I-275: Highway Expansion Project Addresses Long Term Capacity Needs

In 2007, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) started construction on a major phase of I-275 corridor project aimed at increasing the capacity of the existing highway, which included a new four lane northbound roadway.  The limits of this phase were from Himes Avenue to the Hillsborough River.  The new four lane road is located outside the existing highway, which will be converted to a grassy median in the future.  The long term plans for the entire I-275 expansion project will result with the median being set aside for future transportation requirements, which may be converted to express lanes. This will facilitate commuters looking to cut through Tampa, FL.  Commuters cutting through the city would be kept separate from local commuters who would have access to local street exits.  The entire project will extend from the Howard Frankland Bridge to the Hillsborough River cost approximately $480 million and take just over 10 years to complete.  When completed the project will. 

The Reinforced Earth Company has played a major role in the expansion of I-275.  More specifically, the section from Himes Avenue to the Hillsborough River included 10 Reinforced Earth® walls totaling 288,305 sf.  Portions of the walls located adjacent to heavier populated residential areas included an 8 ft barrier mounted sound wall.  Special attention was paid to the custom panel appearance, which included a painted coral themed finish with panels cast in several different configurations and installed in a random pattern.  Also incorporated into the aesthetics were painted brick patterned panels aided in maintaining the historic theme of the areas adjacent to the project. 

Most of the Reinforced Earth walls included in this project were installed with the standard metallic soil reinforcements, but the wall closest to the Hillsborough River was specified to incorporate non-metallic soil reinforcements due to its environmental classification.  RECo was able to successfully provide all the MSE wall applications for this project by supplying our Geomega® wall system. 

A GeoMega MSE retaining wall’s primary components consist of alternating layers of granular backfill and high-tenacity polyester based soil reinforcement or “geostrap” to which a modular precast concrete facing is attached.  The patented mechanical connection between the facing panels and the soil reinforcements consists of a loop shaped like the Greek letter Ω, which is partially cast into the precast concrete facing panel. This system works in conjunction with the entire range of concrete facing panels typically supplied by The Reinforced Earth Company and allows MSE retaining structures to be constructed in chemically aggressive environments such as sea water and corrosive backfilling materials.