City News

The City of Tuscaloosa held a groundbreaking for the University Boulevard East Improvement Project on Thursday, January 8, at 2 p.m.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and Council President Kip Tyner spoke during the ceremony.

"This project is a commitment to Alberta. 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," said Mayor Walt Maddox. "We've learned a lot of lessons in that journey, but the one thing through it all, both in success and failure, has been this relentlessness to make certain that we do everything we can to honor everybody who lost so much."

The $21 million project will include utility and streetscape improvements between Arcadia Drive and Redmont Drive. The project will also include amenities such as lighting, security, pedestrian paths and landscaping. 

"This project is massive," said Council President Kip Tyner. "Growing up here, I watched people for years walk in ditches, 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."

Construction on this Elevate Tuscaloosa project, in partnership with the Tuscaloosa Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), is expected to be completed in 2027.