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The Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority (THEA) conducted a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to identify and analyze various alternative design concepts to meet the future traffic needs on the Selmon Expressway (SR 618) from Florida Avenue to South 22nd Street in Hillsborough County. The total project length is approximately 1.7 miles and is located within the Tampa city limits.

Proposed improvements include the widening of the existing structures to the inside to provide a divided 6-lane roadway. The build alternative and any related stormwater improvements will be situated within the existing right-of-way (ROW). The design year for this project is 2035. A separate project within the limits of this study is the proposed re-decking of an approximately one mile segment of the existing viaduct structures, to be constructed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The proposed redecking will extend from Florida Avenue to North 12th Street.

This PD&E Study was conducted by THEA in cooperation with the FDOT District Seven. The objective of this study was to reach a decision on the type, location and conceptual design for the necessary improvements for the Selmon Expressway to safely and efficiently accommodate future travel demand. This Study documented the need for the improvements as well as the procedures utilized to develop and evaluate various improvements including elements such as proposed typical sections and preliminary horizontal alignments. The social, physical, and natural environmental effects and costs of these improvements have been identified. The alternatives were evaluated and compared based on a variety of parameters utilizing a matrix format. This process identified the Recommended Alternative that will best balance the benefits (such as improved traffic operations and safety) with the impacts (such as environmental effects and construction costs). In addition, full consideration was given to a “No-Build” alternative.

Study Purpose and Need

The Selmon Expressway will need capacity improvements to maintain the required level-of-service (LOS) based on projected traffic volumes, particularly as a result of the FDOT’s nearby I-4 Connector Project. The purpose of this PD&E Study is to develop and evaluate build alternatives that will accomplish this need, by expanding this divided four-lane facility into the equivalent of a divided six-lane facility.

Proposed Improvements

The Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority (THEA) conducted a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate possible capacity improvements along approximately 1.7 miles of the Selmon Expressway (SR 618), currently a four-lane, continuous elevated structure through downtown Tampa. The study limits for this project are from Florida Avenue to South 22nd Street in Hillsborough County, Florida. The design year for the improvements is 2035.