MLK Jr. Boulevard north of Fifth Street and Jack Warner Parkway west of Nick's Kids Avenue stay closed for the trestle rebuild. City roads: call 311.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is refreshed weekly. State road work comes from ALGO Traffic, the Alabama Department of Transportation’s traveler information service; city projects come from the City of Tuscaloosa’s Tuscaloosa Roads site and news releases.

The biggest closure in Tuscaloosa is on the west side of downtown: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard north of Fifth Street and Jack Warner Parkway west of Nick’s Kids Avenue are closed while the city replaces the railroad trestle. On the interstate, ALDOT has long-running work zones on I-20/59 east of downtown, with all lanes open.

Who to call

  • City streets and city projects: Tuscaloosa 311, dial 311 in the city or 205-248-5311
  • Office of the City Engineer: 205-248-5380, ocemail@tuscaloosa.com
  • State routes and interstates: Alabama Department of Transportation, 334-353-6554, or ALGO Traffic for live conditions
  • Emergency or crash blocking a road: 911

City projects

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Jack Warner Parkway (Phase III). Construction began June 1, 2026, on the final phase: a wider railroad bridge so traffic can pass beneath the rail crossings of Jack Warner Parkway, according to the city’s announcement. The whole project turns the road from Stillman Boulevard to Almon Avenue into a four-lane divided corridor with sidewalks and shared-use paths. It is funded by the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission and is expected to take about two and a half years.

  • Closed: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard north of Fifth Street and Jack Warner Parkway west of Nick’s Kids Avenue, per the Oct. 2 update.
  • Also closed: the western Riverwalk connector beneath the trestle, and the trestle parking lot, including for Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater shows. Reach the western Riverwalk from its west end by Oliver Lock and Dam.
  • Now: crews are driving piles through the end of October, then start sewer work and, pending railroad approval, temporary bridges over the main line. Expect construction noise.

University Boulevard East. Lanes stay reduced, with temporary road and intersection closures along University Boulevard East, according to the October update. Next come drainage work at Redmont Drive and electrical duct work on the south side of the road. Text UNIVBLVD to 888777 for alerts.

Greensboro Avenue streetscape. The $4.3 million project widens sidewalks and removes a travel lane on Greensboro Avenue between University Boulevard and Seventh Street. From Sept. 28, the city warned of localized closures and detours between University Boulevard and Eighth Street for milling and final paving, per its Sept. 25 update.

State road work in and near Tuscaloosa

From ALGO Traffic on Oct. 17, 2026. ALDOT’s West Central Region handles these.

Road Where Dates Lanes
I-20/59 eastbound Exit 68 (Joe Mallisham Parkway) to Exit 71B (I-359) Aug. 31 to Jan. 15, 2027 All open
I-20/59 eastbound Exit 62 (Holley Springs Lane) to past Exit 68 Through Oct. 31 All open
U.S. 11 (Skyland Boulevard) northbound Cypress Creek Avenue East to Pleasant Hill Drive Through Oct. 31 Left lane blocked
Alabama 215 southbound 43rd Street to 40th Street Sept. 8 to Oct. 31 Right lane blocked
I-20/59 westbound Exit 79 (University Boulevard, Coaling) to Exit 77 (Buttermilk Road) Through Oct. 31 All open
I-20/59 both directions Exit 89 (Daimler Benz Boulevard), Vance Oct. 7-27 Barrier work; one lane or shoulder blocked
U.S. 43 northbound At Alabama 171, Northport Oct. 8-29 Right lane and shoulder blocked
U.S. 43 Old Fayette Road and Mitt Lary Road, Northport Through Oct. 31 and Nov. 30 Intermittent lane blocks

Dates and lanes change daily. Check ALGO Traffic before you leave.

Coming in 2027: the Woolsey Finnell Bridge. ALDOT awarded a $167 million contract on Oct. 14 to replace the McFarland Boulevard (U.S. 82) bridge over the Black Warrior River and widen about 1.5 miles of the road between Rice Mine Road and University Boulevard. Work is expected to start in early 2027, with two lanes open each way throughout, according to the governor’s office. Read what the contract covers.

Closing a city street for work

Contractors and residents who need to close a lane or a street in the city file a road and lane closure application with the Office of the City Engineer.

What this means for you

  • West Tuscaloosa to downtown: use another route while the trestle is rebuilt.
  • Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater shows: the trestle parking lot is closed.
  • Skyland Boulevard and Alabama 215 have single-lane blocks through Oct. 31.

More guides: getting around Tuscaloosa, who to call at City Hall and things to do in Tuscaloosa this month.

Frequently asked questions

Is Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard closed in Tuscaloosa?

Yes. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard north of Fifth Street and Jack Warner Parkway west of Nick’s Kids Avenue are closed while the city rebuilds the railroad trestle. Phase III is expected to take about two and a half years from June 2026.

Where can I check Alabama road closures?

ALGO Traffic, the Alabama Department of Transportation’s traveler information site at algotraffic.com, maps current road work, crashes and closures on state routes and interstates.

Who do I call about a city road closure in Tuscaloosa?

Tuscaloosa 311: dial 311 inside the city limits or 205-248-5311. Project updates are on tuscaloosaroads.com.

What road work is on I-20/59 in Tuscaloosa?

ALDOT lists improvements on eastbound I-20/59 between Exit 68 (Joe Mallisham Parkway) and Exit 71B (I-359) from Aug. 31, 2026, to Jan. 15, 2027, with all lanes open as of Oct. 17.