en.Wedoany.com Reported - Construction on the third phase of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Jack Warner Parkway improvement project in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, began on June 1, with the core task being the expansion and upgrade of the railroad bridge spanning Jack Warner Parkway to optimize traffic flow beneath the active railway line. This phase is considered the most complex of the three due to the need for coordination with railroad operations and structural modifications to the trestle.
As of June 8, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from 6th Street north to Jack Warner Parkway near Nick Kids Avenue has been closed, along with the western riverwalk connector under the trestle, though access remains available from the western end near the Oliver Lock and Dam. According to tuscaloosa.com, the final phase of construction is expected to take approximately 2.5 years to complete.
The overall project has been implemented in three phases by the City of Tuscaloosa since late 2020, funded by the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission. Phase one began in December 2020 and was completed in 2022, reconstructing the roadway between Stillman Boulevard and Greensboro Avenue, introducing a four-lane road divided by a landscaped median, new sidewalks, upgraded lighting, and underground utilities. Phase two began in 2022 and was substantially completed in early 2024, extending improvements along Jack Warner Parkway from Greensboro Avenue west to 21st Avenue, including road widening and full-depth reconstruction, curb and gutter replacement, infrastructure installation for water and sewer, and pedestrian facility upgrades.
Phase three focuses on modifying the existing railroad trestle, which has long been a bottleneck limiting vehicle clearance and restricting connectivity between downtown and west Tuscaloosa. In addition to expanding the bridge span, this phase will complete the full corridor buildout from Stillman Boulevard to Almon Avenue, including converting the roadway to a four-lane road with a landscaped median, installing 6-foot sidewalks and 12-foot shared-use paths, upgrading roadway and pedestrian lighting, enhancing landscaping and irrigation, and continuing underground utility upgrades. The corridor will also improve multimodal access, connecting the riverwalk, riverfront area, and downtown Tuscaloosa.
City officials emphasize the project's role in supporting long-term economic growth. Upon completion, the corridor is expected to open over 100 acres of land in west Tuscaloosa for redevelopment and investment opportunities. The total cost of the entire three-phase project is currently estimated between $84 million and $86 million, making it the largest infrastructure investment in the city's history. Phase three construction is expected to continue until spring 2029, depending on progress around the railroad structure and remaining utility coordination efforts.
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