HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Improvements are coming to the Selmon Expressway that will help with growing traffic congestion.

What You Need To Know

  • The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) just approved a new $752 million work plan to relieve congestion

  • THEA officials say the Expressway averaged 270,000 cars a day in 2024; that’s 10,000 more than the year before

  • One of the plans is the South Selmon Capacity project, from the Hillsborough River down to Gandy Boulevard, which will add a lane in each direction

The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) just approved a new $752 million work plan that includes some big changes.

THEA officials say the Expressway averaged 270,000 cars a day in 2024; that’s 10,000 more than the year before.

While that growth was expected, it’s happening faster than officials anticipated.

So now plans are moving forward to help with that increased traffic.

One of the plans is the South Selmon Capacity project, from the Hillsborough River down to Gandy Boulevard, which will add a lane in each direction.

After being in the works for years, the project is now set to start construction next year.

Then, work will be begin on adding new ramps to and from the Selmon at Whiting Street, that will eventually replace the ramps at Channelside Drive near Amalie Arena.

THEA CEO Greg Slater says that will help traffic getting in and out of downtown Tampa at all hours.

“We have backups coming into downtown today from that South Tampa area. That’s kind of a new challenge for us,” Slater said. “More and more to do downtown. More attractions. More people coming in, even in the middle of the week. So these new ramps we’re building over by Whiting Street will account for 100% of that growth.”

Another new future project that is funded is the beginning of the plans to extend the Selmon down U.S. 301 into south Hillsborough County.

While that is likely several years away, it would help address growing congestion in that area.

THEA is also moving ahead with plans for new community spaces around Selmon, like the future 12th Street Park. The work plan also includes funding for improved technology like wrong way detection and traffic cameras.