In a move that has drawn heavy fire from residents of Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights and Ybor City, The Florida Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organization this week approved a $3 billion plan to add express toll lanes to I-275 and I-4 and rebuild the northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge. Residents of the aforementioned communities voiced their concerns that the widening of the interstate north of downtown would further splinter and devalue the historical character of these respective neighborhoods.
The plan will add express toll lanes from the Pinellas County side of Tampa Bay to Bearss Avenue on I-275. There will be no interchanges between Bearss Avenue and downtown—meaning people who live in between won’t be able to get onto the express lanes, another issue that drew wide criticism. Toll lanes also would be added along I-4 from downtown Tampa to east of I-75.
DOT officials have estimated that construction will claim up to 100 houses and 30 businesses as it proceeds. State officials say design work on the new span of the Howard Frankland could begin in 2019, with construction getting going in early 2020 for four- to five-year project.
Thousands have signed a petition opposing the expansion project.
