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The Main Street of Alabama, Interstate 65 in Birmingham lives up to its name. The freeway carries six lanes throughout the city limits. Similar to Interstate 20 and 59, the roadway is composed of concrete throughout a good duration through the metropolitan area. Original signage exists in a stretch just west of downtown, while motorists are offered compelling views of the central business district high-rises. The freeway is quite scenic south of downtown to Interstate 459 from an urban perspective. The highway takes several twists and turns as it travels southward through the Homewood and Hoover vicinity. A symmetrical stack interchange facilitates movements between Interstate 65 and 459.
Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - Interstate 65
Currently the half-beltway for the Birmingham Metropolitan area. Interstate 459 is slated for extension to the north, allowing for an eventual complete beltway. However, the northern terminus of the old roadway will not directly link up with the northern terminus of the planned freeway. Therefore the northern beltline may receive a different Interstate number. This project is part of High Priority Corridor 28.
Overall the freeway is four lanes from the southern terminus to Exit 6. The speed limit is 70 mph through that stretch. Between Exit 6 and Exit 32, the freeway is six lanes overall. Speed limits vary between 65 and 70 mph on the 32.80 mile routing. The southwest flank of the beltway contrasts from that of the northeast, due to the nature of the Appalachian Piedmont. Nearby at Exit 23, the Miss Liberty Statue greets Interstate 459 travelers.
Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - Interstate 459
Lost in the Interstate shuffle is U.S. 11. This highway enters the metropolitan area on an overlap with Interstate 20, 59, and Alabama 5 from Exit 97 northward to Exit 108. At that interchange, the highway follows the Bessemer Super Highway northeast to the city. This multi-lane highway eventually transitions into 3rd Avenue in the central business district of Birmingham.
Within the confines of Interstate 65 and U.S. 31/280, U.S. 11 saddles up with U.S. 78 for a spell, with
both highways following 1st Avenue North through part of the downtown core. After parting ways near the Elton B.
Stephens Expressway, U.S. 11 travels through industrial environs for a northeastern departure of the city.
Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 11
U.S. 31 is an important roadway in the movement of Birmingham metropolitan traffic. The highway maintains at least four lanes throughout its area routing. In the southern suburb of Hoover, U.S. 31 serves the Riverchase Galleria shopping mall complex. This facility is so large, that it is receiving its own interchange from nearby Interstate 459.
Northward U.S. 31 intersects Interstate 65 at Exit 252 before crossing the Vestavia Hills city limits. Is it not until U.S. 31 reaches Homewood that it upgrades to freeway status. Near Lane Park, U.S. 31 adds U.S. 280 to its routing, with the two highways following the eastern edge of the Birmingham central business district along the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. This four to six lane freeway is elevated along a viaduct from the Red Mountain Geological Cut northward to its terminus at Interstate 20 and 59. The freeway is vintage with button copy signage and old style guard rails, dating from the 1960s. Contrary to the rumors, this freeway is not signed as Interstate 559.
A large stack interchange exists at the north end of the U.S. 31/Elton B. Stephens Expressway with Interstates 20/59. North of this junction, U.S. 31 descends back to street level along Carraway Boulevard. Just outside the city, U.S. 31 almost touches Interstate 65 on its parallel alignment. Exit 266 of Interstate 65 is a direct trumpet interchange with the U.S. route, and stems from the original terminus of the freeway. It was not until the mid 1980s that Interstate 65 north of this junction was complete.
Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 31
Corridor X
Currently U.S. 78 enters the metropolitan area via Adamsville and Graysville to the northwest. However, with the advent of High Priority Corridor 10, the alignment is sure to change. Current trajectories for the future Interstate highway, take U.S. 78/Corridor X eastward to Interstate 65 near milepost 265 (see this photograph for an approximate location). Freeway construction however, is still many years away.
Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. 78/Future Interstate 22 (Corridor X)
Otherwise, U.S. 78 travels via the Bankhead Highway southeastward to Interstate 20/59 at Exit 123. Near Legion Field in the Overton neighborhood of the city, U.S. 78 turns eastward along U.S. 11/3rd Avenue. The two highways turn south two blocks near Interstate 65, following 1st Avenue through the heart of the city. At 24th Avenue, U.S. 78 bids U.S. 11 farewell, diving south towards a 3rd Avenue South routing eastward through the Avondale and Forest Park neighborhoods of the city. U.S. 78 exits the city along Crestwood Boulevard, resuming its Bankhead Highway moniker through Irondale.
Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 78
We round out our U.S. route discussion with U.S. 280. The east-west highway enters the metro area from the southeast, carrying the name "Florida Short Route". This designation eventually extends southward to U.S. 431 at Opelika. As far as the Birmingham metropolitan area is concerned, U.S. 280 is the avenue of which suburban sprawl is traveling. The hilly areas to the southeast of the city are vastly undeveloped, and thus U.S. 280 is the gateway to these lands. The highway is multi-lane throughout its Sylacauga to Birmingham routing. However, congestion has already commenced at the Interstate 459 interchange, due to the influx of suburban growth.
