Major Tuscaloosa Road Project Nears Completion

Tuscaloosa’s population has increased by about 26% since 2010; you could assume that there would be traffic congestion based on that surge of people alone. The city grew by over 20,000 people in that 14-year span, and now the busiest areas in town see around 30,000 vehicles a day. That makes rush hour traffic significantly backed up.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox recently gave an update on the McWright’s Ferry Road extension project.

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In a video posted to his social media account on X, Mayor Walt Maddox stated that this bridge would “ provide a second access across North River, make safer passage in North Tuscaloosa, cut down on commute times, and allow Tuscaloosa to grow in the generations to come.”

This project is said to have been discussed for a considerable amount of time, with mentions tracing back to at least 1979, but due to factors such as funding, this project continued to be pushed back.

Today, the project is being funded by the Tuscaloosa County Road Commission (TCRIC), which was established in 2015.

The contractor broke ground on the project in February 2023 and aims to be around 90-95% finished by the time school starts back up in August 2025.

In a press release from the City of Tuscaloosa, Mayor Walt Maddox said, “The McWright’s Ferry Road extension project is one of the most crucial, transformational road projects in the City’s history.”

He continued, “As we progress towards a safer, more connected Tuscaloosa, residents will experience impacts of construction. Our goal is to provide real-time updates and accessible information to minimize disruption to those who live, attend school, or travel frequently in this area.”

If everything goes to plan, this should be a great way to clear up some of the daily traffic congestion.