TAMPA, Fla. — A major road closure in Tampa has some businesses worried about fewer customers coming by.

What You Need To Know

  • Nebraska Avenue in Tampa has been shut down in both directions at Caracas Street, just south of Hillsborough Avenue

  • The closure is part of the ongoing Southeast Seminole Heights Flooding Relief Project

  • Some business owners say they’ve seen fewer customers since the roadway was shut down

  • Officials with the city of Tampa say the section of roadway may be closed for six to eight weeks

Part of Nebraska Avenue was shut down in both directions at Caracas Street, just south of Hillsborough Avenue, last week as part of the ongoing Southeast Seminole Heights Flooding Relief Project. 

April Page’s business, Girl And A Grill, is located just south of the closure. She serves breakfast for those on their way to work on Nebraska Avenue.

“On a normal day, you can’t even get into this parking lot," she said. "It’s crazy."

But last week, she started to see a change as her usual breakfast rush slowed down.

“I’ve noticed a decrease in customers, actually," Page said. "It’s been very slow."

She thinks the construction is the reason, and says nearby business owners have seen a similar impact.

However, Page said she knows the closure is necessary for work that’s needed in the neighborhood. Officials say the project will help with flooding relief and drinking water improvements.

Officials with the city of Tampa say they are trying to keep businesses and homes on Nebraska Avenue as accessible as possible, especially for those in the immediate are of the closure.

Page says she’s staying open, hoping the impact of the road closure will be minimal.

“Of course we want to be busy — we want to have a thousand people here," she said. "But if I only have three, believe me, those three people will leave out of here just as happy as if it’s a thousand.”

Tampa officials say Nebraska Avenue may be closed for six to eight weeks. North and southbound traffic is being diverted to Florida Avenue. 

For more information on the closure, visit the Southeast Seminole Heights Flooding Relief Project's website.