County Road 557
Polk County Road 557 connects Interstate 4 with the city of Lake Alfred. The route travels 6.51 miles south from Old Grade Road and Interstate 4 to U.S. 17/92 (Shinn Boulevard / Lake Shore Way). The northern 0.50 miles are state maintained, but not signed as SR 557.
CR 557 is mostly rural, traversing areas of Green Swamp alongside the Ospery Unit of Hilochee Wildlife Management Area. South into Lake Alfred, CR 557 follows Buena Vista Drive by some suburban development.
Construction reconfigured the parclo B2 interchange (Exit 48) into a dogbone interchange. Design work for the exchange was completed in 2019. Underway from late 2020 to Spring 2024, the $70.46 million project1 expanded CR 557 to four lanes on a new overpass and realigned the roadways along Interstate 4 outward to accommodate the future I-4 Ultimate corridor. A wildlife crossing was be constructed below the freeway.
Part of a $7.4 million project, the south end of CR 557 was realigned onto the Pomelo Street extension to connect with the reconstructed alignment of U.S. 17/92. U.S. 17/92 was expanded into a six lane, one way couplet along Shinn Boulevard south and Lake Shore Way north. Final paving operations for the work took place during the week of September 7, 2010. The overall project ran from July 2009 to Spring 2011.2
Historically Florida Secondary 557 followed Buena Vista Drive north from U.S. 17/92 out from Lake Alfred to CR 557A, which it took northwest to SR 559 near Little Lake Agnes in Polk City. CR 557 north from CR 557A to I-4 was Florida Secondary 557A.
North
The former alignment of CR 557 turned north onto Buena Vista Drive (CR 555) from Haines Boulevard west. This intersection was replaced by the realignment of U.S. 17/92 southbound onto Shinn Boulevard.
08/25/07
CR 557A branches 4.6 miles west from CR 557 to SR 559 in Polk City.
02/27/16
County Road 557A traverses area of Lake Mattie Marsh between Lake Mattie and Green Swamp westward from CR 557.
02/27/16
Continuing north along the Lake Alfred city line, CR 557 continues across areas of Green Swamp toward Interstate 4.
02/27/16
CR 557 next meets the west end of CR 17.
02/27/16
CR 17 follows Polk City Road southeast between Lake Lowrey and Bonnet Lake to U.S. 27 in Haines City.
02/27/16
A separate section of Old Polk City Road spurs west from CR 557 from just north of CR 17.
02/27/16
Advancing toward the previous parclo A2 interchange with Interstate 4 on CR 557 northbound.
09/07/16
The rural exchange joining CR 557 with I-4 lines a rural stretch taking the freeway northeast across the Green Swamp toward Osceola County.
09/07/16
Interstate 4 travels northeast from CR 557 to the Orlando metro area.
09/07/16
Interstate 4 heads west from CR 557 between Polk City and Auburndale en route to Lakeland, Plant City and Tampa.
09/07/16
County Road 557 concludes at the end of state maintenance beyond Interstate 4. Old Grade Road extends 5.3 miles north to Deen Still Road.
09/07/16
South
Old Grade Road south becomes a part of CR 557 leading into the exchange with Interstate 4. A begin shield marks the transition, though the ensuing half mile section is state maintained.
09/07/16
CR 557 south at the previous parclo B2 interchange with Interstate 4.
12/21/11
05/27/20
Confirming marker posted along CR 557 south of the dogbone interchange constructed in 2023/24.
03/08/24
Leading away from I-4, CR 557 runs along the western boundary of Hilochee Wildlife Management Area Osprey Unit.
12/21/11
CR 17 (Polk City Road) stems east from CR 557 across the Green Swamp 9.29 miles into Haines City. The lone reference for CR 17 on CR 557 south was removed by July 2019.
12/21/11
South from CR 17 (Old Polk City Road), CR 557 advances to the Lake Alfred city line.
12/21/11
CR 557A winds northwest from CR 557 across agricultural areas near Lake Mattie to SR 559 and Polk City.
05/27/20
CR 557 merges with CR 557A just ahead of this confirming marker.
02/27/16
Heading into Lake Alfred, CR 557 follows Buena Vista Drive between Lake Alfred and Lake Swoope to U.S. 17/92 at Pomelo Street.
12/21/11
CR 557 was realigned eastward to connect with U.S. 17/92 when the US highways were reconfigured into a one way couplet along Shinn Boulevard south and 6th Street NW. U.S. 17/92 overlap east to Haintes City and split south ahead of Winter Haven and Auburndale respectively.
12/21/11
Prior to the realignment of U.S. 17 south / U.S. 92 west onto Shinn Boulevard, CR 557 took W Haines Boulevard one block east from Buena Vista Drive to U.S. 17/92 along Lake Shore Way.
08/25/07
Buena Vista Drive transitioned onto CR 555 south from W Haines Boulevard. Portions of the old alignment are frontage roads for Shinn Boulevard, which flows southbound with three lanes. CR 555 was subsequently dropped through Lake Alfred.
08/25/07
The previous south end point of CR 557 at Haines Boulevard and U.S. 17/92 (Lake Shore Way).
08/25/07
References:
- 201215-3 I-4 at SR 557 Interchange Improvements. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District 1, project web page. Accessed May 3, 2024.
- "$7.4 Million Lake Alfred Road Project Nearing Completion." Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL) October 1, 2010.
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman: 08/25/07, 12/21/11, 02/27/16, 09/07/16, 05/27/20
- ABRoads: 12/21/11, 02/27/16, 03/08/24
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Page Updated Friday May 03, 2024.