New Southeastern University Entrance to Debut in March

Southeastern University expects to have construction on its Longfellow Boulevard road expansion completed just in time for the National Leadership Forum March 10-12, according to Dane Slaughter, the university’s facilities director.

If you’ve driven down Longfellow Boulevard in the past several months, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a great deal of construction going on in front of Southeastern, a private Christian university affiliated with the Assemblies of God.

That project expands a nearly half-mile portion of the roadway to include turn lanes onto university property, a 12-foot-wide landscaped median along part of the road, a pedestrian crossing and vast improvements to the underground storm water system that will help treat storm water run-off before it reaches nearby Lake Bonny.

The road construction is part of a larger project that will create a new main entrance for the university and a lighted parking lot on the west side of Longfellow. The entire project is expected to be completed this summer, Slaughter said.

The new entryway at the intersection of Longfellow Boulevard and North Crystal Lake Drive will feature two lighted gateways, each two stories tall on either side of Longfellow Boulevard, according to information provided by Gary Kimler, SEU’s public relations director.

The new parking area will include room for 281 vehicles and four retention ponds. Other improvements include a custom-designed bus shelter for Citrus Connection users and a four-way stop at the intersection of Longfellow and Prima Vista Drive, the university’s main entrance.

photo credit: Lorrie Delk Walker for Lakeland Local