Construction has begun on the third and final phase of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Jack Warner Parkway Improvements Project, a long-running infrastructure initiative designed to modernize a key Tuscaloosa transportation corridor.
Phase III construction started June 1 and focuses on expanding and upgrading the railroad bridge spanning Jack Warner Parkway to improve traffic flow beneath the active rail line. The work also represents the most complex portion of the three-phase project due to coordination with railroad operations and structural modifications to the trestle, according to tuscaloosa.com.
As of June 8, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is closed from just north of 6th Street to Jack Warner Parkway near Nick's Kids Avenue. The Western Riverwalk connector beneath the trestle also is closed, although access remains available from the west end near Oliver Lock and Dam.
The final phase is expected to take approximately 2.5 years to complete, according to tuscaloosa.com.
Building On Earlier Phases
The overall project has been under way since late 2020 and is being delivered in three phases by the city of Tuscaloosa with funding from the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission.
Phase I began in December 2020 and was completed in 2022. That segment reconstructed portions of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Jack Warner Parkway between Stillman Boulevard and Greensboro Avenue, introducing a four-lane roadway divided by a landscaped median, new sidewalks, upgraded lighting and underground utilities, according to tuscaloosa.com.
Phase II followed in 2022 and reached substantial completion in early 2024, extending improvements west along Jack Warner Parkway from Greensboro Avenue to 21st Avenue according to tcric.org.
Work in Phase II included roadway widening and full-depth reconstruction, curb and gutter replacement, installation of water and sewer infrastructure and upgraded pedestrian features.
Final Phase Focuses On Railroad Crossing
Phase III centers on modifications to the existing railroad trestle, a longstanding bottleneck limiting vehicle clearance and restricting connectivity between downtown and West Tuscaloosa.
In addition to expanding the bridge span, the final phase will complete the corridor's full buildout from Stillman Boulevard to Almon Avenue. Improvements include:
- conversion to a four-lane roadway with landscaped median
- installation of a 6-ft. sidewalk and a 12-ft shared-use path
- upgraded roadway and pedestrian lighting
- enhanced landscaping and irrigation
- continued underground utility upgrades
The corridor also will provide improved multimodal access linking the Riverwalk, River District and downtown Tuscaloosa.
Economic Development Driver
City officials have emphasized the project's role in supporting long-term economic growth. Once complete, the improved corridor is expected to open more than 100 acres in West Tuscaloosa for redevelopment and investment opportunities, according to tuscaloosa.com.
The full three-phase program is now estimated at more than $84 million to $86 million, making it the largest infrastructure investment in the city's history.
Timeline Ahead
Construction on Phase III is expected to continue through spring 2029, depending on progress around the railroad structure and remaining utility coordination.
When finished, the upgraded corridor will provide a continuous four-lane route with pedestrian and shared-use infrastructure, completing a multi-year effort to modernize one of Tuscaloosa's most important transportation links.
