City News

Lakeland, Fla. | On Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 12 AM to 8 AM, there will be a pacing operation along westbound Interstate 4. The pacing operations will begin at I-4 westbound from Osceola County to Lakeland Hills Blvd (Exit 33).

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Lakeland, Fla. | On Monday, July 7, 2025 (or immediately after weather permitting),the Florida Department of Transportation is implementing a BOLD M.O.T. (Maintenance of Traffic) plan for the State Road 572 at Waring Road Resurfacing and Roundabout project. Motorists should expect northbound Waring Road to be closed from the SR 572/Drane Field Road intersection to the Polk Parkway exit 4. The closure will last until late December 2025, and intermittent lane closures are expected to occur until late2025, weather permitting.

LAKELAND, FL (June 27, 2025) — Southern rock legends The Marshall Tucker Band will bring their iconic sound back to Central Florida this fall, performing live at the RP Funding Center’s Youkey Theater on Saturday, September 13, 2025. This special performance commemorates the 50th anniversary of the band’s 1974 show at the same venue—then known as the Lakeland Civic Center.

LAKELAND, FL (June 23, 2025) — The City of Lakeland is proud to announce the return of the Central Florida Business Expo, taking place Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the RP Funding Center. Following the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural event, the Expo is poised to be an even greater catalyst for connection, collaboration, and economic growth across the region. ...

On Monday, July 7, 2025 (or immediately after weather permitting), the Florida Department of Transportation is implementing a BOLD M.O.T. (Maintenance of Traffic) plan for the State Road 572 at Waring Road Resurfacing and Roundabout project. Motorists should expect northbound Waring Road to be closed from the SR 572/Drane Field Road intersection to the Polk Parkway exit 4. The closure will last until late December 2025, and intermittent lane closures are expected to occur until late 2025, weather permitting.