Tampa's $57 Million West Riverwalk Expansion Reaches Major Construction Milestone

TAMPA, FL — Nearly 40 years after the first wooden planks of Tampa's Riverwalk were laid in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the project's final chapter is well underway — and construction crews just hit a significant milestone.

What's Being Built 

The West Riverwalk expansion will add roughly two miles of new multi-use trail along the west bank of the Hillsborough River, running from Platt Street to Rome Avenue. Once finished, it will close the last remaining gaps in Tampa's Riverwalk, creating a continuous 12.2-mile pathway along both sides of the river, from Channelside to Ballast Point Park.

The Latest Progress 

Crews are now building support structures for two new pedestrian bridges and an overwater observation deck, drilling massive support columns deep into the riverbed. Once the shafts are complete — expected later this summer — crews will move on to installing the substructure and decks.

The Bigger Project 

Beyond the riverside trail itself, the roughly $57–60 million West River BUILD project includes about five miles of roadway safety improvements along Platt Street, Rome Avenue, and Columbus Drive, plus upgrades throughout Ridgewood Park — new bike lanes, upgraded traffic signals, improved sidewalks and crosswalks, and 1,500 feet of "living shorelines."

How It's Funded 

The project is backed by a $24 million federal BUILD grant, roughly $10 million from the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, about $7.5–8 million from the Community Investment Tax, and the remainder from future non-ad valorem bonds.

Why It Matters 

"We're going to be able to connect neighborhoods so people can get out of their cars, and they can walk, and they can bike, and they can run between our different neighborhoods," said one city official during a recent construction tour. Officials expect the project to create about 500 short-term construction jobs and expand Tampa's job market by at least 1,000 direct and indirect jobs annually once complete.

📍 West bank of the Hillsborough River, from Platt Street to Rome Avenue, Tampa, FL 

📅 Construction ongoing | Expected completion: Spring 2027 

🌐 tampa.gov for project updates