The City of Oxford is actively engaged with the Alabama Department of Transportation to determine a long-range plan to improve traffic flow on Leon Smith Parkway.

On February 24, 2026, the Oxford City Council authorized Mayor Alton Craft to enter into an agreement with ALDOT for a corridor study along the parkway from Choccolocco Creek to just north of SR-4 (US-78).

The parkway traffic flow has long been a concern of the city council as the Oxford Exchange and Commons have become the fourth largest retail hub of the state, and Choccolocco Park has quickly transformed into a state, regional, and national stage for softball and baseball championship competitions.

Council member Steven Waits reported to the council at their June 9, 2026 meeting of a “really good meeting with ALDOT” which was held on June 8, 2026 and attended by the mayor, Oxford Police Chief Daniel Phipps, and Public Works director Rusty Gann.

“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 said the current talks include widening the bridges; better local coordination and operation of the signal lights with the addition of new technology and updated traffic data; and creating two turn lanes which go westbound on I-20 and one going southbound.

He also noted the state has already made some adjustments to the signal lights three weeks ago with the new data and, even during the championship ballgames at Choccolocco Park, there had not been any reported traffic complaints.

“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,” said Mayor Alton Craft. “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.”