TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – WATCO’s Alabama Southern Railroad will construct a new yard in Tuscaloosa. The company plans to invest around $9.8 million in a new yard facility in the Tuscaloosa County Airport Industrial Park to support operations currently conducted at the company’s facility near downtown Tuscaloosa. The second facility will provide additional capacity and reduce traffic concerns at the downtown facility following the relocation of some activities. Construction on the new yard is slated to begin this summer.
“We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our rail footprint in Tuscaloosa, which will provide critical capacity to meet the growing demands of our existing customer base and facilitate future growth opportunities,” said Alabama Southern sales director Cody Gilliland said in a statement.
The Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority, which does business as the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority, approved a tax abatement package as part of an investment by Alabama Southern. The Authority’s board of directors approved the package May 18.
The project is expected to be operational during the third quarter of 2024.
