Public May Consider Alternatives to Reduce Traffic Congestion at selmonstudies.com

Tampa, Fla. (September 11, 2020) – During a September 10th Virtual Town Hall Meeting (VTHM), the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) showed the different alternatives to increase capacity on the southern section of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. These alternatives are part of the South Selmon Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study. The study began in the Summer of 2019 and analyzes alternatives to improve the efficiency and capacity of the Selmon Expressway well into the future.

The Expressway is currently operating at full capacity with an expected 700,000 new residents moving to Hillsborough County by 2045. The presented alternatives give build options to reduce cut-through traffic and congestion on local roads like MacDill Avenue, Himes Avenue, and Bayshore Boulevard. The Study’s traffic analysis determined that, by 2046, the Selmon Expressway will need eight lanes to accommodate this growth. THEA presented two alternatives as solutions, defined by impact on community and agency cost. The public is encouraged to share their opinion on these alternatives on the study website, selmonstudies.com.

During the September 10th VTHM, participants viewed renderings and heard features of two design options: Alternatives 2 and 6. As required by the process, a no-build option was presented.  However, this option does not address traffic congestion, which Hillsborough County residents rate as a high priority.

Alternative 2 expands the Expressway to eight-lanes through widening to the inside and to the outside. This alternative accommodates future traffic models through 2045 and has certain areas that warrant the erection of noise walls. Alternative 2 provides a solution for projected 2045 traffic, however, it will provide excess capacity until that time. In this option, overpass bridges are filled in and construction is to the outside and to the inside of the current roadway.

Alternatives 6 offers a more economical, two-phased, approach to meeting traffic demands by first adding only one extra lane of traffic in each direction. With construction to the outside first, that leaves open bridges in most overpasses. The agency can then expand to the eight lanes needed to accommodate projected 2045 traffic without removing any of the phase-one construction. As a result of the cost savings from this two-phased approach of Alternative 6, THEA can offer residents noise barriers through the entire length of the project.

While comments on the Study are taken throughout the process, only comments received by 5 pm on October 2, 2020, will be included in the final report. Visit the selmonstudies.com website to review the findings and to share your opinion with the agency.

“We are building for our drivers’ needs now and planning for Tampa’s growth. Being able to reach destinations with ease and keep neighborhoods free of traffic congestion, is a priority of our agency,” said THEA CEO Joe Waggoner.

For more information on the South Selmon PD&E Study, please visit the website selmonstudies.com. Click here for media press kit: https://bit.ly/33jnR4j