Florida Construction News staff writer

Work is underway to upgrade vital infrastructure in Tampa’s Forest Hills community, part of the $92 million Tampa’s Neighborhoods Design Build Project to bring long-awaited infrastructure improvements to four neighborhoods: East Tampa, Forest Hills, Macfarlane Park, and Virginia Park.

In Forest Hills, aging water and stormwater pipelines are being replaced. The upgrades will bring improved water pressure, improved fire protection, and a reduction in water main breaks in the community. Improvements to stormwater infrastructure are expected to reduce ponding in the area.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of this year and the entire Neighborhood Design Build Project is set to wrap up in summer 2026.

Improving aging infrastructure is one part of the Mayor’s Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow initiative.

“Tampa residents rely on our infrastructure every day. The reality is our water and stormwater pipelines may be 80, 90, or more than 100 years old,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “The work we are doing in Forest Hills today, is only one way the city is working to improve the quality of life across our community.”

Money comes from the Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability, a $2.9 billion fund to revitalize the city’s aging infrastructure through large scale water and wastewater improvements.