By Matt Wiley
As crews work to finish the widening of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. underneath I-75 in New Tampa, Hillsborough County has sent out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for contractors to see who will win the contract to widen New Tampa’s main drag from Palm Springs Blvd. south to Bearss Ave.
The next segment of BBD widening — known as “Segment A” — will continue the process of transforming New Tampa’s congested main artery from a four-lane divided highway into an eight-lane divided highway. The next segment spans about 3.5 miles.
According to county documents, the bidding period for contractors is tentatively scheduled to open on Thursday, June 26. From then until mid-October, contractors can submit bids for the project. Currently, construction is scheduled to begin in November (after the contract is finally awarded), but that estimate is subject to change, depending upon how long the bid process takes to complete.
The project is estimated to take about 815 construction days from start to finish, with a very tentative completion date scheduled for February 2017.
In addition to widening the road, the contractor who is awarded the project also will be responsible for a 5-6-ft. sidewalk on the west side of BBD, as well as a 10-ft.-wide multi-use path on the east side of the road. The project also involves widening the southbound side of the small bridge that crosses over Cypress Creek, located between the Landmark at Grayson Park apartments and Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms, as well as construction of a new four-lane bridge on northbound BBD.
Minor construction also will be required at the Tampa Palms Blvd. and Amberly Dr. intersections with BBD, and four storm drainage ponds also will be created. Pond locations are planned at the northwest corner of Bearss Ave. and BBD, north of 42 St. on the west side of BBD, on the southwest corner of the intersection of BBD/Tampa Palms Blvd. (on land previously owned by Grace Episcopal Church) and south of Cypress Preserve Blvd. on the west side of BBD.
New traffic signals also will be installed at the seven intersections along the length of the project, as well as five Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) poles, identical to the ones already installed in the median of BBD approaching I-75 from both directions.
Work Under I-75 Update
As preparations continue for the next section of BBD widening, work by Prince Contracting also continues underneath I-75 to complete the widening to eight lanes from Pebble Creek Dr. south to Palm Springs Blvd. (BBD Segments B & C). Work on the one-mile stretch under the interstate (between Doña Michelle Dr. and Tampa Palms/Commerce Palms Blvd.) had to be delayed until the new I-75 overpasses were completed as part of the project to widen I-75 to six and eight lanes from Fowler Ave. in Tampa to S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel.
Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson John McShaffrey says that, based on Prince’s current schedule, New Tampa drivers can expect to finally enjoy an uninterrupted four lanes in each direction on BBD Segments B & C by late September or early November.
This work, he says, will include reconstruction of the road, as well as drainage installation, I-75 ramp tie-ins and the sidewalk and multi-use trail on either side of BBD.
Also, in the next two months, McShaffrey says that the ramp from northbound I-75 onto northbound BBD should be open in its final configuration.
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