U.S. Highway 17 from the Charlotte/DeSoto County line to SW Collins St. – Work continues to widen four miles of US 17 from two to four lanes. Crews currently are converting original US 17 travel lanes to future southbound travel lanes through the entire length of the project. Workers are paving new lanes and installing retention ponds, water lines, drain pipes, silt fences, sod and mulch. Motorists traveling on US 17 in both directions between the Thornton Branch Bridge and Senate Street should expect intermittent lane closures from 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. as crews complete the paving of the median opening between the future US 17 northbound and southbound travel lanes at the intersection of US 17 and County Road 761/Madison Ave. One lane of the median opening also will be closed, requiring flagging operations on CR 761/Madison Avenue. Flagmen will be stationed at all approaches to the intersection to assist motorists while this operation is under way. Also, Senate Street will be closed for paving and curb work at the point where it intersects with the future southbound US 17 travel lanes. The detour route will be River St./Hull St. From SW Collins Street to the DeSoto/Charlotte County line, motorists should also expect daytime intermittent flagging operations at other side streets intersecting with the original US 17 lanes. The work at the side streets will not affect traffic on the US 17 lanes now open in both directions.