Senator Allen Revives Eastern Bypass Plan for Tuscaloosa

0:00From Birmingham, this is your March 9th update. A state senator from West Alabama is keeping hopes alive for a major highway project in Susque-Lusa. Back in March 2024, Senator Gerald Allen pushed to extend the Eastern bypass. Nearly two years later, he says the idea is still very much in play for future talks. The plan calls for a new connector starting at Bryan Bridge and linking up to Interstate 20 slash 59. This would ease heavy traffic on McFarlane Boulevard, a key route through the area. Local drivers know the headaches all too well, with backups common on highways 43 and 69. Allen stresses that better connections like this are crucial for smoother commutes and growth in the region. Discussions have gone on for years, for meetings among Gumri, to talks in Washington. Officials agree it's a big priority, even if progress has been slow. The project carries a hefty price tag of about $1,800,800,000. For now, it's staying on the table as planners weigh costs against the long-term benefits for Tuscaloosa traffic.

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