BARTOW — Crews performing a directional bore under U.S. 17 in Winter Haven struck a gas line during boring operations Thursday morning, resulting in the closure of an additional southbound lane.

The outside southbound lane is now closed, in addition to the previously closed inside lane. Traffic is currently flowing through the middle southbound lane only.

Florida Public Utilities is onsite to assess the situation and make necessary repairs. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and use caution when traveling through the work zone.

No further updates are available at this time.

The southbound inside lane of U.S. 17, north and south of S.R. 540 (Cypress Gardens Boulevard), was closed with barrier wall beginning Wednesday, September 9, and is expected to remain closed for approximately two weeks. The inside westbound left-turn lane on Cypress Gardens Boulevard to southbound U.S. 17 is also closed.

Motorists should be prepared to merge, use caution and expect delays in the area.

The lane closures are part of a permitted project that includes construction of new driveways at the Target development and installation of a traffic signal at the Chain of Lakes Complex/Target entrance. The project also includes adding a second left-turn lane from southbound U.S. 17 to Snively Avenue, creating a double left turn.

For real-time traffic updates, visit https://fl511.com/.