No bats were found after a thorough search of the Woolsey Finnell Bridge, Campus Drive Bridge and the railroad bridge west of Campus Drive when the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) conducted a bat survey in Tuscaloosa on August 3.
The bat survey was mandated by federal regulations designed to protect wildlife, particularly specific bat species that are often threatened by construction activities. These regulations require such surveys to be conducted before any construction or maintenance work can commence on structures that might serve as roosting sites for bats. The primary goal is to minimize any potential disturbance to bat populations, which play a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations and pollinating plants. ALDOT engineers regularly work with biologists to protect wildlife.
The survey was a precursor to ALDOT’s plan to replace the bridges with a more modern structure to handle traffic demands with three through-traffic lanes in each direction, as well as a bicycle and pedestrian lane. Currently, more than 50,000 vehicles use the Woolsey Finnell Bridge each day.
The 1.42-mile project will also include ramp modifications at Jack Warner Parkway and Campus Drive and will upgrade US-82 with additional lanes and signal optimization.
Construction is expected to begin in fall 2025 and will take approximately three to three and a half years to complete.
