Selmon Expressway Construction Closes Gandy Left Turn Lanes

TAMPA, FL -- Beginning Sunday, Feb. 4, the eastbound and westbound Gandy Boulevard left turn lanes of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway at Manhattan Avenue will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for work associated with the expressway extension project.

The lanes will be closed at those times through Friday, Feb. 9.

Crews are currently installing the second test shaft that will serve as a basis for what will eventually be used to build the permanent piers for the extension. There will be minor traffic disruptions for motorists, however, noise will be kept to a minimum.

In addition, short intermittent lane closures may occur along eastbound and westbound Gandy Boulevard to allow contractors to complete work in the area.

Workers will relocate utility poles, remove roots and stumps and prepare erosion control measures for the extension project.

Both the Gandy Park South on the southside of Gandy Boulevard and the Al Palonis Park on the north side of Gandy Boulevard have been closed for the duration of the Selmon extension construction project.

The Gandy boat ramp is open.

The Selmon Expressway Extension Project is a planned 1.9-mile toll lane located in the median of Gandy Boulevard, which will allow drivers to choose between Gandy Boulevard for local destinations or the Selmon extension for a direct connection to the Selmon Expressway or the Gandy Bridge.

The extension is intended to ease traffic congestion and allow Gandy drivers to skip the lights at Westshore Boulevard, Manhattan Avenue and Lois Avenue. Drivers can either exit at Dale Mabry Highway or continue onto the Selmon Expressway.

Transportation officials say the extension, which will be constructed along the median of Gandy Boulevard, will cut some commutes by at least 35 percent.

The extension project began this month and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2020.

Image via Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority