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City of Tampa to upgrade infrastructure in several neighborhoods

Infrastructure projects in MacFarlane Park and East Tampa will begin during the next few weeks

TAMPA – Cleaner water. Better fire protection. Safer streets.

The City of Tampa said those are just some of the goals behind a series of projects coming to several neighborhoods, a few of which — MacFarlane Park and East Tampa — will begin in the coming weeks.

Brad Baird, Tampa’s Deputy Administrator of Infrastructure, said those two neighborhoods have been picked by the city’s Foundation for Tampa’s Neighborhoods for water, wastewater, stormwater, and road improvements. Work will begin in MacFarlane Park and East Tampa in the next few weeks and in Virginia Park and Forest Hills in the coming years.

“We will try to, you know, minimize the impact to the citizens as we move through their neighborhoods, but in the end, this will be worth it,” said Baird.

City crews will primarily work to replace or repair old underground pipes, which means some neighborhood streets will be torn up to allow the city to do that work. It’s work, however, that Baird said should lead to better fire protection, better water quality, and fewer water main breaks.

Right now, an average of eight water main breaks happen in Tampa daily.