TAMPA, Fla. – A major stretch of South Himes Avenue will completely shut down this morning after a water main ruptured, forcing emergency crews to block off all traffic and sidewalks.
The Tampa Water Department will close all lanes between West Cleveland Street and West Roland Street at 8:30 a.m. today. Officials confirmed the total lockdown is necessary so repair crews can safely dig up and fix the broken pipe.
Drivers are being warned to steer clear of the area or expect significant delays. The city has already put up barricades and detour signs to help route traffic around the mess, but officials say drivers still need to use extra caution if they navigate the surrounding neighborhood. They also noted that traffic routes might change on the fly as the repair work progresses.
READ: Tampa Traffic Alert: Southbound Lanes Blocked On Bruce B. Downs Blvd Through Thursday
If you use this route for your daily commute, you will need a backup plan for most of the week. The Water Department expects the road to stay closed until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29, when normal traffic patterns should finally return.
However, that timeline isn’t set in stone. City officials stated that “work schedules are contingent upon weather conditions” and added that the Tampa Water Department “may need to return at a later date to complete additional work.” If they have to come back out to finish the job, the city promises to send out another update.
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