Rk&K

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invites you to a public hearing for the S.R. 70 Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study (FPID 414506-1-22-01) from Jefferson Avenue to C.R. 29 in Highlands County. Participate in the October 22, 2026 hearing: In-Person Option: at Archbold Biological Center, 123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960 Anytime between 5 – 6 p.m. Open house 6 p.m. Formal presentation and comment period Displays will be available starting at 5 p.m. to review at your own pace and the project team will be available for discussion. The formal presentation and comment period will begin at 6 p.m. Participate in the October 27, 2026, virtual hearing: Live Online Option: starting at 5:45 p.m. at bit.ly/SR70VirtualHearing (please register in advance) This event will include a livestream of the in-person presentation and the formal comment portion. Please review the materials on project webpage before attending the virtual event (www.swflroads.com/project/414506-1). Materials will be posted by October 15, 2026, on the project webpage. This hearing is being conducted to present the preferred alternative and all analysis to date, as well as to give interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements. Project documents will be available for public viewing from September 30 to November 9, 2026, at Lake Placid Memorial Library. 205 W. Interlake Boulevard, Lake Placid, FL 33852, and FDOT District One, 801 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830. All documents will also be available on the project webpage. If you are unable to attend the hearing, comments can also be provided through the project webpage (www.swflroads.com/project/414506-1) or by email (Joe.Lauk@dot.state.fl.us) or mail (FDOT District One, Attn: Joe Lauk, 801 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830). While comments about the project are accepted at any time, they must be received or postmarked by November 9, 2026, to be included in the formal hearing record. All comments are weighed equally. Questions can be answered by calling the FDOT project manager Joe Lauk at (863) 519-2525. As proposed, the project will impact approximately 46.37 acres of property of the Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area’s Lake Placid Scrub Tract. As part of the project development process and in accordance with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, the FDOT is seeking comments from the public concerning the effects of the project on the activities, features and attributes of this park. The FDOT intends to make a de minimis impact determination for this resource. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by FDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated May 26, 2022 and executed by FHWA and FDOT. A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: FDOT Project Manager, Joe Lauk, by phone at (863) 519-2525 or by email at Joe.Lauk@dot.state.fl.us