The Selmon West Extension has opened.
The new, elevated toll lane provides a seamless connection for drivers traveling from Brandon to Pinellas County.
The 1.9-mile extension, located in the median of Gandy Boulevard, offers drivers a choice – use Gandy Boulevard for local destinations or use the Selmon West Extension for a direct connection to the Selmon Expressway or the Gandy Bridge.
No taxpayer dollars were used by the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority for the $230 million project, which is funded by toll revenues and bonds.
The extension will help stimulate regionwide economic activity, and provides a critical link that connects businesses, freight, and people from Pinellas County to Hillsborough County.
Greg C. Truax is a documentary filmmaker and publisher of AliveTampaBay. His On the Point commentaries air weekly on WHBO 1040 AM.