The Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission (TCRIC or Commission) has received monthly deposits from tax revenue collections since September 2016, with a current cash-on-hand balance of approximately $8,266,100. The Commission continues to anticipate some form of borrowing in the coming months to accommodate an influx of priority projects prepared for letting. The mechanism for such borrowing has not been finalized at this time. The Commission will continue to pursue any and all available local, state, and federal funding mechanisms for priority project completion.

The Commission continues to work cooperatively with the Cities of Northport and Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to progress priority projects identified by the Commission’s enacting legislation. The Commission and ALDOT continue to make progress on priority projects identified to be jointly funded between them over a six-year period beginning in fiscal year 2017.

Completed projects

• Mitt Lary Road Improvements: Reimbursement to the City of Northport for Mitt Lary Road improvements completed in 2016 has been ongoing since January 2017. To date, the City has been reimbursed $3,400,000 for this project.

Projects in active construction

• US-82/McFarland Boulevard and Bear Creek Cutoff Road (intersection improvements): This project is nearing the end of active construction. The timetable was extended due to weather delays and change orders to address safety issues. The Commission has previously expended $883,000 and obligated $2,500,000 to reimburse Tuscaloosa County toward the project’s $3,383,000 authorized budget. Road signage at the project site identifies the project as a TCRIC project.
• State Route 69 South (additional lanes and access management): This project, managed by ALDOT, added lanes and improved access management from Skyland Boulevard to the North end of Maxwell Loop Road. The project is expected to be completed in June 2018, and the Commission has obligated $700,000 toward its $1,500,000 total cost. The Commission’s goal in funding this project was to improve traffic control in anticipation of the extensive construction work planned at the intersection of SR-69 South and Skyland Boulevard.
• State Route 69 North at Martin Road (intersection improvements): This project, managed by Tuscaloosa County through an ALDOT permit, is currently in the process of utility relocation. The project’s utility relocation and construction contracts were awarded by the County to Price Construction in early 2018. The Commission has authorized reimbursement to the County for the project’s costs up to $1,100,000 at its completion, which is estimated to be July 2018. ALDOT has also obligated $300,000 to the project. Road signage at the project site identifies the project as a TCRIC project.

Projects anticipated to be let in the next 120 days

• US-82/McFarland Blvd at Hargrove Road (intersection improvements, access management, and signalization work): This project runs from approximately Midtown Village to Buffalo Wild Wings. The construction bid for this project, being led by the City of Tuscaloosa as an ALDOT-permitted project, was awarded in May 2018. The Commission has approved the obligation of up to $3,599,879 for reimbursement to the City for project expenditures. The project is anticipated to let in the next sixty days.
• Bear Creek Road/Bear Creek Cutoff Road Improvements: The Commission has approved a project to make Bear Creek Cutoff Road a through road, improve the railroad crossing, add cross bars and remove stop signs from the crossing, and create an access road on SR-215, pending further approval processes with the relevant railroads. The project will be managed by Tuscaloosa County, and the Commission has authorized the reimbursement of up to $2,900,000 for the project. The project is anticipated to be let and completed during summer 2018. The Commission’s goal in funding this project was to improve traffic control in anticipation of the extensive construction work planned at the intersection of SR-69 South and Skyland Boulevard.
• State Route 69 South at Skyland Boulevard (intersection improvements): Construction plans are progressing towards finalization, and right-of-way is anticipated to be authorized by ALDOT in the next month. The TCRIC is working with ALDOT representatives to continue finalizing plans but has not yet authorized funding for this project. The project is currently estimated to cost $65,500,000.

Other projects in process

• State Route 69 North at Union Chapel Road (intersection improvements): This project, being led by the City of Northport, remains in right-of-way acquisition. Prior to the Commission’s involvement, the city of Northport and ALDOT entered into an agreement for Northport to provide $800,000 of the estimated $3,900,000 project cost. The Commission has expended $800,000 in up-front funding to the City of Northport for its portion of the obligated funds.
• Jack Warner Parkway/Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (add lanes): This project, being led by the City of Tuscaloosa, remains in right-of-way acquisition. The Commission has authorized the reimbursement of up to $23,200,000 to the City of Tuscaloosa for project expenditures.
• McWright’s Ferry Road (new roadway, grade separation): This project, being led by the City of Tuscaloosa, remains in the right-of-way process. The project’s design is approximately 75% complete. The Commission has authorized the reimbursement of up to $54,600,000 to the City of Tuscaloosa for project expenditures.