Tampa

In the artsy, historic Ybor City area of Tampa less than two miles (3km) northeast of downtown Tampa construction has begun of the I-4/Selmon Crosstown Expressway Connector. It is in essence  an elaborate interchange between the two parallel highways at a point where they are less than a mile - 1400m or 4570ft (0.86 miles) apart, measuring them from the centerline of each roadway reservation.

Tampa Hillsboro (Toll) Expressway Authority (THEA) say they've settled with URS' insurer on $74,750,000 in compensation for flawed design work revealed in a collapse of their Selmon Expressway elevated ('El') while under construction in April 2004.

Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) have set July 2010 for the end of cash collection on their Selmon Expressway also known as the Crosstown. They are featuring the decision - made in principle more than a year back - and the date on their website at http://www.tampa-xway.com/ORTComingSoon.html

Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) have formally released Figg Engineering from liability in the protracted litigation over responsibility for the collapse of a pier on the Reversible Express Lanes during construction in April 2004. After the collapse of one pier  another was found to have dropped a few inches.

Three Florida agencies have agreed on a cost sharing plan for the $600m Connector roadways in the Ybor City area between the I-4 and the Selmon Crosstown Expressway in Tampa. The Tampa Hillsborough (Toll) Expressway Authority will contribute $45m to construction costs and Florida's Turnpike Enterprise $80m, while the Florida DOT will put in $475m.

by Patrick J McCue

In fairness to Congressman Young, I would like to present a somewhat different view of the I-4 truck lanes story from your report.

Tampa's Reversible Express Lanes (EL) are going great. And the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA), its owner, is being showered with awards for the innovative project. The three elevated lanes in the median of the established 2x2 lanes of the eastern part of the Selmon Crosstown Expressway have transformed the peak hour trips of people traveling to inner and downtown Tampa. Queueing and creep made the ten