Southwest Alabama Field Guide to County Highways
A small taste of the county highways in Baldwin and Mobile Counties. Mobile County signage is very sparse, and generally is only posted at intersecting U.S. or state highways. Baldwin County signage however, is posted with consistency, including the use of end banners at the associated termini. There is a geographical orientation of county highways in most of Alabama that is similar to the U.S. Interstate system (lower numbers in the West and South).
Mobile County highways are vastly unsigned because of the preference to use street and road names
in lieu of County highway numbers. The naming convention vs. the numbering convention aides in 911 Emergency Response services throughout the county. Therefore the county stresses the road names over the County numbers, and thus does not sign post the routes with any consistency.
Lengthy highway in central Baldwin County between Daphne and Gateswood. The County route begins at U.S. 98 in the heavily developed Eastern Shore area of the county, traveling eastward to the settlement of Belforest at Baldwin County 27. As the route gets away from County 27, it becomes rural in character as it approaches U.S. 90 at the town of Loxley. One of the few instances in the state where a County pentagon is shown on an Interstate guide sign occurs at Interstate 10 Exit 53 with Baldwin County 64. The Wilcox Road interchange is rural in nature, with nearby Styx River Waterworld as the main attraction. Baldwin County 64 sleepily comes to an end with Alabama 112 at the settlement of Gateswood in pine-logging country to the northeast.
| A pair of gas stations and a fireworks shop line the
Interstate 10 Exit 53/Wilcox Road diamond interchange. Push away from the Interstate, and Baldwin County 64
enters farm country. This relic of a 1961 specifications Interstate 10 Alabama junction shield is located on
the county highway northbound (Wilcox Road). Styx River Waterworld is located a short distance to the northeast of this
interchange. Photo taken 11/16/03.
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| Baldwin County 64 east (Wilcox Road) at the Interstate 10
westbound on-ramp. Interstate 10 travels another nine miles to its next interchange, that with Alabama
59 near Loxley. Baldwin County 64 also travels westward to Loxley (pop. 1,348) from here. Photo taken 12/20/03.
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| Departing the Interstate 10 interchange on Wilcox Road
northbound. Baldwin County 64 carries little travel on the rolling hills that reside between the freeway
and the northern terminus at Gateswood. Photo taken 12/20/03.
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| Baldwin County 64 draws to a close at Alabama 112. The
east-west state highway travels between U.S. 31 near Bay Minette (pop. 7,820) and Escambia County, Florida.
There are no Perdido River crossings between the states of Alabama and Florida north of Alabama 112.
Photo taken 12/20/03.
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| Baldwin County 64 turns southward to intersect the north end of Baldwin County 84 near the community of Rosinton. Baldwin County 84 continues the southward trajectory of Baldwin County 64 3.5 miles to U.S. 90 outside of Robertsdale. The junction shield assembly is erroneous in that it is posted on Baldwin County 64 west and not the approach to it. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| Baldwin County 64 westbound otherwise returns to a westward heading en route to Loxley and Daphne-Fairhope. The east-west road intersects U.S. 90 & Alabama 59 5.2 miles west within the town. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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A short spur between Alabama 225 and Baldwin County 138 westward to the Tensaw River in central Baldwin County. The eastern terminus is also the western terminus of Baldwin County 138, a former state highway.
| First westbound Baldwin County 86 shield. Note the twisting nature of the highway, as it descends towards the Tensaw River. From north of Spanish Fort to Stockton and Blacksher, Baldwin County is quite hilly for Gulf Coast standards. Many signs are also posted in the area proclaiming Alabama Bird Watching Trails. Additionally, note that this shield has been used as target practice. Photo taken 04/11/02.
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| Eastbound Baldwin County 86 comes to an end at this intersection with Alabama 225. To continue straight will take one onto Baldwin County 138, and to the county seat at Bay Minette. Alabama 225 meanwhile straddles western Baldwin County between Stockton to the north and Spanish Fort to the south. The format of the Alabama 225 shield is typical of County highway junctions with state or U.S. routes. Photo taken 04/11/02.
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Formerly a state route, Alabama 138 was downgraded to Baldwin County 138 by the 1970s. The route links U.S. 31/Alabama 59 at Bay Minette with Alabama 225 to the southwest. The road traverses light development on its winding path.
| First eastbound Baldwin County 138 shield. The western terminus occurs at the eastern terminus of Baldwin County 86, both ending at Alabama 225. Photo taken 04/11/02.
