While Tampa has always been a sizeable city, the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 brought an influx of new residents, leading to increased demand for housing, more businesses and most noticeably, heavier traffic. According to Consumer Affairs, a research group that analyzes how services affect everyday people, Tampa was ranked the 13th-worst city for traffic, with residents losing an average of 34 hours annually on the roads. Despite these growing population challenges, one of the key factors that helps the city remain sustainable is the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.
The Lee Roy Selmon Expressway opened in 1976 to reduce traffic and improve access to downtown Tampa. Today, it serves as a major transportation route across the city. The road runs about 17 miles from Gandy Boulevard to Brandon, giving drivers a faster, more direct way to travel. It is a limited-access, all-electronic toll road with elevated reversible express lanes that change direction during rush hour to keep traffic flowing.
These lanes allow drivers to avoid crowded roads such as Kennedy Boulevard and downtown intersections, saving some commuters as much as an hour. For students, the expressway reduces the surmounting stress of commuting by making it safer and more efficient. Whether heading to school, sports practices and games outside Tampa, or attending concerts and events, it helps them get around without adding significant time to their already busy schedules.
Ultimately, driving without the expressway would be far less ideal for residents, especially students. However, that may change in the near future. The Selmon Expressway is scheduled to begin a $362 million construction project in early May of this year and is expected to continue through 2030.
The Why and How of the Selmon Construction:
Selmon express way plans by Vivienneharris 2902
The Lee Roy Selmon Expressway has long helped manage traffic, but continued population growth has diminished its effectiveness over the years. To address the matter, the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway will be expanded. The $362 million “South Selmon Capacity +5” project was first introduced in 2023, later expanded, and officially approved in September 2025. Funding will come from toll revenue collected by the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA). The main goal is to ease traffic in the most crowded areas, especially on routes leading into downtown.
The project will add one lane in each direction along a 4.5-mile stretch from west of Himes Avenue to east of Florida Avenue. There will also be an additional eastbound lane from Gandy Boulevard into downtown. This area often experiences heavy traffic, particularly during peak hours when commuters from MacDill Air Force Base are heading home alongside other residents. In addition to widening the roadway, the project includes upgrades to 26 bridges, new noise walls, improved underpasses, pedestrian enhancements and advanced safety technology for the city’s overall benefit.
While construction is expected to start in coming weeks, drivers may already notice survey crews and equipment along the route before major work begins. Although construction may cause temporary traffic delays, the goal is to reduce congestion not only on the expressway but also on nearby roads like Bayshore and Westshore Boulevards, which are often suggested as alternate routes.
What Students Think About the Changes:
For many students, the impending construction on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway feels more like a hassle than something to look forward to. The project is intended to improve traffic in the future, but in the short term, it will cause many delays, detours, and longer commutes during some of the busiest years for students. Those who rely on the expressway to get to school, practices, jobs, or events will likely feel the biggest impact, since even small delays can throw off their already full schedules.
Many students also believe they won’t benefit from the project, as they would have already graduated by the time construction ends in 2030. So, something designed to help in the long run just feels like another challenge for students today.
Carolyn Murphy (10), a student who uses the expressway, often shares those same regards. “I use the expressway to avoid traffic—whenever I put directions into Apple Maps, it gives me the quickest route,” Murphy said. “It helps me get to my favorite restaurants in Ybor, my appointments across town, and even Lightning games.”
‘I’m frustrated because these changes are going to make navigating Tampa traffic much more difficult and inconvenient,” said Murphy. “By the time construction is finished, I’ll already be graduated, so I won’t even benefit from the improvements after dealing with the inconvenience now.”
However, not every student feels the same way. While some are frustrated by the inconvenience, others, like Aidan Cunningham (12), aren’t as concerned and view the construction as a manageable, temporary disruption rather than a major issue.
“I live right by Hyde Park and the Selmon Expressway, so there are usually loud noises and events going on,” Cunningham said. “But I haven’t really noticed any construction noise yet, which makes me think it might not be as big a deal as people are making it seem. I use the expressway to get to practices and tournaments, but it’s also possible to take back roads to avoid traffic, so I’m not too worried about the construction affecting my schedule or daily routine.”