HIGHLANDS COUNTY — The following column is the Road Watch report for Highlands County for the week beginning Sunday, Dec. 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 27 from Glades County line to Polk County line: (Maintenance contract project) In observance of the holidays, maintenance activities are expected to be suspended Sunday, December 24, to Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

US 27 from south of SR 70 to north of SR 70: (Construction project) Intersection improvements. Crews will be reconstructing the intersection with concrete pavement, resurfacing SR 70 and US 27 near the intersection, shoulder work, drainage improvements, signalization, and lighting, and signing and pavement markings.

• Motorists should expect daytime and nighttime intermittent lane closures on US 27 and SR 70 near the intersection.

• Traffic will be shifted on the northbound lanes to the newly constructed lanes on US 27 beginning Sunday, November 19, 2023.

• The driveways for Circle K and the BP Station will be impacted while crews place concrete at the intersection. Motorists will need to access Circle K from SR 70 and BP from US 27. The Circle K driveway off US 27 will be utilized as an Exit Only and the BP driveway off SR 70 will be utilized as an Exit Only.

Estimated completion is winter 2024.

US 27 at Lakeshore Mall entrance: The right turn lane off US 27 to the Lakeshore Mall is closed; please use alternate entrances.

US 27 between Whisper Circle and Flare Road: (Utility permit project) In observance of the holidays, utility activities are expected to be suspended Sunday, December 24 to Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

US 27 between Glades County line and Moreno Drive: (Utility permit project) In observance of the holidays, utility activities are expected to be suspended Sunday, December 24, to Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

US 98 from east of CR 621 to the Okeechobee County line: (Construction project) In observance of the holidays, construction activities are expected to be suspended Sunday, December 24, to Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

CR 17 from Memorial Drive to N Forest Ave: (Maintenance permit project) In observance of the holidays, maintenance activities are expected to be suspended Sunday, December 24, to Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

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.