Alabama 21 is born out of the transition from Florida 97 into the state near Atmore. Alabama 21 and Florida 97 provide an alternate link to Pensacola, Florida in lieu of U.S. 29 and Alabama 113 to the east.
As for Alabama 21 northward, the highway carries four lanes to Interstate 65, then two northward to Monroeville. Small repressed towns dot the landscape between Interstate 65 and the Monroe County seat such as Uriah and Frisco City. At Frisco City, a short Truck Alabama 21 exists, and bypasses the main portion of town to the east. In the Monroeville vicinity (pop. 6862), Alabama 21 crosses U.S. 84 and multiplexes with Alabama 41 northward on a four lane alignment. Upon reaching the core of Monroeville, Alabama 21 splits between a western Business alignment and an eastern four lane Bypass alignment. The split lasts two miles in each direction, with Alabama 47 tying into Business Alabama 21 at downtown Monroeville. Similar to the cities of Uriah and Repton to the south, Monroeville has fallen upon poor economic times. As the two branches of Alabama 21 reunite, Alabama 47 tags along for the ride as Alabama 21 sleepily exits the town.
Counties: Escambia, Monroe, Wilcox, Lowndes, Montgomery, Elmore, Coosa, Talladega, Calhoun
Alabama 21 North
Florida 97 northbound as it transitions to Alabama 21 at the state line. Note the highway construction in this photograph has resulted in the widening of Alabama 21 to incorporate a center turn lane. Photo taken 11/25/01.
Within the town of Atmore (pop. 7676), Alabama 21 northbound at U.S. 31. This
quaint town is situated just north of the Florida state line, and is at the crossroads
of two railroad lines. The highway widens to four lanes north of town as it approaches Interstate 65. A
railroad corridor parallels U.S. 31 throughout the Atmore vicinity. Photo taken 11/25/01.
Alabama 21 northbound at the terminus of Alabama 59 in the small town of Uriah (pronounced U-Rye). Alabama 59 begins at the "Y" shaped intersection to the right of the abandoned brick building to the left. The front of the building appeared to once house a general store, with the remainder of the building handling industrial duties. Buildings left to rot are typical in this portion of Alabama. Photo taken 06/01/02.
Alabama 21 and 41 share pavement for three miles between Monroeville and U.S. 84 north of Excel. The two highways share five lanes as they enter the county seat for Monroe County, amidst light development. This photograph is taken just north of the terminus of Alabama 136. Alabama 21 enters Monroeville after trekking through Frisco City, Uriah, and Atmore near the Florida state line. Alabama 41 also begins at the Florida state line, and traverses Brewton and Repton before tagging along U.S. 84. Photo taken 06/01/02.
Just outside of Monroeville, Alabama 21 splits between Business (to downtown) and Bypass (to the east) segments. Alabama 41 follows the Business portion through downtown Monroeville. This business/bypass partition of Alabama 21 is a format that is common throughout the Tar Heel State of North Carolina. Truck Alabama 47 is a bypass of Monroeville that follows U.S. 84 and Alabama 21/41 to the south and east. The route continues north on the bypass to Alabama 47. Photo taken 06/01/02.
Alabama 21 Bypass northbound at the merge with Alabama 21 Business. Alabama 47 enters the picture, as it duplexes with the business portion from downtown. The bypass had very light traffic on it, and carries four lanes. Not much is located on the bypass, with the exception of a Walmart. Photo taken 06/01/02.
Northbound Alabama 21 and 47 reassurance shields after the merge of the split Alabama 21. The two routes share a quiet stretch for 13 miles en route to the village of Beatrice. Speed limits signs throughout the Monroeville area indicate a slower limit for trucks. Photo taken 06/01/02.
Alabama 21 northbound turns east onto South Boulevard from U.S. 31 (Mobile Highway) at southwest Montgomery. The state highway carries the original U.S. 80 & 82 alignment eastward to Interstate 65. South Boulevard carries six overall lanes with heavily developed frontage. Photo taken 01/16/04.
Approaching Exit 169 of Interstate 65 & U.S. 82. Alabama 21 (South Boulevard) acquires U.S. 80 & 82 eastbound from Interstate 65. Up until 2001, U.S. 82 remains on South Boulevard with Alabama 21 to U.S. 31. U.S. 31 & 82 used to overlap on West Boulevard west of the city. Photo taken 01/16/04.
Interstate 65-85 & U.S. 82 guide sign assembly for the northbound on-ramp to Interstate 65. The interchange between Interstate 65 and South Boulevard is a simple diamond. U.S. 80 turns eastward with Alabama 21 from Interstate 65 north. U.S. 82 enters South Boulevard from Interstate
65 south. The southern terminal interchange of Interstate 85 (Exit 171) is just 1.50 miles to the north. Photo taken 01/16/04.
South Boulevard reassurance shields for U.S. 80/82 eastbound/Alabama 21 northbound. Alabama 21 gets lost in the confusion on the Boulevards of Montgomery. Quite a lack of respect for a state route that begins at the Florida state line and does not end until northeast of Anniston. Unsigned counterparts of Alabama 6 and 8 for U.S. 80/82 are also routed here, so this is a five-way multiplex. Photo taken 10/10/99.
U.S. 231 and 331 trailblazers posted just past the above reassurance shield assembly. Interstate 65 exit signage also has U.S. 231/331 trailblazers within it. U.S. 331 used to continue northward to downtown and the state capital dome. It was truncated to South Boulevard with the great rerouting of all non-Interstate highways in the 1980s. U.S. 231 enters East Boulevard where U.S. 82 leaves South Boulevard, six miles to the east. Photo taken 10/10/99.
