South Hillsborough Pipeline tunneling work at the intersection of South Kings and West Bloomingdale avenues has been postponed, pending permit approval. The normal traffic pattern remains in effect.
Updated dates for the traffic pattern change and tunneling work will be provided as soon as they are available.
For more information on the pipeline project, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.
From 9 p.m. Nov. 16 to 6 a.m. Nov. 17, 2025, crews will restripe the intersection of South Kings and West Bloomingdale avenues in preparation for a new traffic pattern. During this work, South Kings Avenue will be closed to all traffic between Buckhorn Creek Road and Greenbriar Drive, and West Bloomingdale Avenue will be reduced to a single lane in each direction. Motorists heading northbound will be detoured to John Moore and Providence roads. Motorists heading southbound will be detoured to Sherry Drive (just west of Kings) and Greenbriar Drive.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17, a new traffic pattern will be in place for South Kings Avenue for construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline:
Motorists should expect delays. Please use caution when driving, biking or walking in the area. Through-traffic may want to use John Moore and Providence roads as alternative routes for north-south travel.
This traffic pattern will be in place 24/7 for approximately four months until tunnel work is complete. Crews will be working along South Kings Avenue on both sides of West Bloomingdale Avenue to excavate tunnel pits and install the 5-foot diameter drinking water pipeline beneath Bloomingdale Avenue. Active construction work will occur Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tampa Bay Water’s contractor crews are performing this work as part of the South Hillsborough Pipeline construction. For more information on the pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.
Crews will mobilize construction equipment for the South Hillsborough Pipeline as early as Monday, Nov 10, to prepare for a horizontal directional drill (HDD) under Fishhawk Creek. Once they begin, crews will be working daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday along the south side of Fishhawk Boulevard.
This work is expected to have minimal impacts to motorists and pedestrians: No traffic impacts are expected on Fishhawk Boulevard other than trucks entering and exiting the work area. Sidewalks will remain open, though flaggers may briefly pause pedestrians and cyclists when construction equipment needs to cross the sidewalk.
Residents will first see crews installing safety fencing and staging about 2,000 feet of pipe and other equipment along the edge of the right of way. Crews will then begin the HDD process by creating a pilot hole, reaming it to the desired diameter, and then pulling the pipe back through the enlarged hole. This process requires the entire length of the pipe to be laid out on the ground prior to it being pulled through.
This trenchless crossing is one of 17 along the 26-mile pipeline route. Trenchless crossings allow crews to install the pipeline beneath waterways and roadways to minimize impacts.
For more information on the project, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.
Tampa Bay Water staff reported to its Board of Directors at its October meeting that crews are ready to begin tunneling operations as soon as critical permits are received. The project team expects to have those permits in hand by early November, so that tunneling at select locations can begin shortly thereafter. Open-cut construction is expected to start in the first quarter of 2026.
Tampa Bay Water knows that residents are awaiting construction details. The project team will update residents as soon as permits are received and construction locations and dates are known.
Meanwhile, crews will be working to confirm the locations of utilities on the south shoulder of Fishhawk Boulevard the week of Oct. 27. This work will occur in the daytime and will not affect traffic.
Also at its October meeting, Tampa Bay Water’s Board of Directors approved a $216.7 million proposal from Garney Companies for open-cut construction and restoration of the 26-mile-long South Hillsborough Pipeline. The Board previously approved proposals covering materials and tunneling operations.
Starting Wednesday, Oct. 15 through Friday, Oct. 24, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, the eastbound lanes of Fishhawk Boulevard will be closed at the intersection of Bell Shoals/Boyette Road.
The eastbound lane of Boyette Road will be detoured to turn right and continue on Boyette Road to Mosaic Drive. Motorists traveling south on Bell Shoals Road will be detoured south on Boyette Road around the work zone. The left turn lane from Boyette Road to Bell Shoals Road will be unaffected.
Fishhawk Boulevard will be re-opened each morning at 5 a.m. Please follow all posted detours and use caution when driving, biking or walking in the area.
Tampa Bay Water’s contractor crews are performing this work to confirm the locations of underground utilities before beginning construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline. This work is being done at night to minimize traffic impacts. For more information on the pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.
Crews will be finishing utility location work in the intersection of McMullen Road and Boyette Road this week and will begin work on McMullen Road on Sunday, Oct. 12. Beginning Sunday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly, the southbound lanes of McMullen Road will be closed to through traffic from McMullen Loop to Boyette Road. The northbound lanes of McMullen Road will remain open.
Motorists traveling south on McMullen Road north of Boyette Road will be rerouted via McMullen Loop/Park Drive to Balm Riverview Road, then to Boyette Road.
The southbound lanes of McMullen Road will be re-opened each morning at 6 a.m. Please follow all posted detours and use caution when driving, biking or walking in the area. This detour is expected to last approximately one week.
Tampa Bay Water’s contractor crews are performing this work to confirm the locations of underground utilities before beginning construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline. This work is being done at night to minimize traffic impacts. For more information on the pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.
Starting Monday, Oct. 6 through Thursday, Oct. 16, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, the southbound lanes of McMullen Road – excluding the right-turn lane – will be closed near the intersection of Boyette Road. The westbound lanes of Boyette Road will be detoured at McMullen Road.
Motorists traveling south on McMullen Road north of Boyette Road will be rerouted via Boyette Road to Balm Riverview Road, then back to McMullen Road. Motorists traveling west on Boyette Road will be detoured north or south on McMullen Road around the work zone.
The intersection will be re-opened each morning at 5 a.m. Please follow all posted detours and use caution when driving, biking or walking in the area.
Tampa Bay Water’s contractor crews are performing this work to confirm the locations of underground utilities before beginning construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline. This work is being done at night to minimize traffic impacts. For more information on the pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.
On Sept. 29, crews will begin clearing at 4142 Alafia Boulevard and 7202 Alafia Ridge Road. Tampa Bay Water purchased these properties to cross the Alafia River via microtunnel as part of the South Hillsborough Pipeline project.
After clearing, silt fences will be installed to protect the environment, then crews will be on site digging small trenches to verify the locations of existing utilities.
Tampa Bay Water’s contractor crews are performing this work in preparation for construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline, which will begin in October or November, pending permit approvals. For more information on the pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.
On Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 9 a.m., the left turn lane on Woodberry Road at Lakewood Drive will be closed to repair the traffic light detection system at the intersection. Work will last approximately half a day.
Motorists should proceed with caution as traffic will merge into one lane on Woodberry Road. Please follow all posted signage and use caution when driving, biking or walking in the area.
Tampa Bay Water’s contractor crews are installing a temporary traffic detection system while finishing the utility location work for the South Hillsborough Pipeline. For more information on the pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.