12, 1999. Photo taken 03/18/06.
1.25-miles west of the Exit 41 trumpet interchange with Florida 570 Toll (Polk Parkway). $3.00 in tolls are charged to drive the entire route of Polk Parkway. The northernmost reaches of the toll road carrie just two lanes until traffic demands warrant an increase. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Travelers bound for Auburndale can use Polk Parkway south to Exit 18 (Dixie Highway) or Exit 17 (U.S. 92). Downtown Auburndale lies three miles east of the toll road. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Exit 41 departs Interstate 4 east for the westbound beginning of Florida 570 Toll (Polk Parkway). Polk Parkway turns westward at junction Florida 540 (Exit 14) for Eaton Park in Lakeland. Florida 540 east carries drivers to Eagle Lake and Winter Haven. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Florida 559 provides a second route to Auburndale from Interstate 4 eastbound at Exit 44. The state highway travels south along Lake Juliana into northern reaches of the city. Photo taken 03/18/06.
A diamond interchange joins Interstate 4 and Florida 559 at Exit 44. Florida 559 follows Ariana Boulevard around Lake Ariana to Main Street and downtown Auburndale, seven miles south of the freeway. Photo taken 05/25/05.
Florida 559 heads north a short distance to junction Polk County 557A and its end at Florida 33 (Commonwealth Avenue) in Polk City. The Fantasy of Flight Museum resides along Florida 559 (Broadway Boulevard) on the outskirts of Polk City. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Direction sign and Florida 559 shields posted at the end of the Exit 44 off-ramp. Photos taken 05/25/05.
A rest area provides facilities along Interstate 4 eastbound beyond the Polk County 557A over crossing. Photo taken 05/29/05.
Polk County 557 represents the next exit along Interstate 4 eastbound. The freeway crosses the Green Swamp and Hilochee Wildlife Management Area over the next 11 miles. Photo taken 12/29/05.
Eastbound at the aforementioned rest area near Polk County 557A. Photo taken 12/29/05.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 4 is Exit 48, Junction Polk County Route 557 south to Lake Alfred and Winter Haven, one and one-quarter miles. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Nearing the Exit 48 folded-cloverleaf interchange with Polk County 557 on Interstate 4 east. Use Polk County Route 557 south to connect with Polk County Route 17 (Polk City Road) southeast to Haines City (and U.S. 27). Looking north, the state highway downgrades to a local road (Old Grade Road), which connects with Deen Still Road a few miles north of the Interstate 4 interchange. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Interstate 4 eastbound reaches Exit 48 (Polk County 557 south / Old Grade Road north). Polk County 557 travels southward into Lake Alfred where it meets U.S. 17 & 92 (Lake Shore Drive). U.S. 17 continues south from there into Winter Haven while U.S. 92 turns westward to Auburndale. Photo taken 12/29/05.
Pressing northeast through the Green Swamp and Hilochee Wildlife Management Area, Interstate 4 next meets U.S. 27 (Exit 55). This is perhaps the most undeveloped stretch of Interstate 4 along with the easternmost stretch between DeLand and Interstate 95. Photo taken 12/29/05.
A second half-cloverleaf interchange joins Interstate 4 with U.S. 27 at Exit 55. What was once the start of daily traffic back-ups, six-laning of Interstate 4 between Exit 55 and the Osceola County line pushes the traffic congestion further north toward Walt Disney World. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Looking at an older replaced guide sign for U.S. 27 (Exit 55) along eastbound Interstate 4. U.S. 27 is a major north-south corridor through the state of Florida, originating in Miami within the shadows of the Interstate 195/U.S. 1 interchange, then angling northwest past Lake Okeechobee toward central Florida. U.S. 27 is approximately midway between the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean at the point at which Interstate 4 intersects it; however, Interstate 4 still has more than 55 miles to reach Daytona Beach because Interstate 4 turns northeast to pass through the Orlando metropolitan area. (Daytona Beach is the final eastbound interchange at Exit 132.) Photo taken 11/23/03.
Drawing to within one half mile of the Exit 55 loop ramp to U.S. 27. U.S. 27 crosses paths with Interstate 4 near the defunct Baseball City development. Touted as a major tourist attraction in 1990, the company that ran it went out of business in the early 2000s. The site is now slated for upscale development under the name Posner Park. Much of U.S. 27 between Haines City and Clermont is facing rapid development. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Exit 55 leaves Interstate 4 eastbound for U.S. 27. U.S. 27 travels a growing corridor between Exit 55 and Four Corners (junction U.S. 192). Four Corners represents the location where Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Polk Counties come together. The approximately to Walt Disney World and Orlando add to the appeal of the open land for suburban sprawl. U.S. 27 nonetheless carries four overall lanes through northeastern Polk County. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Polk County widening of Interstate 4 resulted in the expansion of the original Exit 55 interchange to allow for longer and smoother ramps. Pictured here is the approach to U.S. 27 along the off-ramp. A frontage road parallels Interstate 4 briefly and is signed as Southwest Access Road on these overheads. U.S. 27 southbound ventures nine miles into Haines City. Photo taken 05/25/05.
U.S. 27 shields posted at the end of Exit 55's eastbound off-ramp. Clermont, a Lake County town, resides at the U.S. 27 junction with Florida 50 22 miles to the north Photo taken 05/25/05.
Historical look at Interstate 4 and U.S. 27's interchange during six-laning. For through traffic to South Florida (Fort Pierce, Port Saint Lucie, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami), Florida's Turnpike offers a faster and more direct route to those coastal cities. Use U.S. 27 south to central Florida destinations, such as Haines City, Lake Wales, Avon Park, Sebring, and Clewiston. U.S. 27 north connects with the turnpike near Minneola, then meets Interstate 75 northwest of Ocala. From there, U.S. 27 angles northwest into the state capital at Tallahassee. Photo taken 11/23/03.
Angled shot of the 1.50-mile guide sign for Exit 58 (Osceola County 532) taken during typical freeway congestion associated with Osceola County construction of Interstate 4. Osceola County 532 straddles the county line as Osceola-Polk Line Road. Photo taken 12/29/05.
Polk County 54 (Ronald Reagan Parkway) passes over Interstate 4 one half mile southwest of Exit 58. The east-west residential arterial serves fast growing suburban sprawl between U.S. 17 & 92 at Loughman and U.S. 27. Champions Gate Boulevard ties into Polk County 54 from Exit 58. Photo taken 11/04/06.
Exit 58's diamond interchange lies along the Osceola County line on Interstate 4. Osceola County 532 travels east only to U.S. 17 & 92. Fast growing Poinciana lies south of U.S. 17 & 92 via Poinciana Boulevard. Champions Gate Boulevard continues Osceola-Polk Line Road west to a golf course community and junction Polk County 54 (Ronald Reagan Parkway). Photo taken 11/04/06.
Older signs for Exit 58 featured only the destination of Kississimmee. Poinciana was added as Osceola County grew during the late 1990s and early 2000s. U.S. 17 & 92 otherwise travel an eastern trajectory to Lake Tohopekaliga and downtown Kississimmee. Photo taken 11/23/03.