Within the Hoover city limits, U.S. 280 upgrades to a short freeway within the vicinity of Lane Park and the Birmingham Zoo and Botanical Gardens. This segment ties directly into the U.S. 31/Elton B. Stephens Expressway from Red Mountain and downtown. U.S. 280 had originally continued westward into downtown via surface streets to a terminus with U.S. 11 or 78. But with the completion of the elevated freeway east of downtown, U.S. 280 was relocated. Currently an end shield exists just ahead of the Interstate 20/59 off-ramps from U.S. 31 northbound on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway itself.
Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 280
Alabama 149 forms an arc between the cities of Mountain Brook and Birmingham. The highway begins at an
interchange with U.S. 280/Cahaba Road near the Homewood/Mountain Brook city line southeast of Birmingham.
From there Alabama 149 travels westward along Shades Creek Parkway and Lakeside Drive. These multi-lane
facilities are divided as they cut a swath through the Samford University campus. At the north-south Green
Springs Highway, Alabama 149 turns northward. The state highway parallels the adjacent Interstate 65 northward
between Exit 255 and 259A. At Exit 259A, Alabama 149 becomes University Boulevard and crosses underneath
Interstate 65. The state highway is silenced through here, as maps show it turning north along 11th Street to
the Exit 259B interchange of Interstate 65. A reassurance shield is posted on University eastbound at 11th
Street. No other shields were found east or north of that junction. Counties: Jefferson
| Alabama 149 is omitted from Exit 259A related guide signs
of Interstate 65. Interstate 65 southbound sees Exit 259A signed for 6th Avenue South instead. The close proximity of
the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus generates a significant amount of traffic from Interstate
65. Traffic interests to University Boulevard (Alabama 149) are advised to take 8th Street south to reach the college
from 6th Avenue South. The intersection depicted here is that very one. Note that Alabama 149
shields are posted here. Photo taken 09/25/03.
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| Looking west from the intersection of 8th Street and University
Boulevard (Alabama 149). Interstate 65 crosses overhead in the background. The southbound ramp to Interstate
65 turns right in the foreground. This ramp is used heavily during the afternoon/evening peak travel time.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Alabama 149/University Boulevard northbound at the Interstate
65 southbound ramp. Traffic turning right must yield to oncoming traffic from Alabama 149 southbound.
The next interchange for the north-south freeway is at Exit 258 with Green Springs Avenue. This diamond interchange
is located just east of the parallel Alabama 149 at George Ward Park. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Detail of the Interstate 65 Alabama shields on Alabama
149 north/University Boulevard east. The northbound ramp departs from the left before the 11th Street
intersection of University Boulevard. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| The ramp to Interstate 65 southbound takes over from where
9th Street concludes. 9th Street travels one block from 6th Avenue South to University Boulevard (from the left).
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Peering north from the Interstate 65 overpass over Alabama
149/University Boulevard. Interstate 65 carries six overall travel lanes throughout the city of Birmingham.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Exit 259A from Interstate 65 northbound is allocated two lanes
for Alabama 149 northbound. This capacity relates to the busy University of Alabama at Birmingham campus
and medical facilities. The college is the city's largest employer. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Low and behold an Alabama 149 northbound reassurance shield. This
assembly is posted just beyond the Interstate 65 northbound off-ramp. The intersection in the background is that
of 11th Street. The campus of UAB spreads out all around at this point. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| This is the last Alabama 149 shield to be posted in the northbound
direction. Maps hint that the state highway turns left along 11th Street at the traffic light. University
Boulevard meanwhile presses westward through the college campus to the Five Points section of the city.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| From five stories above ground, the view to the northeast
at the Birmingham central business district. Below is the left-hand ramp from Alabama 149 northbound to
Interstate 65 north. 11th Street departs behind the foliage in the middle of the photographs. Two blocks to the
north the Interstate 65 southbound Exit 259B ramp intersects 11th Street as 4th Avenue South. 11th Street
dead ends one half block north of the traffic light there because of the Interstate 65 northbound on-ramp
from 3rd Avenue South. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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Alabama 269 acts as an alternate route from the city of Birmingham northwest to the Walker County seat
of Jasper. Along the way the state highway serves the communities of Maytown, Sylvan Springs, Birmingport, Praco,
Gorgas, Goodsprings, and Parrish. The first six miles of the highway is four-laned and divided. The highway
passes through some blighted areas initially, but quickly transitions into Appalachian Piedmont. There are
no traffic lights from four miles west of Interstate 20-59 to Future Interstate 22/U.S. 78 outside of Jasper.
A 2003 construction project sees the repaving of the Walker County portion of the highway.
Counties: Walker, Jefferson
| The southern terminus of Alabama 269 occurs at the Exit 121
junction of Interstate 20-59 in the Ensley neighborhood of the city. In this photograph, Alabama 269
travels along 20th Street to Interstate 20-59. There is no end shield posted for the terminus.
Photo taken 09/25/03.
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Scenes around Downtown Birmingham
For many photographs of the eastern end of the central business district, see
Walkabout Birmingham - A stroll through downtown.
Page Updated November 3, 2003.
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