A new entryway to the University will soon alleviate the headache of waiting on a train to pass along the south edge of campus.
The 2nd Avenue Overpass will connect 15th Street to Paul W. Bryant Drive near the east side of Coleman Coliseum, creating a new, centrally located campus corridor that won’t be hampered by the train tracks.
Currently, more than 70,000 vehicles cross the train tracks running along the south edge of campus every day. The new three-lane overpass will not only help traffic flow to and from campus but also will be especially helpful for emergency response.
The overpass will feature a 10-foot-wide bike/walking path, 4-foot-wide protective space with a concrete barrier and plenty of lighting. To enhance safety, a barrier rail between the sidewalk and roadway and barrier rail impact attenuators, also referred to as crash cushions, are included.
The project was designed to provide parking to the greatest extent possible under the overpass to minimize the loss of parking near Coleman Coliseum, Sewell-Thomas Stadium and the UA School of Law. Consideration of the loss of parking was taken into account when constructing the nearby Capstone Parking Deck and the structure was built to include parking spots eliminated by the overpass.
Construction of the 2nd Avenue Overpass is scheduled to be complete in August.