Eastbound beginning of unsigned Alabama 8, at this bank of
Interstate 20 and 59 Alabama shields. The divided four-lane highway continues southeast from the twinned
Interstates to U.S. 80. Unsigned Alabama 8 follows U.S. 80 throughout the state. All 2000 photographed shields
are replaced as of early 2002. Photo taken 12/08/00.
Interstate 20/59 shields and button copy guide sign. Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama and the Crimson Tide, is located 70 miles to the north and east. Continuing straight on Alabama 8 will also take one to U.S. 11, as U.S. 80 enters the state from Meridian, Mississippi twinned with that route. Demopolis, Selma, Montgomery, and ultimately Columbus, are all accessible from this rural interchange. See the next photograph for the signage replacement. Photo taken 12/08/00.
Gone are the days of button-copy in Alabama. This new reflective signage and shields now faces Alabama 8 eastbound traffic. Since the state highway dead-ends at the other end of the interchange, these shields merely direct traffic wishing to U-turn from Interstate 20 west/59 south. Photo taken 12/08/00.
Alabama 8 West
Sumter County 10 bisects Alabama 8's independent section between Interstate 20/59 and U.S. 80. This photograph looks at the intersection with the county highway in the westbound direction. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Junction Interstate 20/59 Alabama shields on Alabama 8 westbound. Note that the highway reduces from two westbound lanes to one midway across the Interstate 20/59 overpass. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Interstate 20/59 Alabama shield assembly on Alabama 8 westbound, as the divided highway enters the diamond interchange. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Westbound unsigned Alabama 8 approaching the westbound ramp for Interstate 20/59. Notice that in the distance, the divided four-lane highway comes to an abrupt end at a forest stand (see first photograph). As part of High Priority Corridor 6, this segment of highway may have plans to continue westward to Meridian independent of Interstate 20/59 in the future. Signage has since been replaced with that in the next photograph. Photo taken 12/08/00.
Continuing beyond the westbound Interstate 20/southbound Interstate 59 ramp takes traffic to a service station and eventual dead-end (see above photograph). A full overhead guide sign is in place because of the status of Alabama 8 as High Priority Corridor 6. Photo taken 12/08/00.
Summertime view of the Interstate 20-59 Meridian overhead at
the conclusion of Alabama 8. Note that the placement of construction vehicles ahead at the tree line. Some
roadwork was present at the time of this photograph, extending the dead-end tree cutting zone westward.
Photo taken 08/10/02.
