Tuscaloosa committee approves $79,009 engineering contract for Hargrove Road intersection

A Tuscaloosa City committee approved a professional engineering services contract with Duncan Coker totaling $79,009.10 to design roadway capacity improvements at the intersection of Hargrove Road and McFarland Boulevard.

The contract covers a roughly four-month design phase and is funded by GFRFFI, under a resolution the committee noted was approved in June 2024. Committee members said the work aims to reduce congestion at the intersection near Snow Hinton Park and Meadowbrook Shopping Center.

At the meeting, a committee member introduced the item and said, “The total is $79,009.10.” Bill, the project representative for the engineering request, described the site and the design intent: “And the objective here is to improve the situation by introducing some additional features for the intersection.” He identified the most prominent change as a dedicated right-turn lane for eastbound traffic on Hargrove Road and said engineers will add traffic-management features to shift cross-traffic access away from the main intersection.

Presenters showed a concept layout that also would tighten and reshape one access island, add a center divider to limit left-crossing movements from certain approaches and adjust driveway geometry for Meadowbrook to move crossing maneuvers farther from the intersection. Speakers noted nearby features include Snow Hinton Park, Meadowbrook Shopping Center (also referred to as Meadowbrook Plaza), and a Circle K convenience store.

Committee members had no substantive changes to the motion. A motion to approve the contract was moved and seconded and the committee voted in favor; the item was approved.

Design work will proceed under the contract; the committee did not specify construction funding or a construction timeline at this meeting.