Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Interstate 10 Eastbound (Mobile County) Interstate 10 East The first four miles of Interstate 10 westbound within the state of Alabama feature the State Welcome Center and Tourist Information Center and an otherwise uninterrupted stretch of four-lane freeway. One of the few neutered Interstate 10 westbound shields resides past the Welcome Center. Photos taken 05/29/04 & 06/10/06. Approaching Exit 4 for Alabama 188 at Grand Bay on eastbound. This is the preferred exit for eastbound traffic to Dauphin Island on the Gulf of Mexico. Alabama 188 links Interstate 10 with Alabama 193 at Alabama Port, six miles to the north of the island. Photo taken 05/29/04. Interstate 10 eastbound at the western terminus of Alabama 188/Exit 4. Alabama 188 also passes through coastal communities of Bayou La Batre and Coden to the southeast. Meanwhile to the north, Mobile County 11 begins and continues northward to Airport Boulevard and West Mobile. This is the best way into West Mobile from Interstate 10 coming from New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Interstate 10 between the state line and Exit 20 was resurfaced Summer of 2001. Photos taken 05/29/04. Continuing east on what was the second longest exitless stretch of Interstate 10 between Grand Bay (Exit 4) and Theodore (Exit 13). The nine mile stretch was superceded by the segment of Interstate 10 between Exit 53 and the Florida state line. Although that section of Interstate 10 constitutes 18 miles of exitless freeway as the first Florida interchange is not until Exit 5 (U.S. 90 Alternate). Photo taken 05/29/04. The nine-mile uninterrupted stretch of Interstate 10 between Alabama 188 and Theodore however saw the opening of a new interchange on January 12, 2005. A six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange opened between the freeway and Mobile County 39 (McDonald Road) as the first in a three-stage project to improve access to the Irvington and Bayou La Batre areas and U.S. 90. McDonald Road saw relocation $16 million relocation to interchange with Interstate 10 and another $8 million project to extend the highway south to U.S. 90 at the intersection of Irvington Bayou La Batre Highway.1 The first photo reveals the partially dismantled original two-lane McDonald Road overpass. The second photo shows the new four-lane over crossing and associated collector/distributor roadways and loop ramps for the future Exit 10. Photo taken 05/29/04. A look at the first guide sign posted for the Exit 10 interchange with Mobile County 39 (McDonald Road) on Interstate 10 east. The control points are Bayou La Batre for southbound and Dawes for McDonald Road northbound. Photo taken 06/10/06. Drawing to within one half mile of Mobile County 39 (McDonald Road). McDonald Road exists as a four-lane divided highway from Interstate 10 southward to U.S. 90. The segment between County Farm Road and U.S. 90 opened Summer of 2005 as the second stage of the overall project.1 Photo taken 05/25/05. All traffic to McDonald Road departs in unison from Interstate 10. The off-ramp splits into north and southbound directions ahead. The interchange is named after retired U.S. Representative Sonny Callahan (R). Callahan was instrumental in getting the project built. Photo taken 06/10/06. Irvington joins Bayou La Batre as the control points for Mobile County 19 southbound at the Exit 10 ramp split. Irvington lies along U.S. 90 at the intersection with the Bayou La Batre Irvington Highway. Stage three of the aforementioned project will extend McDonald Road south of U.S. 90 to the intersection of Half Mile and Padgett Switch Roads to the southeast of Irvington. Funding of the $8 million project was not secured as of January 2005.1 Photo taken 05/25/05. Approaching Exit 13 for Theodore and Dawes, two southwestern Mobile suburbs, on Interstate 10 east. The freeway enters the Mobile metropolitan area at this interchange and does not exit until Exit 38. Photo taken 05/29/04. One-half mile guide sign for Exit 13 on Interstate 10 east. Theodore-Dawes Road intersects the freeway here at a diamond interchange. Mobile County 30 was recently widened from the interchange southward to accommodate truck traffic that utilizes services at this interchange. Additionally, Theodore-Dawes road northward transitions into Schillinger Road (Mobile County 31), a heavily traveled north-south corridor in the West Mobile vicinity. Photo taken 05/29/04. Drivers to West Mobile, Theodore, Dawes, St. Elmo, and Irvington leave Interstate 10 eastbound for Theodore-Daws Road (Mobile County 30). Mobile County 30 intersects U.S. 90 