TAMPA, Fla. — Around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, Florida Department of Transportation crews imploded the 10-story tower of the former Double Tree Hotel on West Cypress Street.
On Tuesday night, Tampa Police set up an exclusion zone around the site to prevent people from getting too close.
Several hours before demolition, traffic on local streets was shut down, and right before the implosion, Interstate 275 was shut down as well.
The former Double Tree Hotel property will be used as a staging area for the Westshore Interchange construction project.
The project includes I-275 from the Howard Frankland Bridge to east of Lois Avenue and SR 60 from I-275 to north of Spruce Street.
FDOT said the project will fully reconstruct the interchange and add capacity with general use and express lanes.
ABC Action News talked to people in the Westshore District to get their thoughts on the project.
"I'm hoping they can improve it but I feel like with the influx of people coming in, even with all the improvements that we're doing, that the improvements can't come quick enough. And I don't know if we can keep up with the times of what is coming to our area," said Stephanie Wooton.
The updated design also includes flyover ramps providing better traffic operations by replacing the existing loop ramp from westbound SR 60 to northbound I-275.
"I think (traffic's) getting worse for sure with the population growing," said Kendi Cozzo.
"It's just so many cars going nowhere, or they're fast, they don't use their signals, there's just not enough traffic space for all these people," said Robin Robinson.
Some in the community want to see other upgrades to alleviate traffic.
"I wish there was more public transportation. Like with Brightline coming," said Ben McAuliffe.
This project has been met with criticism over the years from people who believe the changes will make traffic worse.
"When is it going to be completed? I mean, do we have to wait five more years, 10 years, for it to be completed? It's right now and I don't know how they're going to solve it now," said Robinson.
Construction on the project will begin in late 2024.
