Hugh R. Thomas Bridge

The Hugh R. Thomas Bridge is a road bridge spanning the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, connecting the city with Northport via US Route 43. The structure has six lanes and divides into two major one-way thoroughfares on the Tuscaloosa side before crossing the water.

The structure replaced a lift bridge from 1922 when it opened in 1974 and was named after Alabama State Representative Hugh Rowe Thomas, who passed away in 1967. The new span was built to handle increasing traffic demands between the two sides of the river.

The bridge represents a lasting memorial to the Thomas family, with Hugh being the son of University of Alabama football coach Frank Thomas.

The bridge is a major traffic corridor used by tens of thousands of vehicles daily, which can create congestion during peak hours. Pedestrians should be aware that this is primarily a vehicle thoroughfare and crossing on foot can be difficult when traffic is heavy.

The bridge features an unusual split design that divides into two separate directional flows on the Tuscaloosa side before merging back together toward Northport. This arrangement helps distribute traffic more efficiently across the span.