City engineer reports progress on MLK Parkway rail-bridge approvals; mainline plans approved, spur expected soon

Tuscaloosa City Engineer Mike updated the Projects Committee on Oct. 12 about progress and remaining steps in the Martin Luther King/Jack Warner Parkway Phase 3 project, which includes two railroad bridges and related roadway work.

Mike said the project includes two separate railroad bridge components: the mainline crossing (a straight north'south route across the river toward Northport) and the Goodrich Spur, a secondary track that veers west and runs near the Tuscaloosa Country Club. The railroad owner is Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad (CPKC), and each bridge requires separate railroad approval.

Mike told the committee that the city received documented approval of the mainline plans on Feb. 10, when the railroad project manager indicated those plans were approved for construction. He said the spur plans that the city submitted are virtually identical to the approved mainline plans and that his expectation is the spur approval should come within weeks; he planned to follow up with the railroad the following week.

The city also must finalize maintenance, underpass and license agreements with the railroad. Mike said the draft agreements have progressed through several iterations and that terms in a substitute agreement proposed by the railroad were acceptable to the city's team in most respects; a few minor terms remained under staff review but were not expected to block progress.

Because the bridge work is specialized, the city will require prequalification of contractors and likely must obtain railroad concurrence on prequalified bidders. Mike estimated the prequalification and bidding process will extend the normal advertisement period by about 60 days; for a project of this magnitude (typically 45 days for advertisement), the result could be roughly 90 to 100 days before bid opening.

Mike also noted financing and legal steps remain: the project is funded through a funding agreement with TICRC, and any additional funding agreement for Phase 3 would need validation in circuit court before the city can access bond-market funding for award. Once the spur and related agreements are approved, the design team will prepare the project for advertisement and prequalification.

On construction impacts, Mike said the work will replace the wooden trestle elements with a clear span (he estimated the clear span could be about 100 feet or more) and steel girders supporting the bridge above the roadway; he added that the main track must remain active during much of the work, making construction a design and sequencing challenge. He said the city will require contractors with the specialized experience to perform such work.

Committee members asked several technical questions about sequencing, traffic geometry under the new bridge and contractor qualification. Mike said the city has discussed contractor prequalification with the railroad and that the team will continue regular follow-up every three to four weeks or as needed.