There are 5,128 drivers who use Lake Morton Drive on a daily basis with 518 vehicles using the road during the peak hour at 5 p.m. The posted speed limit on Lake Morton Drive is 25 mph. A recently completed traffic study indicates the operating speed is 23 mph with drivers averaging 18 mph while traveling around the lake. Based on recent traffic data, speeding is not the primary issue. All factors indicate these incidents were caused by distracted drivers and those not paying attention to their immediate surrounding. According to the Lakeland Police Department accidents are up 10-15% because drivers are using their mobile phones and other devices while driving.
*Most of the swans have been hit on the west side of the lake between Success Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue during all hours of the day.
Lake Morton is home to over 60 swans that are cared for by the City of Lakeland. There is also a very large population of ducks, geese and other water fowl that call the lake home. The area is also a very popular destination for families, walkers, joggers and cyclists. Solutions being explored need to enhance the safety, accessibility, and mobility for all of our users and wildlife.
There are some initiatives that have already been ruled out because they do not meet any or most of the objectives such as traffic management, speed acceleration and accessibility issues with over 18 side streets merging onto Lake Morton Drive. These suggestions include: speed humps, formalized bicycle paths, converting the road to one-way traffic, and lake side parking.