Hillsborough County Ramps Up Ramp Improvements

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL -- Pleasure boaters and weekend anglers looking forward to launching their watercraft from Williams Boat Ramp might want to find an alternative.

Starting this week, the ramp at 8749 U.S. 41 will be closed for four months for repairs, rebuilds and replacements.

Hillsborough County will repair the west and eat ramps and replace the fixed docks with floating docks that are handicapped accessible.

This is just one of a number of ramp improvement projects taking place throughout the county.

With more than 40,000 registered boats and easy access to Tampa Bay, major rivers and the Gulf of Mexico, Hillsborough County is a boater's paradise. All those vessels, though, can be tough on public boat ramps and docks.

That's why Hillsborough County has launched major improvements to many boat ramps this year, including some of the most popular. The work is intended to make the ramps, docks and parking safer, more accessible and more convenient to use.

Most of the work - nearly $2 million worth - is being funded through local boater registration fees.
Among the improvements completed, in the works, or planned:

* Ruskin Commongood Boat Ramp, 1106 First Ave. N.W., in Ruskin: Repair the seawall, redo the ramp, tear out the existing concrete docks and install a new dock system. Work expected to begin within six months.

* Alafia River Boat Ramp: 4104 Alafia Blvd., in Brandon: Resurface parking lot and fix seawall. Project should begin within the next 12 months.

* Cockroach Bay Boat Ramp, 5299 Cockroach Bay Road, in Ruskin: Stabilize shoulder for boat-trailer parking along Cockroach Bay Road and improve erosion control at kayak launch. Project completed.

* Courtney Campbell Boat Ramp, 12030 Courtney Campbell W.: Reseal and re-stripe parking lot and replace floating docks. Project completed.

* Domino Park Boat Ramp, 2201 Eighth St. S.W., in Ruskin: Replace pilings and install new decking. Project completed.

* Baker Creek Boat Ramp: 12095 Thonotosassa Road, in Thonotosassa. Install a dock and add a canoe launch. Project completed.

Image via Hillsborough County

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