TPA begins work on flood barriers
Infrastructure to put up a temporary, nine-foot AquaFence around the electrical vaults for airfield lighting in the event of a major storm comes as hurricane season heats up.
With another hurricane season well underway, Tampa International Airport has started a new project to help protect its facilities from potential flooding in future storms.
Construction crews this week are starting work to enable TPA to erect a temporary nine-foot flood barrier around the Airport’s two airfield electrical vaults in the event of a hurricane. These two buildings, which are next to Tampa Fire and Rescue’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station near Airside A, house the machinery that powers lighting across the airfield.
Protecting these electrical vaults from flooding is important to helping restart Airport operations following a major storm. Airfield lighting is vital to keeping aircraft moving, especially after dark, and will be necessary to assist the region with recovery efforts. It also would help prevent costly repairs that would likely result from water intrusion or inundation.
When work is completed, TPA will have the ability to put up the barrier (as shown in the rendering at right) to keep storm surge out of the vaults, which are susceptible to the flooding associated with hurricanes that would be Category 3 or higher. The nine-foot barrier is the maximum height that manufacturer AquaFence makes, and would protect the buildings up to a Category 4 storm.
The project includes foundations for the barrier; electrical and drainage improvements; fencing; and pumps to help keep the storm surge away from the buildings.
The barriers will stay in storage at TPA until needed, and can be put into place around the vaults by a contracted emergency response team in about eight to 12 hours
The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board selected construction company H.L. Pruitt Corp. as the contractor at its August 2025 meeting. The total cost of the work and materials is $1.9 million and is part of the Airport’s Capital Budget. The project is scheduled to be completed in August.