City Leaders Break Ground On $21M University Boulevard East Improvement Project

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa leaders broke ground Thursday afternoon on the long-planned University Boulevard East Improvement Project, a $21 million initiative officials say will transform a key corridor in the Alberta community.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

The ceremony featured remarks from Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and City Council President Kip Tyner, both of whom emphasized the project’s importance to Alberta’s recovery and future.

“This project is a commitment to Alberta,” Maddox said. “The City’s commitment to Alberta has always been strong, but after the April 27, 2011 tornado that destroyed 13% of our city and nearly 60% of Alberta, we doubled down on a commitment to make certain that we never forgot Alberta. We’ve learned a lot of lessons in that journey…but through it all has been this relentlessness to make certain that we do everything we can to honor everybody who lost so much.”

City leaders said the project includes extensive utility and streetscape upgrades between Arcadia Drive and Redmont Drive, along with new lighting, enhanced security features, pedestrian pathways and expanded landscaping.

The improvements are also geared toward providing safer travel, improved walkability and a more welcoming environment for residents and businesses.

“This project is massive,” Tyner said. “Growing up here, I watched people for years walk in ditches, in very dangerous conditions. This is one of the main reasons this project is being done. This is going to be something I’ve only dreamed about, and now it’s reality.”

The work is part of the Elevate Tuscaloosa infrastructure initiative and is being completed in partnership with the Tuscaloosa Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Construction on the project is expected to be finished sometime next year.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.