Closures Ahead As Tuscaloosa Begins 30-Month Job to Widen Road

The final phase of one of Tuscaloosa's most ambitious infrastructure projects gets underway this weekend, and closures are coming soon to downtown roadways and pedestrian paths.

Construction on Phase III of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Jack Warner Parkway Improvements Project begins Monday, with the most significant traffic and access impacts taking effect June 8.

Get our free mobile app

As the Thread has reported, this phase focuses on upgrading and expanding the railroad bridge span over Jack Warner Parkway to improve vehicle flow beneath the rail line crossings.

This project will ultimately widen the travel lanes under the historic wooden railroad trestle that crosses the Black Warrior River between downtown Tuscaloosa and Northport.

City leaders say that will allow moving and supply trucks easier access to West Tuscaloosa from downtown and could spark major investment and development in the historically underserved region.

"Once the full project is complete, it will stand as the largest infrastructure investment in our City's history, totaling approximately $86 million," Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said. "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."

Starting June 8, drivers and visitors should be aware of the following closures:

MLK 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; trail users can still access the Western Riverwalk from the west end near Oliver Lock and Dam
The trestle parking lot will be unavailable, including on nights when shows are held at Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater

The city said this project, alongside the first two phases, upgrades MLK Boulevard and Jack Warner Parkway from Stillman Boulevard to Almon Avenue, creating a four-lane divided roadway with a landscaped median, sidewalks, shared-use paths, upgraded lighting, enhanced landscaping and underground utilities.

The $44 million job is funded by the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission and managed by the city. Construction is expected to take approximately two and a half years.

Updates and email alerts are available at tuscaloosaroads.com/mlkjwp, and questions can be directed to Tuscaloosa 311.

For more exclusive coverage of development and infrastructure in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.