News

LAKELAND, FL (July 16, 2025) – Beginning Saturday, July 19 at 4:00 a.m., CSX will temporarily close the North Florida Avenue (FL-37) railroad crossing, located between E/W Pine Street and E/W Main Street in Downtown Lakeland. The crossing is expected to reopen by Tuesday, July 22 at 10:00 p.m., weather permitting. This closure is part of a phased construction schedule to improve critical infrastructure along the CSX rail line, also known as the Lakeland Subdivision or the A Line.

Collective bargaining negotiations between designated representatives for the City of Lakeland and the Lakeland Professional Firefighters, Local 4173, regarding terms and conditions of employment.

LAKELAND, FL (July 10, 2025) | Beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, Lakeland Highlands Road will be reduced to one northbound lane and one southbound lane to allow for the installation of a new force main at the intersection near Lowe’s and Sam’s Club. The lane closures will remain in effect throughout the weekend, with full traffic flow expected to resume by 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2025.

Collective bargaining negotiations between designated representatives for the City of Lakeland and the Lakeland Professional Firefighters, Local 4173, regarding terms and conditions of employment.

An election for the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) will take place on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The election is open to all property owners within the LDDA boundaries who are not fully exempt from ad valorem taxation, as well as registered voters residing within the LDDA area.  The LDDA covers approximately 559 acres in Lakeland’s downtown core (see attached map).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing on compensation of members of the Lakeland City Commission will be held during the public hearing on the City’s proposed 2025-2026 Fiscal year budget, which commences at 6:00 p.m. on September 18, 2025, in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall, Lakeland, Florida.

July 9, 2025 | Avelo Airlines announced today it is extending its Central Florida flight schedule through mid-February 2026, just in time to start planning winter holiday travel. Avelo’s Central Florida Customers can now book travel to nine popular destinations through February 10, 2026.

Collective bargaining negotiations between designated representatives for the City of Lakeland and the Lakeland Professional Firefighters, Local 4173, regarding terms and conditions of employment.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Lakeland, Florida, will consider passage of the following titled ordinance(s) at a City Commission meeting which commences at 9:00 A.M. on Monday, July 21, 2025

LAKELAND, FL (July 2, 2025) | The City of Lakeland Water Utilities has launched Phase One of a critical infrastructure project to upgrade the Western Trunk Gravity Sewer Line. This major line, installed in the 1980s, carries approximately 3.5 million gallons of wastewater per day to the Southwest Pump Station through a 36-inch reinforced concrete pipe. Over time, structural lining and past repairs have reduced the pipe’s diameter, limiting capacity and hindering system performance and future expansion.