Traffic Flow

Welcome to the Traffic section of the UA Gameday website!  The University of Alabama and local law enforcement authorities are working hard to ensure that Gameday traffic runs as smoothly as possible.  Please make a special note of the enhancements and changes from last season.  Click here to see the 2008 Gameday Parking and Pre-Game Traffic Map. Click here to see the 2008 Post-Game Traffic Map.

NEW FOR '08 - New Golf Cart Regulations

Beginning with the 2008 football season, there are new golf cart rules that regulate the types of carts that are allowed on campus.  Click here to see the new golf cart regulations for 2008.

The university will not have any designated parking for golf carts. Golf Carts will also be subject to the same parking and towing rules and regulations if found to be obstructing sidewalks, ramps and pedestrian right of ways or parked in a manner deemed unsafe by the university.

NEW FOR '08 - Bryant Drive Construction

There may be ongoing street construction on Bryant Drive throughout the 2008 football season.  Any necessary detours that are due to construction will be posted on the web site and on the traffic and parking map prior to the applicable home game.

Also, a City of Tuscaloosa beautification project is underway on Bryant Drive.  Please be respectful of the new plantings around Tutwiler Hall, the Triangle Lot, the cemetery, and between Burke west and Barnwell.

NEW FOR '08 - Sherwood Drive

Sherwood Drive is closed to thru traffic.  This would affect traffic entering and exiting via Jack Warner Parkway or Campus Drive West.

Pre-Game Traffic

TRAFFIC TIP

Traveling from the Birmingham area?

If you are traveling from the Birmingham area and the first leg of your route allows you to take either I-20/59 or I-459, your travel time may be shorter if you use I-20/59 and travel through the Bessemer area toward Tuscaloosa.  Our observation during the previous games is that the volume of traffic on I-459 has continued to increase each game.  Thus, the congestion going to Tuscaloosa has been less on I-20/59 than on I-459.

INTERSTATE CONSTRUCTION

Please be aware of ongoing construction taking place on I-59 between the Mercedes exit (exit 89) and the Cottondale area. This will affect both northbound and southbound traffic throughout the season. All lanes will continue to be open; however, the speed limit in this construction zone is reduced.When traveling to and from Tuscaloosa, please allow some extra travel time when planning your gameday weekend.

If you are traveling to the game from Birmingham on I-20/I-59 and want to avoid the interstate slow down, look for the Gameday signs just before Exit 100 and Exit 89 (Mercedes Exit) that will guide you to the stadium. 

The signs prior to Exit 100 will lead you to Highway 216, which runs through the Brookwood community and eventually to Highway 215 (University Boulevard) in Tuscaloosa and on to Bryant Denny Stadium. Please note: the Highway 216 route is not a preferred route for RV's.

The signage prior to Exit 89 (just before Mercedes) will lead you over to Highway 11, which leads into the Cottondale Route to the stadium. 

For pre- and post-game traffic, tune in to the local CVB radio station - 103.3 FM. Traffic updates will also be given during the pre- and post-game radio shows.

Road Changes and Road Relocations for North Campus

As a part of the implementation of the Crimson Ride Transit System and new building construction, Campus Drive and Hackberry Lane were relocated prior to the 2007 football season, causing a number of changes detailed below and color coded on this map: 

• The Hackberry Lane relocation resulted in an uninterrupted continuation of Hackberry Lane from the Campus Drive Deck to Jack Warner Parkway, so the entire stretch will be named Hackberry Lane, as shown in yellow on the map.

• McCorvey Drive (shown in pink on the map) no longer connects with Jack Warner Parkway.  It “T”'s into Hackberry Lane at the new Lakeside Dining facility, just south of Riverside Residence Hall.

• The old section of Hackberry Lane that serviced Clara Verner Towers, located north of the new Hackberry Lane, was renamed Old Hackberry Lane and is shown in blue on the map.

• The section of Hackberry Lane east of the Mineral Industries Building (M.I.B.) and west of Shelby Hall was renamed Shelby Lane and is shown in orange on the map. 

• Campus Drive is no longer an east-west thoroughfare, but is divided at Campus Drive Deck into two sections Campus Drive East (purple on the map) and Campus Drive West (green on the map).

