Drivers frustrated with road condition of SR-37 in Polk County

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Relief is on the way for drivers frustrated with the road conditions of State Road 37.

Mulberry resident David Downs has been asking for repairs to the road for years.

“It’s all coming apart,” Downs said. “The road is coming apart. There are places where it’s gone.”

SR-37 is known as North Church Avenue in Mulberry and South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Traffic has gotten busier on the state road as Polk County has grown in population.

Downs says ruts in the road have been a consistent issue on SR-37 from Mulberry up to Lakeland.

“The ruts make it hard to travel. The steering in your car – you get pulled different ways,” Downs said.

Downs reached out to Real Time Traffic Expert Tim Wronka for help, who found out from the Florida Department of Transportation that an improvement project on SR-37 is now happening.

FDOT officials say the project started Sunday night. The plan is to improve the quality of SR-37 by milling the top layer of asphalt and repaving the road and side street entrances. Rumble stripes will also be installed along the edge lines for safety.

FDOT says most of the work will take place at night to minimize traffic impacts.

Downs is hopeful it will lead to a smoother ride.

“It’s been getting worse and worse. It’s something that needs to be addressed,” Downs said.