Published: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 12:00 a.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 3:44 a.m.

LAKELAND | A proposed project that would add pedestrian islands and traffic separators to South Florida Avenue met with concerns at a public hearing Tuesday from residents worried about increased traffic, safety and the impact on businesses.

The $469,000 Florida Department of Transportation project, which is tentatively scheduled to begin construction next summer, will add seven pedestrian refuge islands to the center turn lanes on South Florida Avenue stretching from Belmar Street to the Polk Parkway. But most of the concern was directed at three traffic separators planned near Edgewood Drive, Pablo Street and just north of Ariana Street.

The separators will be concrete barriers used to divide traffic in both directions, similar to the ones farther down South Florida Avenue, just south of the Polk Parkway.

The planned separators from Carey Place to Edgewood Drive, and then from Edgewood Drive to Pablo Street, will completely eliminate the middle lane, dividing it into two left-turn lanes at each intersection.

Laurie Gonzalez, who lives off South Florida Avenue near the planned dividers, said that stretch will become even more congested and cause traffic problems as cars try to turn left at Edgewood Drive.

"The left lane is too short. It will just push the traffic back into the regular lanes, and you already have to wait to turn there during rush hour," Gonzalez said.

Amy Blair, district resurfacing and minor design engineer for FDOT, said the islands should help pedestrians cross more safely at places without intersections and other signals, while the separators will help control traffic congestion at the busy intersections.

Blair said the FDOT considered business entrances when designing the barriers, but some of the accesses and driveways could be affected.

Gonzalez was not alone with concerns that the separator in front of Edgewood Plaza would hurt businesses in that area because drivers can't easily turn into them.

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Proposed South Florida Avenue Project Adds Islands and Traffic Separators