Tampa Expressway Authority Begins $362M Selmon Expansion To Add Third Lane

The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority started work on a $362 million expansion of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. Crews are setting up equipment, and construction starts this spring.

The project widens the expressway from two lanes in each direction to three between Downtown Tampa and Gandy Boulevard. That's 4.5 miles. Officials say toll revenue collected from the roadway will pay for everything — no tax dollars.

THEA Executive Director Greg Slater says workers will rebuild the entire roadway. "We are going to reconstruct all of that expressway, rebuild all of those bridges, including the Hillsborough River Bridge by the Convention Center, redo underpasses, and construct everything within the existing right-of-way that we own today," said Slater, according to FOX 13.

Traffic has surged in recent years. Back in 2020, the Selmon Expressway carried close to 131,000 vehicles per day. Today? Nearly 250,000 vehicles roll through daily.

Drivers will spot preliminary activity in early spring. Survey crews will appear. Construction equipment is set up along the route now.

Plans include 14 green spaces beneath the elevated expressway, with parks, dog parks, pickleball courts, and outdoor gathering areas tucked underneath. The expansion brings enhanced stormwater management systems and noise-barrier walls in residential neighborhoods.

THEA is rolling out new technology designed to improve traffic flow. Slater describes the system as a "Downtown Brain," which uses cameras, artificial intelligence, and real-time traffic monitoring.

"With the right intelligence and interconnecting with the signal systems, we can detect congestion early and adjust signal timing," Slater explained. "If traffic starts to build and ramps begin to back up, we can extend green times and push traffic through more efficiently."

Slater says the goal extends past improving mobility — it's about connecting surrounding neighborhoods. "What we're trying to do is create sections of community space and activate the area underneath the expressway to connect the communities on either side," he said.

THEA briefed Tampa City Council members about the timeline recently.