The transition from South Boulevard to East Boulevard, where U.S. 82 exits and U.S. 231 enters. The two highways share pavement for twelve miles as they head towards southeastern Alabama. U.S. 231 joins Montgomery to Troy, Dothan, and ultimately the Florida Panhandle and Panama City. This corridor has been talked about for a future Interstate corridor. U.S. 82 on the other hand, takes less precedence as it sinks southeastward to Union Springs and Eufaula, before crossing the Chattahoochee River into the Peach State. Photo taken 12/07/99.
Interstate 85 Atlanta/Montgomery overhead on East Boulevard northbound (U.S. 80 east/U.S. 231/Alabama 21 north). For some reason this particular assembly is posted at an extreme height. The interchange with Interstate 85 is often associated with long delays due to the proximity of five traffic light installations. Photo taken 12/07/99.
Alabama 21 (Jacksonville State University Highway) northbound at the Interstate 20 eastbound on-ramp at Oxford. Interstate 20 travels through the southern reaches of the Anniston metropolitan area between Exits 179 and 191. Alabama 21 continues north one half mile to its merge with U.S. 431 (Quintard Drive) at junction U.S. 78 (Hamric Drive). The state highway links the city of Anniston with Jacksonville to the north and Talladega to the south. Photo taken 07/15/05.
Alabama 21 South
U.S. 231 enters the Boulevard system of Montgomery with
Alabama 21 at the eastern terminus of Alabama 152. There, North Boulevard becomes the limited-access East
Boulevard. This southbound photograph looks at the one-half mile guide sign for the upcoming interchange
with U.S. 80 east/Atlanta Highway. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 80 westbound enters East Boulevard for a three-way overlap
with U.S. 231 & Alabama 21 south. Departing is the exit ramp for U.S. 80 east. A frontage road system
exists to facilitate traffic to U.S. 80 and the nearby commercial shopping plazas. An alternate route to
Interstate 85, U.S. 80 travels six miles to the north-south freeway at Exit 11. Photo taken 08/22/03.
Damaged sign bridge on the southbound East Boulevard frontage
road. Traffic to the left returns to U.S. 231 & Alabama 21 south and now U.S. 80 east. Straight ahead is the
connection with the Atlanta Highway & U.S. 80 east. U-turning traffic to U.S. 231 & Alabama 21 north is
also directed to the upcoming intersection. The right-hand panel directs traffic to old U.S. 80, the Atlanta
Highway en route to downtown Montgomery. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 80/231 & Alabama 21 shield assembly at the southbound frontage road slip ramp. One mile to the south the freeway of East Boulevard ends at the Exit 6 interchange of Interstate 85. From there, East Boulevard becomes a multilane surface boulevard with numerous traffic signals. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 80 westbound joins U.S. 231 and Alabama 21 southbound along a freeway section of East Boulevard. Depicted here is a slip ramp to an adjacent service road, serving a local shopping mall. The freeway itself transitions to a surface arterial at the Interstate 85 interchange. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 80 westbound overlaps with U.S. 231 south and Alabama 21 southbound along East Boulevard. These shields are posted on East Boulevard just south of the Interstate 85 Exit 6 interchange. The landscape is more or less untamed suburban sprawl. The failure of the Boulevard system for Montgomery is why a new freeway bypass several miles to the south and east is being sought. Photo taken 04/95.
The area surrounding the South Boulevard interchange with Interstate 65 has your typical bumper crop of roadside amenities. The close proximity to Interstate 85 sees trailblazers for the nearby southern terminus displayed with northbound Interstate 65 shields. Continuing west through this interchange takes Alabama 21 to U.S. 31 as West Boulevard and ultimately to Maxwell AFB. Photo taken 10/04/01.
Originally intended to facilitate through traffic with a bypass of Montgomery, East and South Boulevards have since succumbed to heavy traffic woes associated with development. In the 1980s, all numbered routes with the exception of Interstates 65 and 85 were relocated to this loop system of roads. Photograph looks westward at U.S. 80/82 and Alabama 21 southbound at Interstate 65. U.S. 80 travels south with Interstate 65 for one mile to Exit 167. As of 2001, U.S. 82 now overlaps with Interstate 65 north to Prattville (Exit 179). Top photo taken 10/10/99; bottom photo taken 01/16/04.
U.S. 31 & Alabama 21 southbound crossing the Catoma Creek. Pictured here is an original sign bridge for the upcoming U.S. 80 (Selma Highway) diamond interchange. While the freeway segment of U.S. 80 between U.S. 31 and Interstate 65 only came into existence in the mid-1990s, this sign bridge dates most likely from the 1960s. Alabama 21 southbound departs U.S. 31 for ten-mile overlap with U.S. 80 west. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 80 no longer overlaps with U.S. 31, but since this set of overheads never alluded to that fact, it still remains. The bridge on which this assembly is situated crosses over the Catoma River. Photo taken 08/22/03.
The southern terminus of Alabama 21, as it crosses into the Sunshine State west of Bratt, Florida. The two lane highway transitions into Florida 97, continuing southward to U.S. 29 near Molino, with an eventual destination of Pensacola. Unlike the southern terminus of Alabama 41 at the Florida line, no end sign is posted. Photo taken 08/24/02.
