Work Begins on $1 Billion Westshore Interchange Expansion in Tampa

The Florida Department of Transportation launched construction on the $1 billion Tampa Westshore Interchange project. Crews broke ground last month. Years of planning preceded this moment, with costs pegged at $1 billion as of September 2021, per FDOT.

This massive undertaking will widen roads and reduce traffic snarls at one of Tampa Bay's most clogged junctions.

The interchange funnels I-275 drivers toward the Howard Frankland Bridge and State Road 60 or Kennedy Boulevard near the mall.

"It's a major point of congestion right now for folks coming down the Veterans [Expressway] from Pasco and Hernando, people coming across the Howard Frankland from Pinellas, and people coming across town from Hillsborough and the city of Tampa," Zachary Stringer said, acording to Fox 13 News. Stringer is the special projects construction manager with FDOT.

This junction also serves neighborhoods along West Shore Boulevard and Tampa International Airport. State and federal money will bankroll the construction.

"What we're doing is increasing capacity," Stringer said. "We're going to help eliminate some of the weaves that people make currently by allowing drivers to make decisions on what roads they're going to be taking earlier."

Phase one targets the west flank of the interchange along I-275. Teams are installing drainage on the south side and on Lemon Street.

The East Frontage Road between Cypress and Lemon sits closed, though businesses can still be reached. On SR-60's west side at West Frontage, northbound traffic can't pass. Drivers can still reach I-275 southbound via that West Frontage Road.

"You'll see more construction heavily on Reo Street," Stringer said. "There's going to be a bridge that's going over I-275 there. You'll see construction continuing on the east side of SR-60, going up toward the airport. And you'll see construction on the south side of I-275 at the interchange itself."

At Trask Street, a passageway beneath I-275 will allow motorists to move between north and south at Trask Street and Occident Street. Once finished, FDOT says drivers will get extra lanes plus two express lanes in every direction.

Phase one should wrap up in 2030.

FDOT officials call the Tampa Westshore Interchange project the linchpin connecting the Downtown Tampa Interchange and Howard Frankland Bridge expansion efforts.

"We understand it's a temporary inconvenience for drivers," Stringer said. "We do want them to keep in mind that it's for a long-term improvement is what we're building."

More phases are being mapped out. Money for those stages is allocated for 2030 and 2032.