Westshore Interchange Construction Timeline
While we watch the new Howard Frankland Bridge get closer to completion, residents still only seem to care about what will happen to the dreaded Westshore/Veterans interchange. The interchange connects to many businesses, residents, malls, and the airport, so it often leads to traffic congestion at almost any time of day. We’ll keep this post updated on the construction progress and timeline. But it will be years before the project is fully complete.
The new interchange project will add more general use and express lanes. The updated design also includes flyover ramps including the replacement of the existing loop ramp from eastbound SR 60 to northbound I-275. Other improvements for the interchange include:
- Constructing a new flyover ramp from the Howard Frankland Bridge to westbound SR 60 towards the Tampa International Airport.
- Reconnecting three local roadways at Reo Street, Occident Street, and Trask Street to help improve local traffic circulation.
- Adding a new on-ramp from Reo Street to southbound I-275.
- Aesthetic treatments and shared use path connectivity to the existing trail network and to the new shared use path currently under construction as part of the Howard Frankland Bridge project.
- FDOT is also reviewing the existing and planned bicycle and pedestrian facilities to improve connections to the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail from the Westshore area.
Many pointed out one other thing to consider is how the Westshore Plaza demolition could impact this project. The timeline for the project has not been shared yet but we do know they plan to add new lanes on Kennedy Blvd to help traffic.
How Long Is The Westshore Interchange Construction Timeline?
The FDOT will conduct this reconstruction in phases. We are still currently in the first “planning” phase. The Tampa Bay Business Journal was told by a FDOT spokesperson that the planning of the $1+ billion reconstruction “should end around this summer.” Originally, construction was supposed to start in late 2024, but has been pushed back to 2025.
Below is the overall phasing plan for the Westshore Interchange construction. Again, keep in mind that projects like this take years to complete and are often halted by things like hurricane season, labor costs, and inflation challenges.
