Oxford, AL – The City of Oxford is continuing efforts to address traffic concerns along Leon Smith Parkway through collaboration with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) on a long-range corridor improvement plan.
On February 24, 2026, the Oxford City Council authorized Mayor Alton Craft to enter into an agreement with ALDOT for a corridor study covering Leon Smith Parkway from Choccolocco Creek to just north of State Route 4 (U.S. Highway 78).
City officials have identified traffic flow along the parkway as a growing concern as Oxford continues to experience economic and recreational growth. The Oxford Exchange and Oxford Commons retail developments have become one of Alabama’s largest retail destinations, while Choccolocco Park continues to attract state, regional, and national baseball and softball tournaments.
During the Oxford City Council meeting on June 9, 2026, Council Member Steven Waits provided an update on discussions with ALDOT following a meeting held June 8. Mayor Craft, Oxford Police Chief Daniel Phipps, Public Works Director Rusty Gann, and ALDOT representatives attended the meeting.
According to Waits, discussions focused on several potential improvements, including widening bridges along the corridor, improving coordination and operation of traffic signals through updated technology and traffic data, and creating additional turn lanes to improve access to Interstate 20.
Waits said ALDOT representatives expressed a willingness to work closely with the city on developing solutions.
“The ALDOT representatives were excellent and very much want to help us with this,” Waits said. “It’s unprecedented. I have never seen them so engaged with us.”
Waits also noted that ALDOT recently adjusted signal timing based on updated traffic data. He said that despite increased traffic associated with championship tournaments at Choccolocco Park, the city had not received traffic complaints following those changes.
Mayor Craft said the city supports continued growth while recognizing the need to address transportation challenges created by increased activity along the corridor.
“The city council and I welcome more people adding to the Oxford economy which allows our city to offer the best services available to our residents,” Craft said. “However, this economic success must not come at the sacrifice of our residents, businesses, and services who work along and use Leon Smith Parkway. We appreciate the reception by ALDOT in recognizing the situation and being open to assisting with the development of a plan which answers the current influx of traffic we are now experiencing while anticipating future growth.”
The corridor study is expected to help identify both immediate and long-term solutions aimed at improving traffic flow and accommodating future growth along one of Oxford’s busiest transportation corridors.
