The Tuscaloosa By-Pass, which spans the Black Warrior River, connecting Tuscaloosa and Northport, serves over 8,000 vehicles per day. The mile-long bridge was built in 1998 and is owned by American Roads, the same company that owned the former Baldwin County Bridge Company (BCBC) in South Alabama.
Just as it did with the BCBC, one state lawmaker wants the state to purchase the Tuscaloosa By-Pass and eliminate the toll, which is $2 per vehicle and $3.50 per commercial vehicle.
State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) is gathering support in his effort. Just last week, a community meeting was held on the matter. The majority of those in attendance were in favor of the state taking over the privately owned bridge.
Allen said it's an important issue because there is a need for industrial growth and development in the area.
"A toll bridge is very, very discouraging to industry when they are looking and wanting to locate," Allen told 1819 News. "If they have to pay a toll for their operations, their employees do as well, and so, this is one of those things that we must work together as a county and both cities to find a solution of some sort."
The Cities of Tuscaloosa and Northport, along with the Tuscaloosa County Commission, have passed resolutions in support of purchasing the bridge. Allen said other supporters include the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Farmers Federation and the West Alabama Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority.
However, there may be structural issues making it impossible for the state to purchase the bridge. Northport Gazette reporter Hayden Renfroe was at the meeting last week and has extensively reported on the bridge. He told 1819 News that a purchase may not even be possible because the bridge does not meet federal regulations. When asked about the possible issue, Allen said that it was a concern that should be addressed.
"That is a question that's got to be addressed," he said. "But at the same time, we're just going to drill a little bit deeper and do a little bit further research on this, but I feel like that this is an important issue to address those type of questions."
Another option, Allen said, is for the state to build a bridge next to the toll bridge. In Baldwin County, when the state began building a bridge near the existing toll bridge, the BCBC filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The lawsuit was eventually dismissed, and the state purchased the existing toll bridge from American Roads.
ALDOT chief of communications Tony Harris told 1819 News that ALDOT does not currently have plans to purchase the bridge.
"ALDOT is not involved in any acquisition discussions and has not allocated state resources for this purpose," Harris said. "While we are aware of local interest in the Department of Transportation becoming involved in discussions about the bridge's future, we view this as a locally led initiative at this time."
Denmark-based American Roads also owns the Montgomery Expressway in Millbrook and the Emerald Mountain Expressway in Wetumpka.
Allen said plans for another community meeting in Northport are in the works.
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