THEA Board Approves Contract for South Selmon Capacity Project Construction
THEA Board Approves Contract for South Selmon Capacity Project Construction
$362 Million Investment Sets Stage for Largest Capacity Expansion Since the Selmon Extension
TAMPA, FL (September 22, 2025) — The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) Board of Directors has approved a $362 million investment to improve the southern section of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. The South Selmon Capacity Project is the agency’s largest investment since the award-winning Selmon West Extension, completed in 2021. Following a highly competitive bid process, Archer Western Construction, LLC, was awarded the contract during THEA’s board meeting on Monday.
The South Selmon Capacity Project will improve the Selmon Expressway within its existing right of way by adding one lane in each direction, inside the roadway, along a 4.5-mile stretch from the Selmon West Extension into downtown Tampa. The project will modernize 26 bridges, including a signature span over the Hillsborough River, creating a welcoming gateway into the city. In addition, the planning process included extensive community engagement to ensure that the community's needs were heavily considered. Guided by neighborhood feedback, THEA is adding noise walls in all residential areas and transforming every underpass with brighter lighting, landscaping, and safer, more walkable connections.
Key project benefits include:
- Improved Traffic Flow: Added lanes will address congestion challenges, and extended merge areas will alleviate bottlenecks at entry/exit points and keep traffic moving.
- Neighborhood Protection & Safety: Reduced backups will minimize using neighborhood streets like Bayshore Boulevard as cut-through routes.
- Community Enhancements: Beyond noise walls, THEA will upgrade all South Tampa underpasses within the project limits. The Bay-to-Bay/MacDill Avenue underpass will be redesigned into a new dog park and community gathering space shaped by public input.
- Signature Gateway Bridge: The Hillsborough River Bridge will receive aesthetic upgrades, creating a distinctive entryway to Downtown Tampa.
- Advanced Safety Technology: New Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) will enable real-time monitoring, quicker incident response, and safer travel.
“The South Selmon Capacity Project reflects THEA’s commitment to building infrastructure that serves people first,” said Greg Slater, CEO and Executive Director of THEA. “Our neighbors told us they wanted noise walls, safer pedestrian connections, and improved underpasses, and this project delivers on those priorities while providing more reliable travel for everyone who uses the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.”
Tampa Bay is one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation, and traffic on the Selmon Expressway has reached record-setting volumes in recent years. The South Selmon Capacity Project is designed to meet that growth, keep commuters connected, and deliver community-driven enhancements alongside major infrastructure upgrades.
"Selecting a contractor is a major milestone in bringing this vision to life," said Vince Cassidy, Chair of the THEA Board of Directors. “This is a $362 million commitment to regional mobility and neighborhood quality of life, ensuring the Selmon Expressway remains a reliable and safe backbone for Tampa Bay as our region continues to grow.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026 and is anticipated to be completed in 2030. The cost for the South Selmon Capacity Project will be funded through THEA toll revenue. For more information, please visit https://www.southselmoncapacity.com/.
ABOUT THEA:
Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is an award-winning and dynamic transportation agency committed to enriching lives by connecting communities. THEA owns, manages, and operates the Selmon Expressway system, which includes Meridian Avenue, Brandon Parkway, and the Selmon Greenway. As part of its mission, THEA continues to reinvest revenue generated by its assets back into the community through innovative infrastructure projects, safety enhancements, and economic development initiatives. THEA processes 78 million toll transactions and serves almost 4 million customers annually. For more information, visit www.tampa-way.com.
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