TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Water has begun construction on a major underground pipeline project aimed at meeting rising water demand in southern Hillsborough County, where population growth and development continue to accelerate.
The nearly $500 million infrastructure project will install a 26-mile, 5-foot-diameter steel pipeline capable of delivering up to 65 million gallons of water per day. The pipeline will connect to the region’s existing water system and is a key component of Tampa Bay Water’s long-term, 20-year master plan.
Early construction activity is currently focused near the busy intersection of Kings Avenue and Bloomingdale Avenue in Brandon. While motorists may notice fencing, equipment, and crews at street level, much of the work is happening underground to limit disruption to traffic and nearby utilities.
Tampa Bay Water recently provided a behind-the-scenes look at the site, where crews are excavating two large shafts — each roughly 25 feet deep — on opposite sides of the roadway. These shafts will house specialized tunneling equipment designed to bore beneath existing roads and utilities without requiring surface closures.
According to Sam Flowers, area manager with Garney Construction, the tunneling process is highly technical and the result of extensive planning.
“It was important to Tampa Bay Water and to Garney to minimize impacts to the traveling public to the greatest extent possible,” Flowers said. “One way we can do that is by tunneling under major roadways like this. It also helps us get under existing utilities without disrupting those as well.”
Crews are expected to spend approximately two weeks completing the shaft construction at Kings Way and Bloomingdale before lowering the tunneling machine. Once in place, the machine will bore a tunnel more than five feet wide beneath the roadway. Work at this specific location is anticipated to conclude by the summer.
Tampa Bay Water officials say the pipeline is essential to supporting ongoing residential and commercial development across southern Hillsborough County.
“We see a lot of growth (with) more homes being built, more people moving into southern Hillsborough County,” said Brandon Moore, Tampa Bay Water’s communications manager. “That means a greater need for water — not only for residents but for businesses, hospitals, schools, fire rescue, and other essential services.”
While some sections of the pipeline will be installed using traditional open-trench construction, other critical crossings will require tunneling. One of the most significant segments will run beneath the Alafia River, where crews will dig shafts nearly twice as deep as those currently under construction in Brandon.
Tampa Bay Water officials estimate the full 26-mile pipeline will be completed and operational by the end of 2028, helping ensure long-term water reliability for one of the region’s fastest-growing areas.
Originally reported by Jason Lanning in Bay News 9.
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