Tampa Bay Water begins tunneling on $500 million, 26-mile Hillsborough pipeline

(UI) — Tampa Bay Water has started underground construction on a new 26-mile water pipeline intended to support continued population and commercial growth in southern Hillsborough County, as reported by Bay News 9. The project is designed to deliver up to 65 million gallons per day through a 5-foot-diameter steel pipeline tied into the region’s existing water system.

The pipeline is part of Tampa Bay Water’s long-term infrastructure planning and carries an estimated cost of nearly $500 million. Officials said the project is critical to maintaining reliable water service as development accelerates across the southern portion of the county.

Early tunneling work is underway near Kings Avenue and Bloomingdale Avenue in Brandon, where crews are installing a section of pipe approximately 25 feet below the roadway. Construction teams are excavating large vertical shafts on both sides of the road to lower specialized tunneling equipment beneath traffic lanes and existing utilities.

Tunneling is being used at select locations to limit surface disruption and avoid interference with roads and buried infrastructure, according to project representatives. While much of the pipeline will be installed using open-trench methods, tunneling will also be required at sensitive crossings, including beneath the Alafia River, where shafts will be significantly deeper than those currently being constructed in Brandon.

Work at the Brandon site is expected to conclude later this year, while construction across the full 26-mile route will continue in phases. The entire pipeline is scheduled to be completed and placed into service by the end of 2028, according to Bay News 9.

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