Florida Transportation Magazine

By John McShaffrey

Since 1995, when the reconstruction of Interstate 4 in Hillsborough County began, there have been continuous improvements to the Tampa Bay region highway infrastructure. The Florida Department of Transportation is working diligently to meet the area’s growing traffic demands for both local and visiting drivers.  

Currently in Tampa, several major projects are underway involving the interstate system: the $42 million Bruce B. Downs Flyover Bridge project at I-75 in New Tampa which opened to traffic in July; the $107 million widening and reconstructing the northbound lanes of I-275 from Himes Avenue to the Hillsborough River in downtown; a $25 million major drainage outfall system along I-275 from Lois Avenue to Tampa Bay ; and the $212 million reconstruction of State Road 60 from I-275 to the Veterans Expressway, which is called the Tampa Airport Interchange Project.  

With the Super Bowl in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium in 2009, the Tampa Airport Interchanges project is being closely monitored. It is difficult to avoid the construction area as it encompasses Tampa International Airport and connects to and involves work on State Road 60, the Veterans Expressway, Memorial Highway, Independence Parkway, I-275, Cypress Street and Spruce Street which is the major route to the stadium from the airport.  

When the project was designed and ultimately awarded to the joint venture of Flatiron-Tidewater Skanska in 2005, the Super Bowl had not yet been awarded to Tampa. Contractual provisions were not included to address this mega event outside of discretionary non-workdays FDOT could use to stop work for major events. And with the contract completion date in spring of 2010, much work would remain at the time of the big game.  

While coordination and communication have been ongoing between the Super Bowl Host Committee and the department, FDOT’s District Seven Construction Office has proactively worked to reduce project impacts and put forth the best image possible for the Tampa Bay area on these key projects in the two weeks prior and the actual Super Bowl day events. FDOT is a supportive partner in attracting future Super Bowls and other major events to Tampa Bay.  

The Tampa Airport Interchanges construction contract already contained several alternative contracting provisions, but none would accomplish the desired impact before February 1, 2009. The project team, along with the contractor, worked to identify key movements and areas that could be advanced or completed by mid-January 2009. Six financial incentives were restructured for a value of $4.2 million.  If achieved, it will help with Super Bowl traffic demands and, perhaps more importantly, assist everyday Tampa Bay motorists traveling through the TIA area by advancing the project’s completion.   

The new incentives will encourage completion of eastbound SR 60, southbound Veterans Expressway, ramps to TIA and through lanes to Cypress Street. If the provisions are attained, two major traffic-stopping traffic signals will be eliminated before February 2009 and a major bridge connecting TIA to southbound I-275 will open to traffic.  

There is no guarantee all the desired work will be completed by Super Bowl Sunday, but the Tampa Airport Interchange Project is an excellent example of forward thinking, flexibility and cooperation between consultants, contractors and FDOT officials.  All strive to advance needed transportation work to meet unscheduled demands, while still managing the existing traffic needs of the Tampa Bay region within the Westshore Business District of the City of Tampa.