The Alabama Department of Transportation will begin the three week process of repairing a Tuscaloosa bridge that was damaged last summer by a driver passing under it on McFarland Boulevard.

John McWilliams, a spokesperson for ALDOT in west Alabama, said the Jack Warner Parkway Bridge over U.S. Highway 82 was struck last September by the load being carried by a truck traveling on the road beneath.

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An inspection revealed minor damage to the concrete of the bridge and a girder, but McWilliams said it was not significant enough to require immediate repair and ALDOT decided to wait to start the project until the summer, when most of the University of Alabama's 40,000 students are no longer in Tuscaloosa.

With May upon us and ending soon, McWilliams said the work is set to begin next Tuesday, May 30th.

He said the contract for the repair was awarded to Bridge Builders of Alabama, LLC for $269,000, and they expect the work to take approximately three weeks.

"The contractor will close the Jack Warner Parkway eastbound acceleration lane on the
bridge for the entirety of the project, while US-82 lane closures near the bridge will only occur between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.," McWilliams said.

Keep an eye out for nighttime lane closures and delays in the area after the work begins next week and stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for more info from ALDOT as they release it.

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