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| Eastbound Baldwin County 138 comes to an end with U.S. 31/Alabama 59 in the Bay Minette area. The first portion of the highway passes by apartment and housing developments westward before exiting to greener pastures. Photo taken 04/11/02.
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Grand Bay-Wilmer Rd/Newman Rd
Linking Interstate 10 and Alabama 188 near Grand Bay southwest of Mobile to Mobile County 56 (Airport Blvd) west of the Mobile Regional Airport. It is only signed at the interchange with Interstate 10 (Exit 4), with no reassurance markers posted throughout the rest of the routing. Mobile County 11 is a two lane rural road with a 55 mph speed limit with passing allowed. The highway is the best route from West Mobile to Interstate 10 for traffic bound to Biloxi, Gulfport, and New Orleans. The highway currently is surrounded by farm fields, forest, and a scattering of homes. A few subdivisions have popped up towards Airport Boulevard, and it probably just the beginning of the Mobile expansion westward.
Snow Road
Two lane highway straddling the Western edge of Mobile Metro. The route links Jeff Hamilton Road Southwest of Mobile Regional Airport with U.S. 98 in Semmes. The only Mobile County 21 shields are located on U.S. 98. Long range plans call for the four-laning of this highway, as West Mobile expansion is in rapid pervasion.
McCrary Road
Continuation of Mobile County 68 (Wolff Road) northward between U.S. 98 and Alabama 217 (Lott Road). Signals exist at both U.S. 98 and Alabama 217, with the highway carrying two lanes amid a scattering of homes.
Schillinger Road
Busy north-south corridor in West Mobile. The highway is two lanes from Interstate 10 Northward, and five lanes from Cottage Hill Road to Howells Ferry Road. The intersection with Airport Blvd (Mobile County 56) is notorious for gridlock during the evening peak hours of travel. Schillinger Road is the antithesis of what goes wrong when zoning laws and planning etiquette is thrown out the window.
The northern terminus is presently at Alabama 217 (the only location with actual County 31 shields). An extension of Mobile County 31 is planned to continue the road northward to an extended Alabama 158/Industrial Parkway. This will allow motorists easier access to Interstate 65 via the Exit 13 interchange. Eventually the Alabama 158 extension will persist further west to U.S. 98 near the Wilmer and Semmes stretch. Upon completion of this segment, U.S. 98 will be relocated from Moffett Road onto the new road to the north. The 2003 Three year STIP includes money for the Schillinger Road project.
| An old specifications U.S. 98 shield exists at the intersection of Mobile County 31 northbound at Moffett Road. As of February 2003, the shield is still in place. Photo taken 11/25/01.
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| One of a few stretches of Schillinger Road that has yet to succumb to development. The final two mile stretch of Mobile County 31 sinks toward the Double Branch Creek before ascending to Alabama 217. Photo taken 11/19/03.
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| Junction Alabama 217 shield for the impending northern terminus of Mobile County 31. Known as Lott Road, Alabama 217 travels between Eight Mile in Prichard northwest to the villages of Lott, Millertown, and Georgetown before concluding in rural northwest Mobile County. Photo taken 11/19/03.
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| This traffic light represents the end of Schillinger Road. The dirt road ahead is that of Newburn Road. The extension of Schillinger will follow this stretch before turning northeast toward Kushla and U.S. 45. Photo taken 11/19/03.
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Cody Rd
A north-south unsigned county road connecting portions of northwest Mobile to southwest Mobile. Currently the road is undergoing major development with residential subdivisions and churches dominating the landscape. The portion of Mobile County 37 near Mobile County 56 is being widened to allow for a center turn lane. Otherwise Mobile County 37 is two lanes without shoulders and a 45 mph speed limit. The highway currently represents the western border of the city limits of Mobile. However, annexation of lands to the west may occur in the future.
McDonald Road
McDonald Road carries Mobile County 39 between U.S. 90 at Irvington and Mobile County 32 (Three Notch Road) & Gold Mine Road near Dawes. The two-lane roadway was upgraded to a four-lane divided highway between 2003 and 2005 to improve access to the Irvington and Bayou La Batre areas in conjunction with Interstate 10, U.S. 90, and Irvington Bayou La Batre Road (Mobile County 19). A six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange between McDonald Road and Interstate 10 opened on January 12, 2005 at a cost of $16 million.1 The original two-lane crossing over the freeway was removed in 2004.
