Financial Project # 258401
Project Length: 3.2 miles
Construction Cost: $182.8 million
Contractor: Kiewit Southern Co.
Start Date: February 2, 2004
Completed: December 14, 2007

About this Project
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has completed making capacity and safety improvements to Interstate 4 from west of 14th Street to 50th Street in Tampa, Florida. The project reconstructed a four-lane roadway into an eight-lane roadway (4 lanes in each direction) to tie into the Downtown Tampa Interchange improvement project, where construction completed in December 2006 (see "I-4/I-275 Interchange operational improvements" for more info).

The eight-lane section of I-4 is now located to the outside of the original roadway and the area where the original roadway was located is now a grassy median. The median area will be reserved for future construction of additional travel lanes and either high-occupancy vehicle lanes or rail. The access at 21st/22nd Streets remains similar as it was before construction began; however, a new auxiliary road enhances local circulation between the 14th/15th Street and 21st/22nd Street intersections. 19th Street was permanently closed under I-4 and interstate access at 40th Street was relocated to 50th Street after all ramps at 40th Street were closed (8/31/05). At 50th Street, Columbus Drive was permanently realigned to the south between 45th and 53rd Streets.

For a computer-enhanced view of before and after photos of the project, click here.

The project improvements also included primarily shoulder mounted eight-foot noise walls adjacent to densely developed residential areas, aesthetic design treatments that compliment the historic neighborhood, and relocation and rehabilitation of historic structures located within the proposed right-of-way.

Improvement highlights for this portion of the I-4 corridor included:

Increased from a four-lane highway to an eight-lane highway.

Provided for accommodation of high-speed rail, other rail transit, and/or additional lanes in the future.

Improved and modified interchange ramps.

Reconstructed bridges and improved height clearances.

Increased median width.

Created safer clear zones and recovery zones.

Improved lighting.

Improved drainage.
Lane Closure Hours were:
* Mainline I-4 and ramps: 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights as needed.
* 21st Street/22nd Street at I-4 (daytime): 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday as needed.
* 21st Street/22nd Street at I-4 (nighttime): 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday nights as needed.
* 50th Street: 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.