Florida Construction News staff writer
Some of the most complex engineering work on Tampa’s West Riverwalk Extension is now underway as crews begin building the structural supports for the project’s overwater sections, bringing the city closer to completing a continuous 12.2-mile pathway connecting the west side of the Hillsborough River to downtown Tampa.
Construction crews are installing nearly 70 drilled shafts and piles that will support three major overwater features: the Platt Street Pedestrian Bridge, the Brorein Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Tony Jannus Park Observation Overlook. Work on the structures began in May.
The West Riverwalk Extension is being delivered by a design-build team led by The Haskell Company, which is responsible for designing and constructing the multimodal improvements for the City of Tampa.
For the overwater portions specifically, including the drilled shafts and piles supporting the Platt Street Pedestrian Bridge, Brorein Street Pedestrian Bridge and Tony Jannus Park.
Haskell has partnered with Orion Marine Construction to perform the marine construction work. Crews are using barges, cranes and specialized drilling equipment to install nearly 70 foundations in the Hillsborough River.
The support systems require highly specialized construction methods, with crews drilling each shaft approximately 40 feet into the riverbed. Some shafts will extend nearly 50 feet deep to provide maximum stability. Each completed structure will be capable of supporting more than 130 tons — about the equivalent weight of 20 adult elephants.
The intricate installation process requires precision engineering and specialized equipment, including barges, cranes and heavy-duty drilling machinery. The Haskell Company, the design-builder for the West River BUILD project, is working with Orion Marine Construction to complete the overwater construction.
Once the drilled shafts are installed, crews will begin building the substructure and bridge decks later this summer.
“Walking along Tampa’s Riverwalk is already an experience, but new elements like the pedestrian bridges will make it even more memorable,” Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement. “This is by far one of the most impactful projects Tampa has undertaken to unify communities, create job opportunities, enhance safety, support tourism, and promote healthy lifestyles. The benefits are endless.”
Construction is currently active across five of the six segments of the West River BUILD project. Improvements include roadway and sidewalk upgrades along Platt Street and Rome Avenue, upcoming work along Columbus Drive, living shoreline construction along the Hillsborough River, new sidewalk installation and additional sections of the West Riverwalk trail.
The overall project includes approximately three miles of roadway improvements and two miles of new Riverwalk construction.
Once complete, the West Riverwalk will serve as both a recreational destination and a transportation connection, providing residents and visitors with a safer, car-free way to travel along the riverfront and access downtown Tampa.
A key goal of the project is improving connections between downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, including Hyde Park, North Hyde Park, West Tampa, Riverside Heights, Bowman Heights, Ridgewood Park, North Franklin Street and Yellow Brick Row.
The $60 million project is funded through multiple sources, including a $24 million federal BUILD grant, a $10 million contribution from the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency, approximately $7.5 million from the City of Tampa’s Community Investment Tax and about $16.8 million in future non-ad valorem bonds. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced an additional $250,000 in federal funding for the project.
Construction on the full project is approximately 20 percent complete, with completion expected in spring 2027.
More information and renderings are available at the project website: http://westriverbuild.com
