Detours and Alerts

Initial Work Begins Monday at Alafia Blvd.

February 20, 2026

On Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, crews will begin mobilizing at 4142 Alafia Blvd. to begin preliminary construction activities for the tunnel under the Alafia River.

Crews will be on site through the end of February excavating an area and installing a form to prepare for concrete shoring. In mid-March, heavy equipment will be delivered to the site to install the ring of concrete shoring and excavate a tunnel shaft. Once the shoring and shaft are complete, a microtunnel boring machine will install a segment of the South Hillsborough Pipeline under the river from a shaft on the south side of the river to the shaft on the north side.  

Crews will typically work from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Residents can expect to see and hear construction equipment and materials being delivered to the area, including large cranes, excavators, control trailers and pipe materials. No long-term road closures are planned, but there may be brief traffic interruptions as equipment and materials are delivered.  

The tunnel under the Alafia River is expected to be completed by late summer 2026.

For more information on South Hillsborough Pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.

Construction Starts March 1 at Parsons/John Moore & Lumsden

February 19, 2026

From 9 p.m. Sunday, March 1, to 6 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2026, the inside lanes of South Parsons Avenue, John Moore Road and Lumsden Road will be closed as crews reconfigure the traffic signals in the intersection to accommodate tunneling work for the South Hillsborough Pipeline.

S. Parsons Ave./John Moore Rd. Lane Closures Start March 2

As soon as the traffic signals are reconfigured early Monday morning, South Parsons Avenue and John Moore Road will have lane closures and detours on either side of Lumsden Road for installation of the South Hillsborough Pipeline:

The southbound lanes of South Parsons Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Vonderburg Drive and Lumsden Road; southbound traffic will be detoured to Vonderburg Drive to Oakfield Drive to South Kings Avenue.
The northbound lanes of John Moore Road will be closed to through traffic between Julie Lane and Lumsden Road; northbound traffic will be detoured to Julie Lane to Bryan Road to Lumsden Road.

Access to local homes and businesses will be maintained.

Crews will be excavating tunnel pits on South Parsons and John Moore at the intersection of Lumsden Road to install a section of pipeline beneath Lumsden. The lane closures will be in effect 24/7 for approximately four months during tunneling work.

Active construction work will occur Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to plan alternate routes, such as Bryan Road, for north-south travel. Please follow detour signs and use caution when driving, biking or walking in the area.

For more information on South Hillsborough Pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.

Fishhawk Blvd/Boyette Road Lane Closures Start March 2

February 17, 2026

The inside lanes of eastbound and westbound Fishhawk Boulevard/Boyette Road will be closed in sections beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, March 2, for median removal. Work will begin on Fishhawk Boulevard west of Skytop Drive and proceed westward in sections ending just west of McMullen Road.

Medians will be closed 24 hours per day, seven days a week, in the active construction zone, and motorists may not be able to turn left across the closed median.

This roadwork will be ongoing for six to seven weeks and is needed to prepare the area for South Hillsborough Pipeline installation. Work in each section will last 6-10 days, depending on the length of the section. Motorists should expect delays. Please use caution and follow all posted lane diversion signs when traveling in the area. All crosswalks in this area will remain open.

For more information on the pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.

Work Begins Monday at Limona/CSX

February 12, 2026

Crews will mobilize on Monday, Feb. 16, to begin removing asphalt and excavating shafts for the tunnel under the railroad tracks. Open-trench pipeline installation is still scheduled to begin at the end of April for Limona Road and Victoria Street, so we can install the pipeline in front of Brandon High School while school is closed over the summer.

Thank you for your patience as we worked through the stringent rules and regulations required to tunnel under the railroad. That review has taken some additional time, but we now have approval to proceed.

If you would like additional information on the pipeline, please visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.

Shop Local. Support Your Business Community.

February 3, 2026

As work continues on the South Hillsborough Pipeline, we want to remind residents, commuters, and project team members that local businesses along South Kings and Bloomingdale avenues remain open, accessible and ready to serve you.

Whether you live nearby or are working in the area, we encourage you to choose local establishments for your daily needs, services and meals. Small businesses are the heart of this community, and your continued support makes a meaningful difference.

Your Local Business Guide

While temporary traffic pattern changes may cause brief delays, these neighborhood favorites are open and welcoming customers:

Stop by The Stein and Vine for a relaxing dinner or grab a quick, delicious bite from the food trucks behind the Mobil Station on South Kings Blvd, including Al’s Barn, Bacon Egg and Cheese, or El Pollo Cartel. Enjoy a meal from Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs.

For specialty flavors and finds, visit Tu Pais Latin Market or Bin + Board WINE / CHEESE / PROVISIONS. Visit ECHO Thrift for unique gifts or visit Family Dollar and Big Lots for everyday essentials. Lastly, keep your vehicle in top shape at Splash Car Wash and Lube or visit Sun Country Cleaners for professional clothing care.

When you shop locally, you are investing directly in your neighbors and helping ensure these businesses remain strong throughout construction and beyond.

Thank you for your patience and for your continued commitment to supporting the businesses along the construction route.

Work Progresses on South Hillsborough Pipeline

January 30, 2026

Crews are making progress on several sections of the South Hillsborough Pipeline.