two miles to the southeast. From there Mobile County 59 (Bellingrath Road) sinks southward toward Alabama Port and Dauphin Island on Mobile Bay. Photo taken 05/29/04. Interstate 10 eastbound reassurance shield posted after the Exit 13 diamond interchange. The city limits of Mobile are still six miles to the northeast. Photo taken 10/31/03. Mileage sign posted between Exits 13 and 15 along Interstate 10 east. The community of Theodore is located along U.S. 90 to the southwest. Downtown Mobile is still another 11 miles to the east. Photo taken 10/31/03. Interstate 10 eastbound advance signage for Exits 15A/B for U.S. 90/Historic Mobile Parkway. It is unknown why this particular stretch of U.S. 90 is designated as such. The character of the highway has been lost with typical strip mall type development from Theodore eastward into midtown Mobile. Photos taken 05/29/04. Sign bridge on Interstate 10 eastbound for U.S. 90 at Exit 15A. The signage is the first example of non-reflectorized metal grids used in place of the standard sheet metal panels along the Interstate. Note the substandard nature of this interchange with a lack of a deceleration lane for the exit ramp. Exit 15A takes traffic back to Theodore, which is accessible from the previous interchange. Photo taken 10/31/03. Crossing over U.S. 90 approaching Exit 15B for the highway eastbound. The substandardness continues as the Interstate 10 bridges are shoulderless with again no deceleration lane for Exit 15B. This can be a dangerous situation with speed limits posted at 70 mph through this stretch. U.S. 90 does not again intersect Interstate 10 until Exit 27, as the highway carries local traffic from Tillman's Corner to Mobile. Photo taken 10/31/03. Depicted here is the 0.75 mile guide sign for the interchange with Alabama 193 (Rangeline Road). This full-cloverleaf interchange also serves Tillman's Corner. Crews moved the exit tab from the left to the right of the sign in Spring 2004, then replaced the sign by 2006. Photos taken 11/05/03 & 06/10/06. Drawing to within one quarter mile of the Exit 17 junction with Alabama 193. While Interstate 10 retains just four lanes from this exit westward, the freeway expands to six lanes eastward through the city of Mobile. Photo taken 05/29/04. A collector/distributor roadway system is in use at the Exit 17 cloverleaf interchange. These roadways mitigate weaving traffic concerns found at other Mobile area cloverleaves along Interstate 65. Thus while conversions to partial cloverleaf interchanges are taking place on Interstate 65, the interchange here on Interstate 10 will remain in place. Photo taken 11/05/03. Along the eastbound c/d roadway at Exit 17A for Alabama 193 south. Rangeline Road is the main route southward from Mobile to the south county communities of Fowl River, Mon Louis, Alabama Port, and Dauphin Island. The route carries four lanes from U.S. 90 southward to the Theodore Navigational Ship Channel. The barrier island of 1,371 is situated 25 miles to the south. Photo taken 11/05/03. Eastbound at Exit 17B on the collector/distributor lane for Alabama 193 north. Rangeline Road concludes in a short distance to the north at the intersection of U.S. 90 and Nevius Road. There Alabama 193 draws to a close. The Tillman's Corner Business District can be found just west of that traffic light. Photo taken 11/05/03. To supplement the to Interstate 10 guide sign on the Alabama 193 overpasses, a stand alone shield is posted along the c/d roadway. This is the same format used for Exit 17 westbound. Photo taken 10/25/03. The merging lanes of Exit 17 becomes the third eastbound through lane of Interstate 10. Thus Interstate 10 carries six lanes from Alabama 193 eastward. Money in the 2003 Three year STIP is allocated for the planned six-laning of the freeway westward through the Exit 13 interchange. Photo taken 10/25/03. Junction Interstate 65 north advance sign on Interstate 10 eastbound. This is the first in a series of signs for the major Interstate junction. Two mile signs are posted for all Interstate to Interstate junctions within the state of Alabama. Photo taken 10/25/03. Now within the city limits of Mobile, Interstate 10 eastbound passes under River Du Chien Road. Attached to the aging overpass is a diagrammatical overhead for the upcoming Interstate 10& 65 split one mile ahead. Note the separate set of brackets below the panel. This is a remnant from the original two button copy guide signs for Exit 20. Photo taken 10/25/03. A major split in Gulf Coastal traffic occurs at the Interstate 10 interchange of Exit 20. Long range travelers depart the east-west freeway for Interstate 65 northbound for cities such as Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Charlotte. In addition commuter traffic from the southwestern suburbs also utilize the two lane left-hand ramp. Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 commences its 800 plus mile routing via Exit 20. Interstate 10 continues eastward with three through lanes. Motorists continuing eastward will content with left-hand merging traffic of Interstate 65 southbound in one half mile. The merge of the two roadways squeezes Interstate 10 into two overall lanes. As for Interstate 65, the substandard nature of the northbound ramp necessitated the installation of warning flashers to the 45 MPH ramp panel. These saw placement during January of 2003. The city of Montgomery is 171 miles to the north. Photo taken 10/31/03. After traffic from Interstate south merges onto Interstate 10 east, traffic must shift to the left or exit at Alabama 163/Dauphin Island Parkway for Exit 22. Interstate 65 traffic enters from the left. Photo taken 08/21/03. Interstate 10 maintains six lanes through the Exit 22 stack interchange. The freeway expands to eight lanes east of Alabama 163. Photo taken 11/03/03. Interstate 10 eastbound at Exit 22 for Alabama 163/Dauphin Island Parkway. This is an older design stack interchange with a left-hand exit ramp from Interstate 10 west to Alabama 163 south. The eastbound ramp for Alabama 163 is elevated due to the proximity of the nearby CSX Railroad line. Dauphin Island Parkway (DIP) itself is a four lane corridor with center turn lane serving the Midtown and South Mobile communities. The naming convention remains from when the highway continued all the way to Dauphin Island itself. A bridge along the route over the Theodore Navigational Ship Channel was removed and Alabama 163 relocated westward to Alabama 193 via Hamilton Boulevard during the 1980s. This process disrupted the DIP and thus rendered the name into misnomer status. The stub ends of the roadway between Hamilton Boulevard and Laurendine Road retain the DIP moniker while Alabama 163 south of Laurendine succumbs to the Alabama 193 designation. Top photo taken 11/03/03; bottom photo taken 10/28/03. Traffic from the westbound Interstate 10 to southbound Alabama 163 flyover merges with the eastbound ramp. The combined ramp ends at Alabama 163 at this gore. Traffic turning to the left of the gore retains the option to turn right. Photo taken 11/03/03. Eastbound Interstate 10 views of the Alabama 163/Dauphin Island Parkway/Exit 22 stack interchange. The highest bridge is that of Alabama 163 itself. The middle ramps include the westbound Interstate 10 ramp to Alabama 163 south and the Alabama 163 south ramp to Interstate 10 east. Photos taken 10/24/03. The Exit 22 on-ramp to Interstate 10 eastbound becomes a fifth eastbound auxiliary lane. Ahead the lane becomes exit only for the Exit 23 partial cloverleaf interchange. Exit 23/Michigan Avenue serves the Brookley Airport and Industrial Park and older neighborhoods of south Mobile to the north. Photo taken 08/21/03. A short distance east of Alabama 163 is the ramp departure for Michigan Avenue. This north-south arterial begins at Broad Street 1,000 feet to the south. Northward the four lane highway travels to U.S. 90/Government Street. Photo taken 11/03/03. The fourth city of Mobile interchange is that of the folded diamond interchange at Duval Street. Duval and the nearby Broad Street serve the Birdville neighborhood of the city. Each surface arterial carries four lanes of overall traffic. Photo taken 11/03/03. The Exit 24 off-ramp consists of two lanes to accommodate truck traffic to the nearby Brookley Field and Industrial Complex. At the end of the Duval Street ramp itself is the beginning of the Interstate 10 frontage road system eastbound. This parallel roadway to Interstate 10 links Duval and Broad Streets, thus providing easy access between the two for Exit 24. A folded diamond interchange returns traffic to eastbound at Broad. Photo taken 11/03/03. With Duval Street below, Interstate 10 continues eastward toward the central business district of Mobile. A second reminder is posted here for the hazardous materials restriction for the George C. Wallace Tunnels under the Mobile River. Prohibited traffic must depart by Exit 26B/Water Street to avoid the tunnel. Photo taken 10/24/03. Midway between the Broad and Duval Street folded diamond interchanges is the one-mile guide sign for Exit 25/Virginia Street. Virginia Street is an east-west secondary arterial that travels between Alabama 163/DIP and industrial areas along the Mobile River. Photo taken 10/24/03. The Duval