Tampa Riverwalk extension approved to improve pedestrian safety under Cass Street Bridge

Hillsborough County commissioners have approved $200,000 to support the preliminary engineering design of a Tampa Riverwalk extension that will run under the Cass Street Bridge, WUSF reported. Tampa city leaders have contributed an additional $200,000 to the project.

The extension aims to eliminate a hazardous crossing for pedestrians who currently must cross the busy intersection of Cass Street at W. Tyler Street. This intersection has seen 15 pedestrian incidents between January 2020 and December 2024, according to WUSF.

The Friends of Riverwalk, a nonprofit leading the extension effort, stated that the project will help reduce congestion and improve safety by providing a safer, more seamless connection for pedestrians and cyclists along the Riverwalk.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen said the county will collaborate with the city to extend the walkway over the river and under the Cass Street Bridge, allowing pedestrians to bypass the dangerous intersection and maintain a continuous Riverwalk northward.

The project is planned to coincide with major renovations at the Straz Center and the Tampa Museum of Art, which are each investing over $100 million in expansions. Cohen expressed a desire to begin the process immediately and complete the extension within three to four years, aligning with the reopening of these cultural venues.

Additionally, the Riverwalk is being extended on the west side of the river through the West River BUILD Project, which started last year and aims to connect downtown Tampa with Bayshore Boulevard.