TUSCALOOSA, AL — City leaders officially broke ground Tuesday morning on the next phase of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Jack Warner Parkway Improvements Project.
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Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, District 1 Councilor Joe Eatmon and State Rep. Chris England, a Democrat from Tuscaloosa, spoke during the ceremony.
Phase III of the project, a partnership between the City of Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission, will widen and upgrade the railroad bridge over Jack Warner Parkway, with the goal of improving vehicle traffic beneath the rail crossings.
City officials said the improvements will also unlock more than 100 acres of land in West Tuscaloosa for future development.
"One of the things I'm most proud of working for the City of Tuscaloosa is our commitment to delivering real results," Maddox said. "This project means so much to our community, and I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has helped make it a reality. You remind me every day of why I'm proud to call Tuscaloosa home."
Eatmon said the railroad bridge has long served as both a physical and symbolic divide between West Tuscaloosa and the city's downtown.
"For many, this bridge has long been a psychological barrier, disconnecting West Tuscaloosa from our thriving downtown and other parts of the city," Eatmon said. "Today marks a major step forward in breaking down that barrier and strengthening the connection between West Tuscaloosa and the rest of our community."
When completed, the corridor from Stillman Boulevard to Almon Avenue will be transformed into a four-lane roadway featuring a landscaped median, new sidewalks, shared-use paths, upgraded roadway and pedestrian lighting, enhanced landscaping and irrigation, and improved underground utilities.
England said the project represents more than a transportation upgrade.
"By addressing this trestle, we're not only improving traffic flow; we're bringing much-needed resources to parts of our community that have gone without for far too long," England said.
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