On Thursday, Feb. 9, the City of Tuscaloosa will hold a Public Notice Meeting for the McWright’s Ferry Road Extension project at the Phelps Activity Center from 4 to 6 p.m.
The City's engineering team will be on site to answer any questions from the public.
The two-mile extension of McWright’s Ferry Road will connect New Watermelon Road to Rice Mine Road with a new bridge spanning North River south of the Lake Tuscaloosa Dam Spillway. The project also includes a pedestrian bridge over North River and a shared-use path which will ultimately connect to the Northern Riverwalk.
This would give people who drive on McWright's Ferry Road a second entrance onto the road.
City leaders said this project will allow first responders alternate access to the area in the event of an emergency and it should also "significantly reduce" commute times for drivers.
To see an additional map of the project, click here.
Some people who live on McWright's Ferry Road said they had to sell portions of their properties to the city to make room for the project. They said they have mixed feelings about the pros and cons of the extension but worry the extension will bring more traffic onto their road and closer to their homes.
Some residents said some of their neighbors got lawyers in hopes of fighting the extension.
The project is being funded through the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission (TCRIC) at a cost of more than $65-million dollars.
Construction is expected to start this month and last about two and a half years.