Gameday Routes and Parking Zones

There are four different, clearly defined routes designed to provide fans with the most time-efficient ways to get to and from the UA Campus.  Please use the appropriate route to and from the UA Campus which is closest to and most convenient to where you park. The four basic routes and three basic parking zones are defined below. The Cottondale Route and Route 216 share the same parking zone.

Click here to view printable directions of the Gameday Routes.

The “Cottondale Route" and "Route 216”

Either the Cottondale Route or Route 216 is the best route to use for fans parking in the area that's defined as south of University Boulevard to the athletic complex, east of Hackberry Lane, and west of McFarland Boulevard.

Cottondale Route

Entering Tuscaloosa via I-20/I-59

1. Take I-20/I-59 toward Tuscaloosa.

2. Take exit 79 Cottondale/Coaling.

3. Proceed west (turn right at the bottom of the exit ramp) on University Boulevard East (US HWY 11).

4. Within the city limits of Cottondale, US HWY 11 and HWY 215 split at a fork in the road. Bear right onto HWY 215 - continuing on University Boulevard East.

5. Continue west on University Boulevard (HWY 215 S) for approximately 4.3 miles to the UA Campus. 

Exiting Tuscaloosa via I-20/I-59

1. Find your way to University Boulevard and proceed east.

2. Continue on University Boulevard (HWY 215 N) beyond the McFarland Boulevard intersection.

3. Bear left at Skyland Boulevard East while continuing on University Boulevard East (US HWY 11).

4. Continue on University Boulevard East (US HWY 11) to I-20/59.

Route 216 (only for fans traveling from the Birmingham area)

Please note: the Highway 216 route is not a preferred route for RV's.

Entering Tuscaloosa via I-20/I-59

1. From Birmingham, take I-20/I-59 toward Tuscaloosa.
2. Take exit 100.
3. At the top of the ramp, take a right on state Route 216.
4. Follow state Route 216 to University Boulevard East (HWY 215).
5. At the traffic light at the intersection of HWY 216 and University Boulevard East, proceed straight ahead.
6. Continue straight onto 15th Street East.
   (Note: 15th Street East will bear to the right just past the bridge.)
7. Go beyond McFarland Boulevard.
8. Turn right on 6th Avenue East.
9. Proceed to the UA Campus.

Exiting Tuscaloosa via I-20/I-59 (only for fans traveling toward the Birmingham area)

1. From the UA Campus, travel south to 15th Street East.
2. Continue on 15th Street East beyond McFarland Boulevard.
3. Continue straight towards University Boulevard East.
4. Proceed straight beyond the traffic light at
   University Boulevard East to state Route 216.
5. Continue on state Route 216 to I-20/I-59.

The “359 Route”

The I-359 Route is the best route for fans parking in the area that is defined as south of Campus Drive, north of 12th Street, east of 10th Avenue, and west of Hackberry Lane.

Entering Tuscaloosa via I-20/59

1. Take I-20/59 toward Tuscaloosa.

2. Take exit 71 B, I-359 north.

3. I-359 north ends onto Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard – continue straight on Lurleen B.Wallace Boulevard.

4. Turn right onto Paul W. Bryant Drive or University Boulevard and travel east through downtown to the UA campus.

Exiting Tuscaloosa via I-20/59

1. Find your way to either University Boulevard or Paul W. Bear Bryant Drive (whichever is easiest) and proceed west.

2. Continuing west, turn left onto Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard South (this is a one-way street).

3. Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard South will become I-359 (No turns, just a name change).

4. Continue on I-359 and it will lead you to I-20/59.

• I-20/59 north toward Birmingham is to the left.

• I-20/59 south toward Meridian is to the right.

The “McFarland Route”

Entering Tuscaloosa via I-20/59

1. Take I-20/59 toward Tuscaloosa.

2. Take exit 73 McFarland Boulevard.

3. Proceed North on McFarland Boulevard

1. From Birmingham, right at the bottom of the exit ramp

2. From Meridian, left at the bottom of the exit ramp.

4. Follow McFarland Boulevard  to University Boulevard.

5. Take the University Boulevard exit.

6. Proceed West on University Boulevard to the UA Campus.

Exiting Tuscaloosa via I-20/59

1. Find your way to University Boulevard and proceed east.

2. Continue to the McFarland Boulevard access ramp.

3. Take a left onto the access ramp to get onto McFarland Boulevard.

4. Continue on McFarland Boulevard, which will take you to I-20/59.

• I-20/59 north toward Birmingham is to the left.

