Tuscaloosa Leaders Break Ground On $22.2M Airport Runway Extension

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa city officials broke ground Wednesday on a nearly $22.2 million runway extension project at Tuscaloosa National Airport.

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The city says the project will extend Runway 4-22 by 1,100 feet and include lighting and electrical upgrades aimed at improving safety and accommodating current large-aircraft operations, along with projected future activity at the airport..

Construction is expected to be complete by summer 2027.

“The Tuscaloosa National Airport represents more than convenience or logistics,” Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said. “It stands as a symbol of our region’s future.”

The project is primarily funded through the Federal Aviation Administration, with the State of Alabama and the City of Tuscaloosa each providing a 2.5% match.

The city’s portion is funded through Elevate Tuscaloosa.

"This is an opportunity for economic development, not only for my district, but for the city of Tuscaloosa as a whole," District 1 Councilor Joe Eatmon said.

Tuscaloosa National Airport Director Jeff Powell said the need for the runway extension has been identified repeatedly for more than 40 years.

“This is an investment in infrastructure, an investment in safety, an investment in jobs,” Powell said.

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