📡 UA Awarded $6 million DOT Grant for Rail Line Overpass (2nd Avenue overpass.)

[TerryP]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded The University of Alabama with a $6,025,657 Infrastructure For Rebuilding America, or INFRA, grant.

This funding will assist with the construction of a $22,608,175 overpass that will correct a transportation barrier in Tuscaloosa.

“I am proud to announce that The University of Alabama will receive a $6 million INFRA grant for a vital transportation project in the Tuscaloosa area,” said Shelby. “With ongoing growth and development throughout the state, Alabama’s transportation needs are rapidly changing, and it is imperative that we find the appropriate solutions. I look forward to working closely with my Senate colleagues and this Administration as we continue to address our nation’s critical infrastructure needs.”

This $6,025,657 INFRA grant will provide funding for the construction of a bridge over an existing rail line, which will decrease traffic delays and improve safety for residents in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. Additionally, it will provide an alternative route for approximately 80,000 vehicles per day, reducing conflicts with the train and other vehicle-pedestrian traffic for those traveling on and off campus.

The INFRA grants program was established by DOT in June 2017 to advance the Administration’s principles and help rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. Additionally, INFRA aims to increase the total investment by state, local and private partners.

UA Awarded $6 million DOT Grant for Rail Line Overpass – University of Alabama News | The University of Alabama

 

[bamachine]

Where exactly are they putting an overpass?

My hometown, Fort Payne, needs one badly. A large portion of the people who go into town are from the other side of the tracks from most of the business, doctors, hospital. Every single day, multiple times per day, trains use the center of town as a passing point. Forcing traffic to go several miles out of the way or wait up to 30 minutes or more. It is a stupid system, should have made the passing point outside of town.

 

[OldPlayer]

Hmmm. 2nd Avenue doesn't cross any train tracks so I don't know how it's helping 80,000 cars per day. If it did cross, it would be between Coleman and the law school. If they do build it there, the construction won't impact traffic much.

 

[252BAMA]

Hmmm. 2nd Avenue doesn't cross any train tracks so I don't know how it's helping 80,000 cars per day. If it did cross, it would be between Coleman and the law school. If they do build it there, the construction won't impact traffic much.

Apparently they are saying 80K total vehicles per day are crossing at 10th Avenue and at Hackberry.

 

[planomateo]

Yes, they are saying the new overpass at 2nd would provide an alternate path.

2nd Avenue doesn't exist between the railroad track and 15th Street, someones about to lose a cul de sac and they're gonna get through traffic into their hood...not to mention a business is about to get moved.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Yes, they are saying the new overpass at 2nd would provide an alternate path.

2nd Avenue doesn't exist between the railroad track and 15th Street, someones about to lose a cul de sac and they're gonna get through traffic into their hood...not to mention a business is about to get moved.

View attachment 9198

View attachment 9199

You've got several businesses right there. Basically right beside Taco Bell. Tuscaloosa music, Acker Appliance, Dollar General, Hassan Appliance parts, etc are all back behind Taco Bell. On the east side of the entrance to the little shopping centers behind Taco Smell is where Tuscaloosa Hyundai used to be, on 15th st. It was Bama Buggies after that. Can't remember what it is now. 1 of 2 things is going to have to happen: They're either going to curve the 4-lane from the entrance by Taco Bell just east of Dollar General/Acker Appliance and begin the bridge to the side of it, or we say Bye-Bye to that building and they move those businesses elsewhere, routing it right through where that building is now.

 

[OldPlayer]

Yes, they are saying the new overpass at 2nd would provide an alternate path.

2nd Avenue doesn't exist between the railroad track and 15th Street, someones about to lose a cul de sac and they're gonna get through traffic into their hood...not to mention a business is about to get moved.

View attachment 9198

View attachment 9199

You've got several businesses right there. Basically right beside Taco Bell. Tuscaloosa music, Acker Appliance, Dollar General, Hassan Appliance parts, etc are all back behind Taco Bell. On the east side of the entrance to the little shopping centers behind Taco Smell is where Tuscaloosa Hyundai used to be, on 15th st. It was Bama Buggies after that. Can't remember what it is now. 1 of 2 things is going to have to happen: They're either going to curve the 4-lane from the entrance by Taco Bell just east of Dollar General/Acker Appliance and begin the bridge to the side of it, or we say Bye-Bye to that building and they move those businesses elsewhere, routing it right through where that building is now.

The bridge itself can't cost $6+ million. I say they're going to be doing a little demo.

 

[TerryP]

The bridge itself can't cost $6+ million. I say they're going to be doing a little demo.

Looks like a brand new road to me. It is an "artist rendering" so we know what that means: probably not a damn thing.


This artist’s rendering shows a view of the 2nd Avenue Overpass from the Coleman Coliseum parking lot looking south.

Someone could just email and ask...I suppose: chris.bryant@ua.edu

 

[OldPlayer]

The bridge itself can't cost $6+ million. I say they're going to be doing a little demo.

Looks like a brand new road to me. It is an "artist rendering" so we know what that means: probably not a damn thing.

View attachment 9200
This artist’s rendering shows a view of the 2nd Avenue Overpass from the Coleman Coliseum parking lot looking south.

Someone could just email and ask...I suppose: chris.bryant@ua.edu

I get it now! This is part of the Coleman renovation. A new way out of the lot (although it will take away about 100 parking spaces).

 

[TerryP]

A new way out of the lot (although it will take away about 100 parking spaces)

Or maybe move them? Notice the parking lot to the left.

