Tampa leaders give update on next phase of West River BUILD Project

The next phase for the 'West River BUILD' project

The next phase of the Tampa West River BUILD project is focused on improving connections between downtown and the surrounding West Tampa neighborhoods. FOX 13's Blake DeVine reports. 

TAMPA, Fla. - The next phase of the Tampa West River BUILD project is focused on improving connections between downtown and the surrounding West Tampa neighborhoods.

A pre-construction meeting took place on Tuesday night at Beulah Baptist Institutional Church in Tampa. Local leaders addressed the public with projected plans for segments three and four.

Joe Robinson, the chairman of the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Area, said their goal is to slow down traffic in order to reduce pedestrian and cyclist fatalities.

"This has got a lot of safety in it and that's one of the major things," Robinson said. "The other benefits are for health, walking, connectivity and also economic developments."

What we know:

Construction is now underway to extend the Riverwalk along the west bank of the Hillsborough River while also creating a broader loop of safer corridors for pedestrians and cyclists.

The work is part of a six-segment project that will create a 12.2-mile connected corridor. 

Segments three through six focus on road improvements on the west side of the Hillsborough River, creating a continuous loop with the existing Riverwalk and connecting downtown to Hyde Park, Old West Tampa, and Tampa Heights.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Tampa breaks ground on West Riverwalk project

Planned improvements include separated cycling infrastructure along Platt Street, Rome Avenue, and Columbus Drive, as well as protected intersections, upgraded crosswalks, and wider sidewalks.

What they're saying:

"We're basically in a perpetual growth mode, and so we're always looking for ways to better connect the community, whether that means making road improvements, traffic-calming, adding sidewalks, adding cycling infrastructure, whatever tools that we have available to us, we bring to bear to help get people around and this project in itself does really create a true network on the west side of the river," said Brandon Campbell, interim mobility director for the city of Tampa. "This project surrounds a lot of the West Tampa area, including multiple parks that have been improved over the last few years, the University of Tampa, and connects all the way down into Bayshore. So we'll have, when all is said and done, a continuous connection from Ballast Point all the up to Columbus, and then back around to our major works."  

What's next:

City leaders said the final segment of the West River BUILD Project is expected to be completed by early next year.