Hugh R. Thomas Bridge
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/US_43.svg/24px-US_43.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Alabama_69.svg/24px-Alabama_69.svg.png)
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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.
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
Transport portal
Engineering portal
United States portal
- List of crossings of the Black Warrior River
References
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. 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.
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- Tuscaloosa City Schools
- Paul W. Bryant HS
- Central HS
- Northridge HS
- American Christian Academy
- Holy Spirit Catholic School
- Tuscaloosa Academy
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- Hugh R. Thomas Bridge
- Tuscaloosa National Airport
- Tuscaloosa station (Amtrak)
33°12′52″N 87°34′26″W / 33.21447°N 87.57379°W / 33.21447; -87.57379