Another thing that crosses my mind is in the end we may get more parking than what's now with the new parking garage being built across the street.

I had a house back there when I was in school. I hated the drive and often biked. Would have loved to had a cut-through back then instead of having to go east/west before hitting campus.

 

[252BAMA]

Yes, they are saying the new overpass at 2nd would provide an alternate path.

2nd Avenue doesn't exist between the railroad track and 15th Street, someones about to lose a cul de sac and they're gonna get through traffic into their hood...not to mention a business is about to get moved.

View attachment 9198

View attachment 9199

You've got several businesses right there. Basically right beside Taco Bell. Tuscaloosa music, Acker Appliance, Dollar General, Hassan Appliance parts, etc are all back behind Taco Bell. On the east side of the entrance to the little shopping centers behind Taco Smell is where Tuscaloosa Hyundai used to be, on 15th st. It was Bama Buggies after that. Can't remember what it is now. 1 of 2 things is going to have to happen: They're either going to curve the 4-lane from the entrance by Taco Bell just east of Dollar General/Acker Appliance and begin the bridge to the side of it, or we say Bye-Bye to that building and they move those businesses elsewhere, routing it right through where that building is now.

The bridge itself can't cost $6+ million. I say they're going to be doing a little demo.

It's not JUST $6M.

"This funding will assist with the construction of a $22,608,175 overpass that will correct a transportation barrier in Tuscaloosa."

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

A new way out of the lot (although it will take away about 100 parking spaces)

Or maybe move them? Notice the parking lot to the left.

Another thing that crosses my mind is in the end we may get more parking than what's now with the new parking garage being built across the street.

I had a house back there when I was in school. I hated the drive and often biked. Would have loved to had a cut-through back then instead of having to go east/west before hitting campus.

Cedar Crest?

 

[OldPlayer]

Yes, they are saying the new overpass at 2nd would provide an alternate path.

2nd Avenue doesn't exist between the railroad track and 15th Street, someones about to lose a cul de sac and they're gonna get through traffic into their hood...not to mention a business is about to get moved.

View attachment 9198

View attachment 9199

You've got several businesses right there. Basically right beside Taco Bell. Tuscaloosa music, Acker Appliance, Dollar General, Hassan Appliance parts, etc are all back behind Taco Bell. On the east side of the entrance to the little shopping centers behind Taco Smell is where Tuscaloosa Hyundai used to be, on 15th st. It was Bama Buggies after that. Can't remember what it is now. 1 of 2 things is going to have to happen: They're either going to curve the 4-lane from the entrance by Taco Bell just east of Dollar General/Acker Appliance and begin the bridge to the side of it, or we say Bye-Bye to that building and they move those businesses elsewhere, routing it right through where that building is now.

The bridge itself can't cost $6+ million. I say they're going to be doing a little demo.

It's not JUST $6M.

"This funding will assist with the construction of a $22,608,175 overpass that will correct a transportation barrier in Tuscaloosa."

I should have gone into the construction business

 

[TerryP]

A new way out of the lot (although it will take away about 100 parking spaces)

Or maybe move them? Notice the parking lot to the left.

Another thing that crosses my mind is in the end we may get more parking than what's now with the new parking garage being built across the street.

I had a house back there when I was in school. I hated the drive and often biked. Would have loved to had a cut-through back then instead of having to go east/west before hitting campus.

Cedar Crest?

Damn. Sobering thought. House no longer exist. That was a crazy area when I was in undergrad.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

A new way out of the lot (although it will take away about 100 parking spaces)

Or maybe move them? Notice the parking lot to the left.

Another thing that crosses my mind is in the end we may get more parking than what's now with the new parking garage being built across the street.

I had a house back there when I was in school. I hated the drive and often biked. Would have loved to had a cut-through back then instead of having to go east/west before hitting campus.

Cedar Crest?

Damn. Sobering thought. House no longer exist. That was a crazy area when I was in undergrad.

Yup. Tornado took out half that neighborhood.

Sadly, that tornado was a developer's wet dream.

 

[BamaFan334]

This is what I hate about too much progression. Tuscaloosa is becoming too big city. Huge apartment buildings, over priced real estate, taking out the mom and pop spots that make a college town great, and more concrete. I don't want to have a Georgia Tech or Ohio State type atmosphere, and that appears to be where we are at with everything going on since the tornado.

 

[TerryP]

The trustees are considering revising the scope of the 2nd Avenue overpass bridge. The budget would increase by about $5 million, to add connector road to 15th Street, intersection improvements, and structural changes to add a pedestrian bridge at a later date.

The committee approves plans for a $14.6 million renovation of the Mal A. Moore Athletic Facility to expand the sports medicine service to all student athletes and expand the football locker room. "Any more discussion? Nobody wants to tell Saban no? Chickens," joked Committee Chairman James W. Wilson III before the vote.

H/T to Ed Enoch (@EdEnoch) | Twitter

 

[252BAMA]

The trustees are considering revising the scope of the 2nd Avenue overpass bridge. The budget would increase by about $5 million, to add connector road to 15th Street, intersection improvements, and structural changes to add a pedestrian bridge at a later date.

The committee approves plans for a $14.6 million renovation of the Mal A. Moore Athletic Facility to expand the sports medicine service to all student athletes and expand the football locker room. "Any more discussion? Nobody wants to tell Saban no? Chickens," joked Committee Chairman James W. Wilson III before the vote.

H/T to Ed Enoch (@EdEnoch) | Twitter

I can't believe a connector road to 15th street was not in the original plans. Why build it if you weren't going to connect 15th and PB Dr?