At South Kings and West Bloomingdale avenues, construction crews have completed excavating the roughly 25-foot-deep tunnel shaft and are expected to finish the south tunnel shaft in early February. The microtunnel boring machine, which will tunnel under Bloomingdale Avenue from one shaft to the other, will be launched in mid-February, barring unforeseen conditions.

The horizontal directional drill under Fishhawk Creek is also nearing completion. The pipe is scheduled to be pulled into the tunnel in mid-February. Crews are expected to be finished at this site in early March.

Work is continuing on the south side of the Alafia River at 7202 Alafia Ridge Road, where crews are installing shoring for a tunnel shaft.

At Limona Road and the CSX railroad crossing, crews will cut and remove asphalt and begin excavating tunnel shafts in early February.

Looking ahead, in early March crews are scheduled to mobilize at:

South Parsons Avenue/John Moore Road and Lumsden Road
Woodberry/Limona roads and Lakewood Drive

Many variables can affect construction progress, such as underground conditions and weather, so completion dates and start dates are subject to change. We’ll continue updating the website and issuing alerts as work proceeds. Visit southhillsboroughpipeline.com for more information.

Limona Road Closed at Railroad Crossing Starting Jan. 22

January 19, 2026

Starting at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, Limona Road will be closed to through traffic between Bates Street and Victoria Street for construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline. Construction crews will be excavating a pit on each side of the railroad tracks to install the pipeline beneath the railroad via microtunnel. Construction crews will typically work Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are expected to complete this work in approximately four months.

Crews will first install dewatering pumps, which will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of this work. Once the microtunnel boring machine is launched, operations will continue 24 hours a day for approximately four consecutive days until the pipeline is installed beneath the railroad tracks. Nighttime lighting and construction equipment will be used during overnight operations.

This work has been moved up earlier in the schedule so crews can install the pipeline in front of Brandon High School over the summer months.

Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to plan alternate routes and follow detour signs. Please use caution when driving, biking or walking in the area. Traffic traveling north on Limona Road will be detoured via Victoria Street to Hilltop Road to Brandon Boulevard to Lakewood Drive. Traffic traveling south will be detoured via Bates Street to Lakewood Drive and Brandon Boulevard.

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 Mobilizing at Alafia River Crossing on Jan. 19

January 16, 2026

On Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, construction activity for the South Hillsborough Pipeline will begin on the south side of the Alafia River at 7202 Alafia Ridge Road. Work will begin with tree removal on Tampa Bay Water-owned property to allow the contractor to mobilize the next day to begin tunnel shaft work for the mictrotunnel under the Alafia River. We apologize for the short notice; the contractor is adjusting the construction schedule so the project can stay on track to be in service by the end of 2028.

Construction crews will generally work from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Once the tunnel shoring is installed on the south side of the river, crews will move to 4142 Alafia Blvd. on the north side of the river to install the other tunnel shaft.

What to expect:

Brief traffic delays may occur during equipment and material deliveries; no long-term road closures are anticipated.
Heavy equipment on the site of the property including large cranes, excavators, control trailers and pipe materials.
Shallow dewatering wells will be installed and operated 24/7 with dewatering, noise-minimizing diesel pumps.

For more information on the pipeline, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.

Schedule in Flux as Permit Review Continues

January 14, 2026

Tampa Bay Water knows that residents and businesses are eager to learn the start dates of construction in their areas, but the construction schedule remains in flux until we receive an important permit.

The project team is still awaiting approval of the Hillsborough County right-of-way permit. Until that permit is in hand, we are unable to start construction in other locations or update the project schedule.

If the permit is received soon, crews are standing by to:

Mobilize equipment at Limona Road at the CSX railroad to begin working on the microtunnel under the railroad (tentatively scheduled to begin Jan. 22). This work was moved up so crews can install the pipeline in front of Brandon High School over the summer months.
Mobilize construction equipment in an easement at the Myron and Helen Gibbons Nature Preserve on the north side of Boyette Road, just west of Bell Creek (tentatively scheduled for the week of Jan. 19).

Work at Woodberry Road and Lakewood Drive will occur after the microtunnel at Limona Road and the railroad is completed.

We will update the website (www.SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com) and issue email alerts as soon as more schedule information is available.

Continuous Vibration Monitoring Ensures Safety

January 6, 2026

Crews will be using specialized equipment during pipeline construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline that may cause brief, noticeable vibrations in your homes or businesses. This vibratory equipment generates ground vibrations that travel outward from the active work area and will naturally dissipate with distance.

Please be assured that all vibration levels will remain well below the safety limits established by the United States Bureau of Mines for residential and commercial structures.

To maintain compliance and protect surrounding properties, vibration monitors are in place near active work areas. These instruments continuously record vibration levels and send automated alerts to Seismic Surveys LLC and Garney Construction if readings approach allowable limits so adjustments can be made immediately.

Continuous monitoring provides accurate, objective data to confirm that construction activities remain within safe limits at all times.

For more information, please read the Vibration Advisory Letter on the project website, and if you have any questions, please contact the project team at SHPinfo@tampabaywater.org or call (813) 485-6480.