ALDOT Seeks Input on Woolsey Finnell Bridge Replacement in Tuscaloosa

The Alabama Department of Transportation is asking for public input about a $125 million project to replace the Woolsey Finnell Bridge over the Black Warrior River on McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa.

A come-and-go meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the University Church of Christ on Julia Tutwiler Drive in Tuscaloosa, where ALDOT staff will answer questions and view exhibits regarding the proposed project.

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John McWilliams, an ALDOT spokesperson, said they plan to replace the bridge with a more modern structure to handle traffic demands. The two-lane bridge will be expanded in both directions with three vehicle lanes and a bicycle and pedestrian lane.

ALDOT says more than 50,000 vehicles use the bridge each day.

In addition to replacing the bridge, the project would modify the ramps at Jack Warner Parkway and Campus Drive and also upgrade parts of McFarland with additional lanes and signal optimization.

Construction on the project is expected to begin early next year and wrap up in 2028.

Although the $125 million project is certain to cause disruptions, McWilliams said ALDOT intends to keep two lanes open in each direction at all times to lessen the impact to traffic.

The majority of the costs will be covered by a $100 million grant secured by former US Senator Richard Shelby before his retirement.

For more details on the project as they are released, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.