Tuscaloosa starting new construction phase on downtown railroad bridge

The latest phase of construction on the train bridge in downtown Tuscaloosa began Monday, June 1.

Phase III is expected to upgrade + expand the span of the railroad bridge to improve vehicle traffic on Jack Warner Parkway underneath the rail line crossings.

The bridge is located west of the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater and near the Saban Center construction site at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Jack Warner Parkway.

Road closures around the area will begin June 8 including:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be closed from just north of 6th Street to Jack Warner Parkway near the Nicks Kids Avenue intersection
• The Western Riverwalk connector beneath the trestle bridge will be closed. Western Riverwalk access will be available on the West end of the trail by Oliver Lock and Dam
• Parking in the trestle lot will not be available, including for Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater shows

This project is funded by the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission (TCRIC) and managed by the City of Tuscaloosa. Construction is expected to take approximately 2.5 years.

This is the final phase of the $44M project, which will transform the roadway from Stillman Boulevard to Almon Avenue including:

• 4‑lane corridor divided by a landscaped median
• Adding sidewalks and shared-use paths
• Upgraded roadway and pedestrian lighting
• Enhanced landscaping and irrigation
• Underground utilities

“This project has been many years in the making, and I’m excited to see the final phase taking shape. Once the full project is complete, it will stand as the largest infrastructure investment in our City’s history, totaling approximately $86 million. This transformative investment will open up more than 100 acres of land in West Tuscaloosa, paving the way for significant future development and economic opportunities.”

Walt Maddox, Tuscaloosa mayor