Work on a Gandy expressway revs up this week


By Janelle Irwin
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Aug 30, 2017

Evidence of the $230 million Selmon Extension that will give commuters a swift ride from the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway to the Gandy Bridge will be visible Thursday as crews begin preliminary work on the overpass.

Workers will be along the shoulder and in the median of Gandy Boulevard west of Bridge Street from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. for "geotechnical investigation” and boring to prepare for construction, according to a release.

Geotechnical investigation involves study of the earth beneath a proposed structure in order to ensure stability.

All lanes will be open during that process.

More work will commence Sept. 12 when crews begin early work on the project overnight on westbound Gandy Boulevard. That work will require road closures between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. and AECOM won the bid for the Selmon Extension.

The Selmon Extension is slated to provide a direct connection to the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, Dale Mabry Highway or the Gandy Bridge.

Construction of the Selmon West Extension is expected to begin early next year with the extension opening in late 2020.

Janelle Irwin is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.