A primarily local roadway in the north Mobile suburbs of Saraland and Prichard (pop. 28633), Alabama 213 is known as Shelton Beach Road. The two lane highway serves the University of Mobile and has a partial cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 65 Exit 13 at Alabama 158. A new alignment opened in 2003 over the Chickasaw Bogue creek near Chickasabogue Park. The new bridge replaces a series of five spans to the east. The original bridges were dismantled and a short dead end road now follows the northernmost stretch of old Alabama 213. The state highway begins at U.S. 45 and ends at U.S. 43. Counties: Mobile
Alabama 213 North
The first intersection of consequence along Alabama 213 is that of the west end of Whistler Street in Prichard. A flasher is posted here for the secondary arterial that serves Chickasabogue Park and the central business district of the city. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Alabama 213 north of Whistler Street meets the confluence of College Parkway and Mobile County 55. These two roadways serve the private University of Mobile to the northwest. Alabama 213 otherwise remains vastly undeveloped through to the Saraland city limits. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Nearing Alabama 158/Industrial Parkway along Alabama 213 northbound. Alabama 158 & 213 share a brief overlap through the Exit 13 interchange of Interstate 65. Westward Alabama 158 carries two lanes to U.S. 45 near the community of Kushla. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Alabama 213 northbound at the merge onto Alabama 158 east. The southbound ramp of Interstate 65 ties into the intersection where Shelton Beach Road ends. See the next photograph to view the changes the Exit 13 redesign created at this junction. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Northbound on Alabama 213 at Alabama 158 near the Interstate 65 interchange. This scene has drastically changed, as a new westbound Alabama 158 ramp to Interstate 65 south has opened. The new alignment shifted Alabama 213 to meet Alabama 158 directly across from the southbound Interstate 65/Exit 13 off-ramp. Photo taken 10/26/99.
A pair of Interstate 65 shields posted before the southbound ramp to the freeway departs Industrial Parkway east. This formerly diamond interchange underwent construction between 1999 and 2003 to upgrade the junction to a partial cloverleaf. Photo taken 11/04/03.
New sign bridges were installed during 2003 as part of the last phase of the Exit 13 reconstruction project. The alignment of Alabama 213 as it ties into Alabama 158 also saw alteration to space the intersections of Alabama 158 further apart. This improves the traffic flow along Industrial Parkway. Photo taken 11/04/03.
The major aspect of the interchange reconstruction was the
creation of a loop ramp from Alabama 158 west & Alabama 213 south onto Interstate 65 south. This ramp results in a third overpass of Industrial Parkway as seen in this photograph. Saraland becomes the control point for Alabama 158 but not for Alabama 213 north. It should be noted that this interchange is already encompassed within the city limits of Saraland. Photo taken 11/12/03.
A four lane off-ramp from Interstate 65 northbound ends at this intersection with Alabama 158 & 213. To the left is the departure of the Interstate 65 northbound on-ramp. The next interchange, Exit 15, also serves the city of Saraland. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Alabama 213 northbound prepares to depart Alabama 158 eastbound. This partitionment was shifted to the east to increase the spacing between it and the Interstate 65 northbound
ramps intersection. Alabama 213 returns to its Sheldon Beach Road alignment through north Saraland to its terminus at U.S. 43. Photo taken 11/04/03.
The first Alabama 213 northbound reassurance shield one sees after departing the overlap with Alabama 158. Alabama 213 quickly reduces from four to two lanes as it treks northeast through the city of Saraland. Photo taken 11/12/03.
The intersection of Alabama 213 north at Cleveland Road. Cleveland Road is a secondary arterial in Saraland that serves the city center. The road itself travels from there southeastward to U.S. 43 just north of the Alabama 158 east end. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Continuing through residential areas of Sarland on Alabama 213 northbound after the Cleveland Road intersection. Shelton Beach Road is considered just a secondary arterial through this stretch. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Approaching the intersection with U.S. 43 and Mobile County 41/Celeste Road. The upcoming junction brings Alabama 213 to a close. The city limits of Satsuma are not far to the north of this junction via U.S. 43. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Five point intersection at the terminus of Alabama 213 in
Saraland. To the left is Celeste Road, an important east-west road linking U.S. 43 to Interstate 65 Exit 17.
Across from U.S. 43, is Ferry Avenue, a local neighborhood roadway. Incidentally, the hidden Alabama
counterpart for U.S. 43 is Alabama 13. So Alabama 213 may have gotten its number by this association.
Photo taken 11/12/03.
Alabama 213 South
The ramp for Interstate 65 northbound departs the Industrial
Parkway overlap of Alabama 213 south & Alabama 158 west. 158 miles to the north lies the capital city of
Montgomery. Alabama 158 gains the control city of Citronelle for the connection via U.S. 45. Photo taken 11/04/03.
The right hand lane becomes exit only for the new loop ramp
to Interstate 65 south. Downtown Mobile lies eight miles to the south. The bridges above carry four lanes
of Interstate 65. However, provisions were built into the refurbished bridges for an eventual widening of the
freeway to six lanes. The intersection in the background sees the departure of Alabama 213 southbound for
Prichard and the end of the southbound Exit 13 off-ramp. A frontage road adjacent to Interstate 65 southbound was
relocated to accommodate the relocated ramp. Photo taken 11/04/03.
The southern terminus of Alabama 213 at U.S. 45 in northwest
Prichard. Alabama 213 is known as Shelton Beach Road at this point, and continuing straight takes one onto the
Shelton Beach Road Extension, a two lane highway to U.S. 98 in Mobile. The next intersection to the north along
U.S. 43 is the southern terminus of Alabama 217. Photo taken 11/04/03.
