Published: November 12, 2025
Bartow, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2025) – Polk County Government staff invites you to attend a public workshop regarding the North Ridge Trail Extension Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study. The in-person workshop will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Northeast District Command, Community Room, located at 1100 Dunson Road, Davenport, FL 33896. An online workshop will take place at 5 p.m. online, Thursday, Nov. 20.
Polk County Government, in coordination with FDOT, is conducting the PD&E Study to evaluate the extension of North Ridge Trail roadway over Interstate-4 (I-4) in Davenport, Florida. The PD&E Study’s corridor is approximately 1.65 miles in length and extends from the existing North Ridge Trail intersection with Access Road north of I-4 to the existing North Ridge Trail intersection with FDC Grove Road south of I-4 . The purpose of this project is to relieve congestion along nearby U.S. Highway 27 around I-4 and to improve the roadway system linkage across the interstate limited access right-of-way. This project would also improve safety along U.S. Highway 27 and nearby roadways and to implement a segment of a multi-use trail planned by the Polk Transportation Planning Organization. U.S. Highway 27 has a crash rate above the statewide average for similar facilities and will continue to perform below FDOT’s target level of service.
Project alternatives and all analyses to date will be presented at the workshop. Interested parties are invited to express their views concerning the proposed improvements either in-person (Nov. 19) or online (Nov. 20). The information presented at each meeting will be the same, and all attendees will have opportunity to comment.
Comments may also be sent through email to RobertCollins@Polk-County.net or via mail to: Polk County Roads and Drainage, Attn: Robert Collins, 3000 Sheffield Road, Winter Haven, FL 33880. Questions can also be answered by calling Robert Collins at (863) 535-2326.
From more information or to register for the virtual workshop visit: https://www.polk-county.net/public-safety/roads-and-drainage/north-ridge-trail-extension-project/
While comments about the project are accepted at any time, they must be received or postmarked by Dec. 3, 2025, to be included in the workshop record.
Property owners, business owners, interested parties within at least 300 feet of the project will receive notices inviting them to offer feedback or comments regarding this project. Polk County solicits public participation without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. People who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Richard L. Bradford, Polk County’s Equal Opportunity Administrator, at (863) 534-6075, or email at richardbradford@polk-county.net at least seven days prior to the public workshop.
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by FDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated May 26, 2022, and executed by FHWA and FDOT.