Selmon West Extension

Making commuter travel in our region Safer. Smarter. More Connected.

The construction of The Selmon West Extension began in December 2017 to create a 1.9-mile toll bridge connecting the south end of the Gandy Bridge to Brandon with no stoplight in between by linking the bridge to the reworked Lee Roy Selmon Expressway entrance ramp at Dale Mabry Highway.

Recognizing that regional and local traffic volumes would continue to increase due to the large-scale net migration to Tampa Bay, the $230 million elevated toll lane was built to offer drivers a choice to either stay on Gandy Boulevard for local destinations or use the Extension for regional “pass-through” trips. The construction of the project was fully funded by toll revenue and bonds, reinforcing our commitment to enhancing communities while improving regional mobility.

The Selmon Extension’s design was the first of its kind to be built in the United States. Distinctive fins crown the concrete pier columns that rise from the ground, providing architectural distinctiveness as well as stability to the bridge deck. While the majority of elevated interstates typically rise 15 feet off the ground, the Extension soars to twice that height - making businesses along Gandy Boulevard more visible. An innovative and aesthetically pleasing design of the bridge helped minimize the negative effects of construction on the business along the Gandy corridor.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Selmon West Extension was held on April 19th, 2021. During the ceremony, we presented the City of Tampa with a $2 million check to help rebuild city parks on the north and south side of Gandy Boulevard that were used as staging areas during construction.

By removing the “pass-through” traffic coming to and from the Gandy Bridge that has no destination in the Gandy corridor, the Selmon Extension created 40% greater capacity on Gandy Boulevard for neighborhood traffic and customers of Gandy Boulevard corridor businesses.

Safer

The Selmon Extension provides a more efficient and safer dedicated hurricane evacuation route for almost 1.3 million local and regional families.

Smarter

The elevated toll lane reduces intersection traffic signal wait times (at Westshore Boulevard, Manhattan Boulevard, Lois Avenue, and Dale Mabry Highway), which reduces congestion and delays for local residents and shoppers.

More Connected

The Selmon Extension serves as a critical link in a road network that connects businesses, freight, and people throughout Tampa Bay.

THEA is known in the community for creating beautiful and innovative transportation solutions. Most bridges stand 15’ off the ground, and business owners along Gandy Boulevard were concerned that their businesses’ sightline would be blocked by a bridge that stood only at 15’ tall. THEA listened to their concerns and built the Selmon Extension 30’ from the ground to the bottom of the bridge. During the project construction, THEA imposed strict traffic management requirements to ensure the contractor did not close driveways or lanes during rush hours, leaving up to the agency’s commitment of “Promises Made, Promises Kept”.

Can you spot the difference in these photos? The photo on the left is the rendering of the Selmon Extension project when we presented to the public. The photo on the right was taken in early February 2020 of the project at 90% completion. There is one difference that is apparent. The public voted on the Estuary design that you see in the columns, which our team decided would be more vibrant with a darker shade of blue.