Northwest Hillsborough Expressway
Encyclopedia
The Northwest Hillsborough Expressway and its present-day counterpart, the East-West Road, in Tampa, Florida
, have been the subject of heavy controversy since their beginnings in the 1980s. Most of the local opposition comes from the northern Hillsborough County
community of Lutz
, which has made many successful efforts (both in the past and present times) to halt construction of the highway through their neighborhoods.
to stop the expressway from being built. The efforts succeeded and the beltway was halted indefinitely.
By the mid 1980s, the Northwest Hillsborough Expressway was broken into two segments; the Lutz Expressway, and what would be known later as the Veterans Expressway. Plans continued to be developed for the Veterans Expressway through the 1980s, with final completion set for 1994. The Lutz Expressway plan was not revived again for several years. But when it did, the same Lutz communities revolted and succeeded.
. The Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
initially took on the plan but abandoned their efforts to build the highway after skyrocketing land acquisition prices and other financial burdens blocked their efforts. The Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority
also attempted to take on the project, even after securing a private/public partnership, but their efforts have also largely failed. The highway faces additional criticism from environmental groups due to its proposed routing through sensitive wetlands.
There is also a bridge, which would cross I-75, in the works. Even if the East-West Road fails completely, the bridge still could be built sometime after the economy improves.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, have been the subject of heavy controversy since their beginnings in the 1980s. Most of the local opposition comes from the northern Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
community of Lutz
Lutz, Florida
Lutz is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 19,344 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lutz is located at ....
, which has made many successful efforts (both in the past and present times) to halt construction of the highway through their neighborhoods.
History
Planning began for the Northwest Hillsborough Beltway in the 1960s/1970s as part of a multi-expressway/freeway system in Hillsborough County. Plans materialized gradually over the years, with very little backlash during the early stages. However, as northern Hillsborough County communities grew, so did the opposition. The Lutz community went very far to voice their opposition to the project, including creating an audio/video campaign, which included a song, music video, and lots of banners and stickers. They also rallied Florida politicians in TallahasseeTallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
to stop the expressway from being built. The efforts succeeded and the beltway was halted indefinitely.
By the mid 1980s, the Northwest Hillsborough Expressway was broken into two segments; the Lutz Expressway, and what would be known later as the Veterans Expressway. Plans continued to be developed for the Veterans Expressway through the 1980s, with final completion set for 1994. The Lutz Expressway plan was not revived again for several years. But when it did, the same Lutz communities revolted and succeeded.
The East-West Road proposal today
Today, a segment of the failed Lutz Expressway continues to be regularly revived. It is simply called the East-West Road and is being spearheaded by the City of TampaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. The Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
Florida's Turnpike Enterprise is a business unit of the Florida Department of Transportation , employing private sector business practices to operate its 460-mile system of limited-access toll highways for the benefit of Florida's traveling public...
initially took on the plan but abandoned their efforts to build the highway after skyrocketing land acquisition prices and other financial burdens blocked their efforts. The Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority
Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority
The Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority is a regional expressway authority based in Hillsborough County, Florida, which includes the city of Tampa....
also attempted to take on the project, even after securing a private/public partnership, but their efforts have also largely failed. The highway faces additional criticism from environmental groups due to its proposed routing through sensitive wetlands.
There is also a bridge, which would cross I-75, in the works. Even if the East-West Road fails completely, the bridge still could be built sometime after the economy improves.