Mobile County 39 ends at U.S. 90 presently. A new four-lane roadway however will continue south from a planned interchange with U.S. 90 to directly tie into Irvington Bayou La Batre Road.
| Mobile County 39 North |
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Mobile County 39 (McDonald Road) begins at a half-diamond interchange with U.S. 90 east of Grand Bay and southwest of Theodore. The four-lane highway will cross over U.S. 90 on new overpasses when the alignment south to Irvington Bayou La Batre Road is complete. Photo taken 06/11/06. |
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Mobile County 39 is one of the few county highways in Mobile that are actually signed. Many routes exist only on paper as Mobile County Emergency Management personnel prefer road names versus highway numbers. This particular reassurance shield resides ahead of the County Farm Road intersection. Photo taken 06/11/06. |
| Junction Interstate 10 Alabama shield posted after the Mobile County 39 (McDonald Road) intersection with County Farm Road. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
| The six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange between McDonald Road and Interstate 10 is named after retired U.S. Representative Sonny Callahan (R). Callahan, a local state representative, pushed for the Exit 10 interchange and widened McDonald Road successfully. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
| Four lanes of Mobile County 39 enter the Exit 10 interchange with Interstate 10. Motorists destined for Mobile depart McDonald Road via Interstate 10 eastbound. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
| A sign bridge guides drivers to the respective Interstate 10 on-ramps. Interstate 10 meets Theodore-Daws Road in three miles and U.S. 90 in five miles to the east of Exit 10. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
| McDonald Road passes over Interstate 10 on the approach to the westbound on-ramp. A left-hand turn is required for traffic destined to Pascagoula and Biloxi. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
| Mobile County 39 northbound at the westbound on-ramp to Interstate 10. The four-lane alignment joins the original two-lane roadway ahead. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
| Mobile County 39 South |
| Southbound on Mobile County 39 (McDonald Road) at the westbound on-ramp to Interstate 10. Interstate 10 meets Alabama 188 & Mobile County 11 in six miles near Grand Bay. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
| Traffic to Interstate 10 eastbound passes over the freeway on McDonald Road southbound. Interstate 10 meets Interstate 65 in ten miles and downtown Mobile in 16 miles. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
| A shield and guide sign direct motorists onto the Interstate 10 eastbound ramp. Interstate 10 meets U.S. 90 and Alabama 193 (Rangeline Road) at Tillman's Corner within the next seven miles. Photo taken 05/25/05. |
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Southbound reassurance marker placed for Mobile County 39 as it leaves the interchange with Interstate 10. The right-hand lane defaults onto County Farm Road west to the original McDonald Road ahead. Photo taken 06/11/06. |
| Mobile County 39 turned onto County Farm Road briefly before it rejoined the original McDonald Road alignment just south of Interstate 10. Mobile County 39 now continues south independent of County Farm and McDonald Roads to its end at U.S. 90 between St. Elmo and Irvington. Photos taken 05/25/05 & 06/10/06. |
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| A U.S. 90 trailblazer joins a Mobile County 39 shield at the intersection of McDonald and County Farm Road. The four-lane extension of Mobile County 39 to U.S. 90 at Irvington continues ahead to the intersection with Mobile County 19 (Irvington Bayou La Batre Road). The photos compare the road between and after its opening. Photos taken 05/25/05 & 06/10/06. |
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| The four-lane alignment between County Farm Road and U.S. 90 opened during the Summer of 2005. The roadway cost $8 million and is stage two of the three-part project to improve McDonald Road.1 Photos taken 05/25/05 & 06/10/06. |
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Mobile County 39 southbound travelers default onto the U.S. 90 off-ramp. A pair of stubs end on the mainline in anticipation of the southward extension to Irvington Bayou La Batre Road for Bayou La Batre. A folded-diamond interchange will facilitate the movements between U.S. 90 and Mobile County 39 upon completion of the southward extension. The CSX Transportation railroad line parallels U.S. 90 along the southbound side, necessitating the need for ramps to the north of U.S. 90. Photos taken 06/11/06. |
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Mobile County 39 draws to a close at the ramp intersection with U.S. 90. U.S. 90 east travels to Dawes, Tillman's Corner, and Mobile. Westbound travelers reach Grand Bay ahead of the Mississippi state line and Pascagoula. Photo taken 06/11/06. |
Airport Blvd
The main commercial drag for the city of Mobile. There are no signs posted indicating it as Mobile County 56 and the designation is most likely applied only to the section west of the Mobile city limits (west of County 37). The road is six lanes from Interstate 65 westward to near Schillinger Road (County 31). Airport Blvd is flanked by frontage roads periodically from Interstate 65 through Schillinger Road as well. The additional roadways (service roads) create extra phases that traffic lights must go through at the major intersections near Interstate 65, thus causing snarled traffic during peak hours of travel. Westward through the Mobile Regional Airport vicinity, Airport Boulevard retains four lanes. The suburban nature of the highway continues all the way to Snow Road (County 25), before Airport Boulevard enters rural areas while carrying two lanes. At the Mississippi state line, the highway transitions to Mississippi 614 en route to the village of Hurley.
