Alabama State Route 297
Encyclopedia
The Warrior Loop or the Tuscaloosa Eastern Bypass is a proposed four-lane, 18 miles (29 km), $250 million bypass of the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama
to be completed by 2012. Its route would begin at Interstates 20/59 in Cottondale
and terminate at U.S. Highway 82 just to the west of Northport
. Currently listed as State Route 297, it is estimated to serve 37,530 vehicles on a daily basis upon its completion.
Currently SR-297 is just over 1 miles (1.6 km) long serving as the fourth Black Warrior crossing in Tuscaloosa. Its southern terminus at Jack Warner Parkway contains an elevated stub where the road will continue in its southernly track in the future. Its northern terminus is located at its intersection with Rice Mine Road.
By the late 1980s, it became clear that an additional vehicular crossing of the Black Warrior River
would be necessary as both the U.S. Highway 43 and U.S. Highway 82 were approaching their designed carrying capacity. As a result, in 1991, the Metropolitan Planning Agency of West Alabama working with the Alabama Department of Transportation
began a study of a bypass around the city. By 1992, Senator Richard Shelby
and Alabama congressman Claude Harris were successful in securing $6.4 million in federal funds for engineering studies, land acquisition, and construction of the bypass through the Land Surface Transportation Act.
By 1997, $118,590,000, was requested to construct the first portion of the road between Interstates 20/59 in Cottondale
and Rice Mine Road including a new Black Warrior River crossing.
In 2000, construction commenced on the Paul Bryant Bridge
, located approximately one half of a mile to the east of the U.S. Highway 82 crossing. It opened on April 23, 2004 at a final cost of $35 million. Considered to be Phase I, with the bridge completion, Phase II commenced with the appraising of properties along the proposed right-of-way between Interstate 20/59 and Rice Mine Road.
By 2002, the Tuscaloosa chapters of the Sierra Club
and the Alabama River Alliance also joined in the chorus of groups against the construction of the bypass.
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Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
to be completed by 2012. Its route would begin at Interstates 20/59 in Cottondale
Cottondale, Alabama
Cottondale is an unincorporated community in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, now encompassed in the eastern suburbs of Tuscaloosa. The ZIP Code is 35453...
and terminate at U.S. Highway 82 just to the west of Northport
Northport, Alabama
Northport is a city in Tuscaloosa County in the west central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. Located on the Black Warrior River across from downtown Tuscaloosa, it is currently the 24th largest city in Alabama with an estimated population of 23,442 in 2009...
. Currently listed as State Route 297, it is estimated to serve 37,530 vehicles on a daily basis upon its completion.
Currently SR-297 is just over 1 miles (1.6 km) long serving as the fourth Black Warrior crossing in Tuscaloosa. Its southern terminus at Jack Warner Parkway contains an elevated stub where the road will continue in its southernly track in the future. Its northern terminus is located at its intersection with Rice Mine Road.
History
Black Warrior River
The Black Warrior River is a waterway in west central Alabama in the southeastern United States. The river rises in the extreme southern edges of the Appalachian Highlands and flows 178 miles to the Tombigbee River, of which the Black Warrior is the primary tributary...
would be necessary as both the U.S. Highway 43 and U.S. Highway 82 were approaching their designed carrying capacity. As a result, in 1991, the Metropolitan Planning Agency of West Alabama working with the Alabama Department of Transportation
Alabama Department of Transportation
The Alabama Department of Transportation is the government agency responsible for transportation infrastructure in Alabama. The department is divided into nine geographical divisions, with a central office located in Montgomery.-External links:...
began a study of a bypass around the city. By 1992, Senator Richard Shelby
Richard Shelby
Richard Craig Shelby is the senior U.S. Senator from Alabama. First elected to the Senate in 1986, he is the ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and was its chairman from 2003 to 2007....
and Alabama congressman Claude Harris were successful in securing $6.4 million in federal funds for engineering studies, land acquisition, and construction of the bypass through the Land Surface Transportation Act.
By 1997, $118,590,000, was requested to construct the first portion of the road between Interstates 20/59 in Cottondale
Cottondale, Alabama
Cottondale is an unincorporated community in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, now encompassed in the eastern suburbs of Tuscaloosa. The ZIP Code is 35453...
and Rice Mine Road including a new Black Warrior River crossing.
In 2000, construction commenced on the Paul Bryant Bridge
Paul Bryant Bridge
The Paul Bryant Bridge is the four-lane, tall, $28 million bridge spanning the Black Warrior River along Alabama State Route 297 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Construction of the long, twin-span bridge commenced in March 2000...
, located approximately one half of a mile to the east of the U.S. Highway 82 crossing. It opened on April 23, 2004 at a final cost of $35 million. Considered to be Phase I, with the bridge completion, Phase II commenced with the appraising of properties along the proposed right-of-way between Interstate 20/59 and Rice Mine Road.
Controversy
The primary opponents to the project are a group of environmentalists dedicated to the preservation of Tuscaloosa’s Hurricane Creek. The Friends of Hurricane Creek seek to alter the proposed routing to minimize degradation of the creek resulting from its construction. One of their proposals called for the rerouting of the road along Jack Warner Parkway to connect with Interstate 359 south of downtown Tuscaloosa.By 2002, the Tuscaloosa chapters of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
and the Alabama River Alliance also joined in the chorus of groups against the construction of the bypass.
Exit list
The entire route is in Tuscaloosa CountyTuscaloosa County, Alabama
Tuscaloosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is named in honor of the pre-Choctaw chief Tuskaloosa. In 2010, the population was 194,656...
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| Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|
| Terminus | |
| Crescent Ridge Road | |
| Jack Warner Parkway | |
| Rice Mine Road | |
| Watermelon Road | |
| Terminus |