Inside Tampa's $57 million Riverwalk expansion
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A rendering of the west Riverwalk expansion, courtesy of the city of Tampa.
Tampa's award-winning Riverwalk is going the extra mile — well, two, actually.
- Construction is underway to extend the waterfront attraction along the west side of the Hillsborough River.
Why it matters: When finished, the city will boast a 12-mile trail from Channelside to Ybor City — the culmination of a decades-long, multi-million-dollar effort to make the river "accessible to all people, period."
Driving the news: We should be able to stroll along the new stretch of Riverwalk sometime in 2027, with "scenic overlooks" to ogle and bridge underpasses that will, hopefully, smell a lot better than the current ones.
- The new segment, which broke ground last week, will extend from Platt Street to Rome Avenue, connecting Bayshore Boulevard, the University of Tampa and dozens of West Tampa neighborhoods.
- The project totals nearly $57 million and includes five miles of roadway improvements, which feature new bicycle lanes, upgraded traffic signals and improved sidewalks.
The big picture: The Riverwalk draws millions of visitors each year and has garnered praise from USA Today and Axios Tampa Bay readers (pour one out for the Pier), plus a nod from Time Magazine.
- The expansion is expected to create over 1,000 jobs in Tampa and generate more than $1 billion in economic development.
- And, weather permitting, the Riverwalk will offer a safer, car-free way to get around, which officials say will reduce crashes and ease traffic by keeping pedestrians and cyclists away from busy roads.
What they're saying: "This project is a game-changer for West Tampa," Council Member Luis Viera said in a statement.
- "For too long, this historic community has waited for the kind of investment," he added. "The West Riverwalk will bring real, tangible benefits, from safer streets ... to economic opportunities."