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Progress Village stormwater upgrade project
All lanes of Progress Boulevard in Hillsborough County will be closed from 78th St. to 85th St. for two months for a regional drainage improvement project that's now underway. FOX 13's Jennifer Kveglis reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - Residents of Progress Village in south Hillsborough County are finally seeing relief in sight as a major drainage improvement project is now underway.
What we know:
County officials have closed Progress Boulevard between 78th St. and 85th St. around the clock for the next two months to allow crews to install new stormwater infrastructure.
The $17.3 million project, funded through the American Rescue Plan, includes:
- A new stormwater drain under Ash Avenue and South 82nd St.
- Replacement of existing inlets and outfalls south of Progress Blvd.
- Upgraded pipes to handle larger volumes of water
- A new water-quality treatment pond that will flow into Archie Creek
Why It Matters:
Progress Village residents have dealt with repeated flooding, most recently during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, along with two additional major rain events in mid-July. Some neighbors were trapped inside their homes, and water rescues were required.
Local leaders and residents say they believe years of nearby development on higher ground worsened the flooding.
"With all of the building that has been coming into the area, people don’t take into consideration that we’ve been here for a long time," said Twanda Bradley, president of the Progress Village Civic Council.
What's next:
Progress Blvd. is expected to remain closed through early October.
While the drainage project is scheduled to finish later this year, residents say they are cautiously optimistic and looking ahead to 2026 for long-term results.
The Source: This information comes from Hillsborough County officials, interviews with Progress Village residents and community leaders, and on-site reporting by FOX 13’s Jennifer Kveglis.