HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Construction on the Big Bend Road widening project in south Hillsborough County is moving along.

What You Need To Know

  • Widening project on Big Bend Road and I-75 continues

  • Earlier this month, the new on ramp from Big Bend Road to I-75 northbound opened

  • The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Hillsborough County have plans to continue widening to U.S. 301 and U.S. 41

But some drivers are wondering if it will be enough to fix the traffic congestion there as the area continues to grow.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Hillsborough County are redoing the I-75 interchange at Big Bend and also widening the road on either side, from Covington Garden Drive to Simmons Loop. Big Bend Road will go from four lanes to six.

Apollo Beach resident Matthew Anderson drives on Big Bend Rend every day. He says the road improvements there are badly needed.

“Before construction, it was a two-lane road both ways. It was stop and go traffic during key times,” Anderson said.

While he has welcomed the fixes, he’s curious as to how it will look when it’s done next year. For example, how traffic will flow outside of the areas that are being widened toward U.S. 41 and U.S. 301.

“I’m worried it will become a choke point for a lot of the traffic that’s going to U.S. 41. Especially with the warehouses that are coming online in the next year and all the housing as well,” Anderson said.

Anderson asked Spectrum News about that concern.

It turns out FDOT is working with Hillsborough County to continue the widening project, officials confirmed.

Construction from Simmons Loop east to U.S. 301 is expected to start next year while out west to U.S. 41 is scheduled to start in 2026

While that work continues, Anderson says there’s already been some traffic relief from the project.

Earlier this month, the new on ramp from Big Bend Road to I-75 northbound opened.

“When they opened up the new ramp, night and day difference. Especially for traffic to 75 from U.S. 301. It’s no longer a stop-and-go scenario. You can drive right through.”

View more information on I-75 interchange improvements at CR 672 (Big Bend Road).