• I-20/59 south toward Meridian is to the right.

 

• For an alternate route to the Interstate, continue straight on McFarland Boulevard to Skyland Boulevard. For Interstate access toward Birmingham, turn left on Skyland Boulevard. For Interstate access toward Meridian, turn right on Skyland Boulevard.

Click here to view printable directions of the Gameday Routes.

Street Closings

Starting at three hours prior to the scheduled kickoff time, the entire core campus area will be closed to thru traffic.  A proper Gameday permit is required to enter this restricted area.  Click here to view the 2008 Gameday Parking and Pre-game Traffic Map. 

Please take note of the following street closings, and make your driving and parking plans accordingly.  Unless noted, these streets will remain closed until after the post-game pedestrian and vehicular traffic clears. 

To accommodate the Crimson Ride Transit System, there will be bus lanes on East Campus Drive.  To ensure that the bus travels efficiently, starting three hours before kickoff, Campus Drive East will be one-way traffic from 5th Avenue East to Hackberry Lane.  After the game, this same portion of Campus Drive will be one-way traveling east away from campus. Click here to view the 2008 Crimson Ride routes and shuttle stops Map.

The following roads will be closed at 5:00 p.m. on the Fridays before games:

• 6th Avenue (from University Boulevard to Capstone Drive)

• 7th Avenue (from Ferguson Center to Capstone Drive)

• Capstone Drive

• Margaret Drive

The following roads will be closed at 8:00 a.m. on Gameday:

• 6th Avenue (from Bryant Drive to University Boulevard)

• Wallace Wade Avenue

• Colonial Drive

• Bryant Drive (from 12th Avenue to 10th Avenue)

The following roads will be restricted to permit holders only starting three (3) hours prior to kickoff on Gameday and will remain closed after the game until such time to be determined by law enforcement.  Click here to see a Gameday map that includes all road closings. 

• University Boulevard from Hackberry Lane to Campus Drive

• Bryant Drive from 7th Avenue to 10th Avenue

• 10th Avenue from 12th Street to Bryant Drive
• 7th Avenue from Capstone Drive to Campus Drive West
• Marr's Spring Road from Campus Drive West to Stadium Drive
• Margaret Drive from Capstone Drive to Hackberry Lane
• West Fourth Street

Only emergency vehicles and those with the proper Gameday permit from the University will be permitted along these roads. These roads will be re-opened at a time after the game as determined by local law enforcement. Thanks for your cooperation!

 

Post-Game Traffic

After the game is over, certain streets will become one-way streets until pedestrian and vehicle traffic clears.

The following streets on the UA campus will become one-way streets after the game:

• Campus Drive West from Marr’s Spring Road to McCorvey Drive

• Campus Drive East from the Campus Drive deck to Helen Keller Drive

• McCorvey Drive from Campus Drive West to Jack Warner Parkway

Other streets that will become one-way after the game ends:

• Bryant Drive will be one-way heading west from Wallace Wade Avenue to Queen City Boulevard.

• Bryant Drive will be one-way heading east from 10th Avenue to Hackberry Lane.

• University Boulevard will be one-way heading west from Wallace Wade Avenue to Queen City Avenue.

• 10th Avenue will be one-way heading south from Bryant Drive to 15th Street.

• The Tuscaloosa Police Department will be diverting traffic traveling east on Bryant Drive onto 6th Avenue (before DCH Hospital), leading directly to 15th Street.

• From 15th Street, you may access any of the Gameday Routes.

• I-359 Route (quickest route to Interstate)

• At 15th Street, take a right and proceed to 10th Avenue.

• At 10th Avenue, take a left and this will lead to I-359.

• Cottondale Route (next quickest route to Interstate)

• At 15th Street, take a left and proceed to McFarland Boulevard.

• At McFarland Boulevard, continue straight until you reach AL 215.

• Take a right on AL 215, and this will lead to I-20/59.

• OR you can stay straight to take Route 216, which will lead you to exit 100 on I-20/I-59 (This route is only for those traveling toward the Birmingham area).

• McFarland Route (slowest route to Interstate)

• At 15th Street, take a left and proceed to McFarland Boulevard.
• At McFarland Boulevard, take a right and this will lead to I-20/59.

Click here to view the 2008 Gameday Post-game Traffic Map