Tampa Plans $362M Expressway Rebuild
The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority has announced a $362 million reconstruction and widening project for the South Selmon Expressway. The four-year project is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026. The overhaul is intended to improve safety and traffic flow on the major commuter route.
- The project will add a lane in each direction to a 4.5-mile stretch of the expressway, from the Gandy Boulevard extension to the Hillsborough River bridge near downtown Tampa. It also includes the modernization of 26 bridges and enhancements to 14 underpasses with features like wider sidewalks and better lighting. - Funding for the $362 million project will come entirely from toll revenue, with no tax dollars being used. The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) also has a broader $752 million transportation plan for 2026 through 2031, with $692 million designated for infrastructure projects. - To minimize disruption in the downtown area, the construction contract includes a $5 million incentive to start and complete work near the convention center quickly. The overall project is expected to be fully completed by winter 2030. - Traffic on the Selmon Expressway has increased by 80% over the last decade, leading to significant congestion. A 2022 study found that the expressway saves commuters about 8 hours in travel time annually and reduces crash-related costs by approximately $37 million per year. - The project incorporates advanced traffic monitoring technology, including sensors, cameras, and AI-powered real-time traffic signal adjustments, described as a "downtown brain." New Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are intended to enable quicker incident response. - In addition to roadwork, the project includes community enhancements such as noise walls in residential areas and the creation of new recreational spaces, including two dog parks under the Bay to Bay and MacDill underpasses. - This project is part of a larger regional focus on infrastructure to support economic growth. Port Tampa Bay, for example, contributes $34.6 billion to Florida's economy and supports over 192,000 jobs. The region is also seeing major construction in the industrial and office sectors, with over 6.7 million square feet of projects underway in North Tampa Bay. - Supply chain issues for construction materials like steel and lumber, along with a shortage of skilled labor, present potential risks to the project's timeline and budget, reflecting broader challenges in Florida's construction sector. The state has initiated a $100 million, five-year grant program to increase the availability of construction materials for critical infrastructure projects.
