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 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. | |
| Coordinates | 33°12′51.86″N 87°34′25.5″W / 33.2144056°N 87.573750°W |
| Carries | 6 lanes of   US 43 / SR 69 |
| Crosses | Black Warrior River |
| Locale | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| Maintained by | Alabama Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Girder Bridge |
| History | |
| Opened | 1974 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 68,370 (2008) |
| Location | |
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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 edit
References edit
- ^ Alabama Department of Archives & History. "ADAH: Tuscaloosa Historical Markers". Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
- ^ ISTEA. "ISTEA Reauthorization: Member Policy Initiatives and Requests for Highway & Transit Projects in the ISTEA Reauthorization". Retrieved December 6, 2006.
- ^ Slowe, Betty (August 31, 2010). "Railroad Trestle: Looking Back with Betty Slowe". lookingback.blogs.tuscaloosanews.com. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ "New Bridge Name Officially Thomas". The Tuscaloosa News. June 14, 1967. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
- ^ "Hughie Thomas' Lucky Hat". Remember the Rose Bowl. Retrieved March 18, 2013.