Mobile County 56 - Airport Boulevard @ SouthEastRoads.com
Bellingrath Rd
One of three routes towards southern Mobile county and Dauphin Island. Mobile County 59 passes through semi-rural areas south of the town of Theodore at U.S. 90, and also is the road that serves Bellingrath Gardens. The two lane highway is a better alternative to the island over nearby Alabama 193 to the east, as less traffic is present. Locals marvel at the fact that actor Steven Segal, who played in Under Siege among other films, owns a large mansion along the highway south of Theodore.
Wolff Road
Short highway connecting Snow Road (County 25) with Moffett and McCrary Roads (U.S. 98/County 27). Highlights include an at-grade railroad crossing with the Norfolk-Southern railway and a right-angle shaped "Old Wolff Road" alignment. There are only two Mobile County 68 shields, both posted on U.S. 98.
| Old style U.S. 98 junction shield on Mobile County 68 eastbound as it turns to the north before meeting Moffett Road. At U.S. 98, Mobile county 68 ends, and Mobile County 27 begins. Less then two months after this photograph was taken, this U.S. 98 shield was replaced. Photo taken 09/16/01.
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Old Shell/Tanner Williams Rd
Another east-west route linking west mobile and Mississippi to Interstate 65 and downtown. The designation probably ends at the junction with Mobile County 37 (the city limits), but most maps indicate that it continues eastward to downtown. Overall Tanner Williams and Old Shell Roads are two lanes with periodic passing zones. The intersection with University Blvd is flood prone during heavy thunderstorms and is often closed. As of Summer 2002, this intersection is being completely rebuilt, with new storm water management implemented. At Schillinger Road, the designation switches from Tanner Williams to the west, to Old shell to the east. The road passes by nearby residential subdivisions and the Mobile Coast Guard Base en route to Big Creek Lake. Big Creek Lake is a popular fishing location, and is a manmade reservoir that provides drinking water for the city of Mobile. The construction of the lake cut the original Tanner Williams Road in two, requiring a new southern alignment via a causeway over the southern reaches of the body of water. The old alignments still exist with their original twin slab concrete. They now serve various houses and mobile homes. The unsigned county route crosses the Mississippi line and ends at Mississippi 57 at Van Cleave.
| Looking east at an old section of Tanner Williams Road. The path of the original alignment continued straight east to Big Creek Lake. For the most part, the original concrete is in tact, as the highway slowly sinks towards the lake shore. Photo taken 10/20/99.
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Howells Ferry Road
Two lane highway beginning at U.S. 98 (Moffett Road) at in northwest Mobile that heads west to Semmes and Big Creek Lake. Similar to Tanner Williams Road, Howells Ferry Road was also partitioned with the creating of the reservoir. The western end of the eastern segment of the road ends at a boat launch ramp to the lake. Meanwhile to the west of Big Creek Lake, a gravel road stems from Mobile County 5 eastward, and is all that remains of the original roadway. Suburban sprawl is fairly evident along Howells Ferry Road west of Schillinger Road, and with the advent of the West Mobile Bypass, the area will be more appealing for economic development.
Continuation of Mississippi 594 as it crosses the state line from the Leakesville, Mississippi vicinity. Mobile County 96 straddles vastly untouched landscapes as it migrates towards Citronelle. County 96 pentagons are located on U.S. 45 in Citronelle and U.S. 43 in Mount Vernon (the eastern terminus).
| Entering the state of Alabama from Mississippi 594 eastbound. Rolling hills await drivers between the Magnolia State crossing and Mobile County 21 (which leads to Alabama 217 southwestward). The only junction between Mobile County 96 and Mobile County 21 is that of the dirt road version of Lott Road. Lott Road is the same highway that Alabama 217 traverses between Prichard and northwestern Mobile County. Photo taken 08/21/01.
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| Eastbound on Mobile County 96 with an old style U.S. 45 junction shield in place. The city limits of Citronelle actually start several miles to the west of this meeting near the center of town. Speed limits drop to 35 mph upon entering the city. Photo taken 02/10/02.
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Sources:
- "New I-10 exit ramp to open." The Mobile Register, January 11, 2005.
Page Updated July 13, 2006.
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