Hugh R. Thomas Bridge

The Hugh Rowe Thomas Bridge is a six-lane, girder bridge spanning the Black Warrior River along U.S. Route 43 and Alabama State Route 69, connecting downtown Tuscaloosa and Northport in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, that opened in 1974.[1] The bridge is split in Tuscaloosa to accommodate two major, one-way thoroughfares (Lurleen Wallace Boulevard North and South), before joining together heading towards Northport. It replaced a lift bridge that was built in 1922 and demolished in 1973.

Hugh R. Thomas Bridge
Hugh R. Thomas Bridge as seen towards the north, between the split spans of Lurleen Wallace Blvd.
Coordinates33°12′51.86″N 87°34′25.5″W
Carries6 lanes of US 43 / SR 69
CrossesBlack Warrior River
LocaleTuscaloosa, Alabama
Maintained byAlabama Department of Transportation
History
Opened1974
Statistics
Daily traffic68,370 (2008)

As of 2008, the average daily traffic count for the bridge is approximately 68,400 vehicles.[2] This is one of four vehicular bridges spanning the Black Warrior in Tuscaloosa. The KCS Railroad (formerly the M&O Railroad) trestle crosses the river nearby and is visible from the bridge.[3]

The bridge was named in honor of Alabama State Representative Hugh Rowe Thomas who was killed in a car wreck in April 1967 while traveling to Montgomery for a special session. He had been elected in 1966 and was just 33 years old.[4] Thomas was one of three children of famed University of Alabama football coach Frank Thomas and wife Frances Rowe.[5]

See also

References
  1. Alabama Department of Archives & History. "ADAH: Tuscaloosa Historical Markers". Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  2. ISTEA. "ISTEA Reauthorization: Member Policy Initiatives and Requests for Highway & Transit Projects in the ISTEA Reauthorization". Retrieved December 6, 2006.
  3. Slowe, Betty (August 31, 2010). "Railroad Trestle: Looking Back with Betty Slowe". lookingback.blogs.tuscaloosanews.com. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  4. "New Bridge Name Officially Thomas". The Tuscaloosa News. June 14, 1967. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  5. "Hughie Thomas' Lucky Hat". Remember the Rose Bowl. Retrieved March 18, 2013.

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