The city of Tampa and the Florida Department of Transportation are teaming up to make a couple of the city’s major roadways a little prettier. The beautification project of parts of Hillsborough Avenue and Dale Mabry Highway are part of the ongoing Opportunity Corridors effort.
The Landscape on State Roadways grant program is funding improvements to aesthetics along Hillsborough Avenue from the Hillsborough River to I-275 and on Dale Mabry from Gandy Boulevard to MacDill Air Force Base.
“Just as we did throughout the urban core, we’re expanding our beautification efforts and working to transform our arterial roads to become the welcome signs they should be. A community feels about itself the way it looks,” Mayor Bob Buckhorn said. “These roads are true gateways throughout our community.”
City officials hope the improvements will stimulate economic growth. The program, established in 2012, has already completed beautification projects along Bayshore Boulevard, Ashley Drive, Franklin Street, Doyle Carlton Drive, Union Station and Laurel Street. Projects have also been finished on the trolley line from downtown Tampa to Adamo Drive, Orange Avenue from Scott Street to Cass Street and the off ramps on Orange Avenue and Jefferson.
More than 700 trees were planted throughout the urban core. Lighting and irrigation have also been improved along those corridors.
