TAMPA, FL. (April 16, 2025) – The Tampa Police Department is advising motorists of temporary road closures on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from approximately 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon in support of the 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run benefitting athletes competing in the Special Olympics of Florida.
This event will involve approximately 50 runners making their way through South Tampa and Downtown Tampa.
The run will begin at the Bayshore Gate of MacDill Air Force Base at 9:00 AM and proceed through the following:
- 1st Leg: Runners will travel north on Bayshore Boulevard from MacDill AFB to Interbay Boulevard, then turn east on Interbay Boulevard to Ballast Point Park.
- 2nd Leg: From Ballast Point Park, runners will continue north on Bayshore Boulevard to Bay to Bay Boulevard.
- 3rd Leg: Runners will continue north on Bayshore Boulevard to the Tarpon Weigh Station.
- 4th and Final Leg: Runners will proceed north on Bayshore Boulevard to Platt Street, then turn east on Platt Street to Franklin Street. Finally, they will travel south on Franklin Street to the Tampa Convention Center Front Circle Drive Area, concluding at approximately noon.
Members of the Tampa Police Motor Unit will provide traffic safety and manage traffic flow with a rolling roadblock in place as runners progress along the route. This means that traffic will be temporarily stopped ahead of the runners and will resume once they have passed.
To minimize disruption to traffic, runners will take brief breaks at the end of each leg (Ballast Point Park, Bay to Bay Boulevard, and the Tarpon Weigh Station). This will allow for runners to rest and for traffic flow to normalize intermittently.
Motorists are asked to exercise caution and patience in the affected areas, use alternative routes if possible, and cheer on the runners during the Torch Run. Please be aware of the temporary road closures and allow for extra travel time.
We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation in supporting this important event that benefits the athletes of the Special Olympics of Florida.