TUSCALOOSA, AL — The City of Tuscaloosa on Thursday announced construction will begin Monday, June 1, on the final phase of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Jack Warner Parkway Improvements Project.
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City leaders say the major infrastructure effort is expected to reshape a key corridor in west Tuscaloosa.
“This project has been many years in the making, and I’m excited to see the final phase taking shape,” Mayor Walt Maddox said. “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.”
To that end, Phase III is intended to upgrade and expand the span of the railroad bridge to improve vehicle traffic beneath the rail crossings of Jack Warner Parkway.
Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be closed beginning June 8 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 also be closed, with access still available on the west end of the trail by Oliver Lock and Dam.
Parking in the trestle lot will not be available during construction, including for shows at the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater.
City officials said Phase III is the final phase of the project, which will seek to transform the roadway from Stillman Boulevard to Almon Avenue into a four-lane corridor divided by a landscaped median.
The project will also add sidewalks, shared-use paths, upgraded roadway and pedestrian lighting, enhanced landscaping and irrigation, and underground utilities.
The effort is funded by the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission and managed by the City of Tuscaloosa.
Construction is expected to take roughly two and a half years.
Residents can follow construction progress and sign up for email updates here.
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