Special to Lake Okeechobee News
OKEECHOBEE -- The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invites the public to a hearing for the State Road 70 Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study from County Road 721 South to C.R. 599/SW 128th Avenue in Highlands and Okeechobee Counties. You can participate in the hearing in-person or virtually. The in-person event will be held on Dec. 16, 2025, and the virtual component will be held on Dec. 18, 2025.
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. You can choose the hearing format that best suits your convenience. The same materials will be displayed at both the in-person and online events as well as on the project website.
IN-PERSON OPTION
The in-person meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Indian River State College – Dixon Hendry Campus. 2229 NW 9th Avenue. Okeechobee. Displays will be available starting at 5:30 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.
VIRTUAL OPTION
The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. with the project team available for discussion. A formal presentation and comment period will start at 6 p.m.
To review the materials on project webpage before attending the virtual event go online to
Materials will be posted by Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
Project documents will be available for public viewing from Nov. 24, to Dec. 31, at the Okeechobee Public Library, 206 SW 16th Street, Okeechobee, FL 34974 and at the Florida Department of Transportation, District One, Heartlands Operations Center - Sebring, 4722 Kenilworth Boulevard, Sebring, FL 33870.
They 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 at
https://www.swflroads.com/project/450334-1 or by email to Kathern.Cothern@dot.state.fl.us or mail to FDOT District One, Attn: Kathern Cothern, 801 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830.
While comments about the project are accepted at any time, they must be received or postmarked by Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, to be included in the formal hearing record. All comments are weighted equally. Questions can be answered by calling the FDOT project manager Kathern Cothern at (863) 519-2331.
This proposed project involves the use of properties protected under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The S.R. 70 over Kissimmee River Bridge is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C in the area of Engineering as an example of a removable span bridge. Based on an evaluation of all PD&E Study alternatives, it is not feasible to keep the historic bridge in place and the proposed improvements require the replacement of this bridge. The State Historic Preservation Office concurred with the findings on July 17, 2024.
Subsequently, a Section 106 Case Study was prepared in which the FDOT applied the Criteria of Adverse Effect to this historical property. The SHPO concurred with these findings on Sept. 22, 2025.
Local historical societies were contacted on July 21, 2025 to provide information on the adverse effect to the bridge and to request feedback that will be considered for the development of mitigative measures.
Proposed mitigation strategies being discussed include the salvage of the existing bridge plaque and relocation to a new location, an educational exhibit to be placed in close proximity to the bridge location, and a Historic American Engineering Record document. Your input is sought concerning the undertaking’s adverse effect to the resource and proposed mitigation. Persons interested in this project may review the approved Section 106 Case Study on the project website (
https://www.swflroads.com/project/450334-1), or at the FDOT District 1 Heartland Operations Center – Sebring and the Okeechobee Public Library.
In addition, FDOT is seeking comments and input from the public, interested parties, and governmental agencies concerning the effects of the project on the activities, features, and attributes of this resource and the mitigation options under consideration for the proposed impacts.
The proposed improvements are adjacent to the Kissimmee River Public Use Area. As proposed, the project will impact approximately 2.43 acres of property from this recreation area.
FDOT is seeking comments from the public concerning the effects of the project on the activities, features and attributes of this recreation area. The FDOT intends to make a de minimis impact determination for this resource.
