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Published on Tuesday, September 7, 2004
in the Lakeland Ledger
LAKELAND -- East coast evacuees eager to get back home caused major delays on Interstate 4 throughout Monday, and the many pot holes that opened on the highway did not help the problem.
Traffic picked up on eastbound I-4 about 11 a.m. and the pot holes and minor flooding near Lakeland exits caused delays as work crews made repairs, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Larry Coggins said.
Troopers, who suspended operations for several hours Sunday afternoon during high winds, responded to calls Monday and aided people who did not heed public warnings to stay off the roads.
Coggins said some residents who wanted to "sightsee" ended up getting their cars stuck on flooded roads and slammed into guard rails in construction sites.
As Polk residents return to work today, Coggins warns people to leave their homes early.
"A lot of the routes of travel aren't there because of downed power lines and trees in the road," he said.
Coggins said many secondary roads remain blocked with trees, power lines or water.
Traffic signs are missing and many signals are out.
Coggins said drivers need to treat intersections where the power is out and traffic signals are not working as a four-way stop.
A serious threat to drivers is flooded streets.
"There are still a lot of roads under water," Coggins said.
"Just remember that what doesn't look deep . . . may be a bit deeper than it looks," he said.