Lighting the Way to America’s 250th

You may have noticed the Selmon West Extension glowing red, white, and blue, and there’s a good reason why.

The lighting is in honor of America250, the nationwide celebration marking 250 years since the founding of the United States.

It’s a simple gesture, but it means something significant. As one of Tampa’s most visible pieces of infrastructure, the expressway is a part of daily life for thousands of drivers. Lighting it up in the colors of the flag is THEA’s way of joining a moment that belongs to every community across the country, and reminding the people who pass through it each day of the values that connect us all.

A Statewide Celebration

This isn’t just a Tampa thing. THEA’s lighting is part of a much larger effort taking shape across Florida. In December 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 24-267, officially establishing the Florida Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial.

The order directs the Secretary of State and the Florida Department of State to organize celebrations leading up to and through July 4, 2026, and to work alongside the national United States Semiquincentennial Commission and other public and private organizations with similar goals.

That work turned into America250FL, an invitation to every Floridian to take part in the celebration. Through events, educational programs, and civic engagement, the initiative hopes to spark pride in shared American values, honor the service of veterans, and encourage communities to come together in the spirit of patriotism. Bridges and landmarks across the state are joining in, each one lit up as a visible marker of the milestone.

THEA’s Part in the Celebration

That’s really the spirit behind lighting up the Selmon West Extension. It’s THEA’s way of bringing America250FL’s mission home to Tampa and Hillsborough County.

It’s also a good reminder that celebrating history doesn’t only happen at monuments or museums. Sometimes it happens on the road you drive every day.

As Florida celebrates this historic milestone, THEA is proud to be one small part of a much bigger story, one that connects our local roads to the history and future of the entire country.