Hillsborough County is gearing up for a roughly $50 million tear-up along Waters Avenue in Town ’N’ Country, swapping out a failing 24-inch wastewater force main that has been a repeat troublemaker for neighbors and businesses. County officials say the multi-year job is meant to steady wastewater service, cut down on disruptive emergency repairs and keep the system from failing at the worst possible moments. Construction is expected to start later this year and will span several construction seasons.
What the project covers
According to Hillsborough County, crews will replace about 22,000 feet of 24-inch force main along Waters Avenue, running from west of N. Manhattan Avenue to Sheldon Road. The county pegs the total project cost at $50,000,000 and notes that the new pipe will be installed within the existing road right-of-way. The official goals are straightforward: keep wastewater service reliable and help protect environmental quality for the Town ’N’ Country community.
Why the county says it is worth it
County leaders say a one-time, big-ticket replacement is cheaper in the long run than constantly sending repair crews out for emergency fixes, as reported by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The strategy is simple enough: invest heavily now to avoid shelling out for repeated short-term repairs later. Project documents also flag environmental protection and system resilience as key reasons for moving ahead with the overhaul.
Timeline and traffic impacts
The county’s project page shows design work wrapping up in mid-2026, with construction scheduled to kick off in late 2026 and finish by early 2029, per the Hillsborough County listing. Because the new line will be installed inside the road right-of-way, drivers and nearby residents can expect rolling work zones close to travel lanes and periodic traffic disruptions over the life of the project. A detailed lane-closure calendar is not yet posted, and officials caution that both cost and schedule are still estimates that could shift.
Part of a broader push
The force main swap is just one piece of a larger push to reinforce stormwater and sewer systems in Town ’N’ Country. Public procurement postings earlier this year show the county seeking design teams for regional drainage improvements, according to GovCB. Those solicitations call for work such as environmental permitting, subsurface utility surveys and maintenance-of-traffic planning, signaling that more orange cones and construction crews are likely in the neighborhood’s future. County officials say the broader investments aim to cut emergency repairs, limit environmental risks and strengthen the system over the long haul.
Residents with questions can call Hillsborough County at (813) 635-5400 or monitor the county’s capital project pages for updates on staging and traffic plans. Businesses along Waters Avenue should plan for intermittent construction activity over the next two to three years as crews mobilize and work their way down the corridor. We will keep an eye on bid awards and construction notices and update readers as the project moves through procurement and into full construction.
