TAMPA, Fla. – The face of Tampa’s commute is officially under construction, and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) wants residents to see exactly what’s coming. On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, FDOT will host a pair of open houses—one virtual and one in person—to discuss the S.R. 60/I-275 Westshore Interchange (TWI) Safety and Operational Improvements Project.
This multi-phase effort aims to untangle one of the region’s most notorious bottlenecks, focusing on modernizing the infrastructure connecting Memorial Highway and the Howard Frankland Bridge.
Work on the initial phase of the design-build project kicked off in January 2026. This portion of the massive undertaking includes building a new Reo Street Bridge and a dedicated flyover bridge from northbound I-275 to S.R. 60.
To manage heavy traffic flows, crews are also installing express lanes between the Reo Street Bridge and the Howard Frankland, along with a new Lemon Street box culvert and a frontage road on the east side of S.R. 60. If everything stays on track, this phase is expected to wrap up by late 2029.
For those who can’t make it to a physical meeting, the virtual session runs from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. online. Participants can register at https://bit.ly/WestshoreInterchange or call in by phone at +1 (213) 929-4212 (access code: 720-266-012).
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The hour is split into two identical sessions, each starting with a presentation followed by a live Q&A where attendees can use chat or “raise hand” features to get answers directly from the project team. A recording will be archived on the FDOT Tampa Bay website for those who miss the live window.
Later that same day, the agency will shift to an in-person, informal open house from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at 5517 West La Salle Street, Tampa, FL 33607. This walk-in format allows locals to look at project maps and speak one-on-one with FDOT staff and consultants.
FDOT emphasizes that these meetings are open to everyone. “Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status,” the department noted in its announcement.
Anyone requiring special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act is asked to contact the agency at least seven days beforehand. Those with hearing or speech impairments can use the Florida Relay Service at 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or 1 (800) 955-8770 (Voice) to participate.
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