Pre-construction work begins this summer
Crews will begin preparing for construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline starting in July 2025. You may see surveyors in the field identifying reference points and construction boundaries, or crews clearing trees or trimming tree canopies where construction will eventually take place.
The project team is currently on schedule to begin construction as early as this fall at trenchless crossing locations. Trenchless crossings are areas where the pipeline will be installed by tunnels under roads and waterways to minimize impacts. Tunnelling operations will take place under Falkenburg Road, State Road 60, Alafia River, Boyette Road, Balm Boyette Road and several other locations. Crews are scheduled to begin open cut construction in March 2026, which involves digging a trench into which the pipe is installed.
Tampa Bay Water will provide advance notice before construction begins and will update the schedule once exact dates are known and permits are received. Visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com for more information.
The 90% design plans are now complete
The project team reached an important milestone with the completion of the 90% design plans for the South Hillsborough Pipeline. These plans include the revised alignment of the pipeline, as well as detailed descriptions and technical aspects of the pipe profile. The 90% design plans also include information on the trenchless crossings (tunneling) that will be performed for the project.
Tampa Bay Water’s project team is now working to finalize the plans and obtaining all the pertinent permits, so it can finalize the project’s costs and schedule.
Tampa Bay Water receives green light to pursue new alignment near Fishhawk Ranch West
Tampa Bay Water has received the green light from the Hillsborough County Environmental Lands Acquisition & Protection Program (ELAPP) General Committee to request a new alignment through the conservation easement owned by Fishhawk Ranch Community Development District (CDD) and Hillsborough County. This comes after Florida Fish and Wildlife also gave the go-ahead to pursue the new route.
The new preferred route alignment will follow an unpaved trail within a construction easement to cross the easement south to Boyette Road. To move forward with the new alignment, Tampa Bay Water must acquire easements from the Fishhawk CDD and Hillsborough County, and Hillsborough County’s Board of County Commissioners and Florida Fish and Wildlife must approve the acquisition and mitigation plans.
If approved, the new alignment will reduce impacts to trees, since it takes advantage of a previously altered pathway. This route is also shorter, so it will have lower construction costs and reduce impacts to residents.
Tampa Bay Water thanks residents for their input in refining this portion of the pipeline route.
