Work to Transform Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa to Begin Soon

An ambitious project to remove a traffic lane and expand pedestrian access in a two-block area of downtown Tuscaloosa is set to begin soon, as the city council prepares to award the work to a local contractor.

The contractors will increase sidewalk widths, add streetscaping and landscaping, create dedicated delivery zones, and remove an existing lane of travel on Greensboro Avenue between University Boulevard and 7th Street.

That stretch includes Chuck's Fish, the Bama Theatre, the Shirt Shop, and several other bars, restaurants, and stores.

In a Tuesday meeting of the city's Projects committee, Deputy City Engineer Bill Butler said the work will be done by GFC Construction of Duncanville for $3.8 million, the lowest responsible bidder of five submissions. The city council will vote on that measure next week.

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The project, funded through Elevate Tuscaloosa and bond money, would begin in May, with GFC wrapping up the work by September, continuing the city's habit of planning disruptive projects in the summer to avoid interfering with the University of Alabama's class schedule or football season.

“As our downtown continues to grow, pedestrian safety and accessibility remain top priorities. We are excited to begin the Greensboro Avenue improvements project next month," Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox told the Thread. "Developed in close coordination with nearby businesses, once completed in late summer, this project will improve traffic flow, strengthen pedestrian access and safety, and increase economic vibrancy with enhanced streetscaping and dedicated areas for ride shares and loading zones."

Other transformational projects will also be underway - as the Thread has reported, Charles Morgan and a team of hospitality icons are working to redevelop the corner of 6th Street and Greensboro Avenue to bring Slim's Pizzeria to Tuscaloosa.

The road changes will allow Slim's to have more than 60 outdoor seats, Morgan told the Thread earlier this year.

The city is also weighing whether to dramatically change how traffic flows in nearby Temerson Square - read about that here.

Expect the work on Greensboro to begin in May and last through the summer, but look for this two-block stretch of downtown to feel completely different when it reopens in the fall, if the weather allows for consistent work.

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