Street on-ramp becomes the exit-only auxiliary lane for Virginia Street. An overhead is placed to advise motorists of this distinction. During Mardi Gras season, this interchange is a great way to sneak into the downtown area to avoid traffic. Additionally Virginia Street is the preferred westbound route to Ladd Peebles Stadium. Photo taken 11/03/03. The final advance guide sign of Exit 25 posted on Interstate 10 eastbound. A diamond interchange composes this junction. Scrapyards and other industrial businesses dot the landscape to the south of Virginia Street. Single family homes and a scattering of churches are found to the north. Photo taken 10/24/03. Exit 25 for Virginia Street departs Interstate 10 eastbound at this photograph. Cranes for the Bender Shipbuilding facility can be seen in the distance to the right. The former Kennedy Presidential yacht was refurbished by those facilities during the Summer of 2002. Top photo taken 11/03/03; bottom photo taken 10/28/03. Between Exit 25 and Exit 26A is the folded diamond interchange of Exit 25A (accessible via Interstate 10 westbound only) at Texas Street. Interstate 10 crosses over the secondary arterial in this photograph. An upcoming exits sign is the first mentioning of the Canal Street exit for Downtown. Photo taken 10/24/03. The on-ramp from Texas Street becomes the exit only lane for upcoming Exit 26A/Canal Street. Interstate 10 eastbound meanwhile reduces to three lanes in preparation for the upcoming four lane Wallace Tunnel. The pedestrian overcrossing ahead is abandoned and slated for removal. Photo taken 10/28/03. Interstate 10 eastbound at the Canal Street off-ramp. Exit 26A is a folded diamond interchange with return access to Interstate 10 west. This two lane ramp serves not only Canal Street, but also Franklin & Jackson Streets for Downtown and Water Street for the riverfront. Canal Street actually ends underneath the Interstate 10 viaduct at the transition to Water. Photo taken 10/24/03. Exit 26A not only serves the central business district, but also serves the Mobile Civic Center and is the main entrance into downtown during the Mardi Gras festivities. Photo taken 08/24/03. Descending to the city street surface via Interstate 10 Exit 26A. To the right is the beginning of Water Street northbound. To the left is the beginning of Canal Street westbound. These two streets in conjunction with Broad and Beauregard Streets compose the Henry Aaron Loop of Downtown Mobile. Ahead is the beginning of Franklin Street eastbound and the city gateway connections of Jackson and Conception Streets. Photo taken 08/24/03. Continuing on the Interstate 10 eastbound viaduct at the Water Street exit (Exit 26B). Water Street is the main north-south route in the eastern portions of the central business district. It basically follows the waterfront, and is the home for the Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center and the Mobile Exploreum museum complex. Photo taken 08/24/03. Interstate 10 reduces to a 50 mph speed limit as it begins its descent to the George C. Wallace Tunnel. The Water Street interchange is elevated over the city street grid below. The modified trumpet is stacked with the Interstate 10 westbound ramp to Water Street northbound composing the tallest of ramps. The higher speed interchange was touted as the southern terminus of the planned Interstate 210. Interstate 210 however was never built through downtown, as costs and potential consequences to the quality of life cancelled the final segment of the Interstate 10 to Interstate 65 freeway. What did come about of Interstate 210 is the 4.30 Interstate 165 spur to the north. Photo taken 10/28/03. The Exit 26B ramps to Water Street from both directions of Interstate 10 merge before they descend to street level. Water Street exists as a six lane boulevard between Government Street & I-10 northward to U.S. 90/Beauregard Street & Interstate 165. The design of the roadway is a compromise for the absence of a full six-lane viaduct for Interstate 210. Photo taken 10/28/03. The end of the Interstate 10 off-ramps to Water Street at downtown. The sign bridge indicates that Government Street begins to the left and Water Street continues northward to Interstate 165. Additionally, a Detour Interstate 10 and State Docks guide sign is displayed to the right. The Alabama State Docks are situated near the Interstate 165/U.S. 90 and Water Street intersection to the east. The Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center is to the right, The Adams Mark Hotel composes the high rise to the left. See the Mobile City Guide page for more coverage of Water Street and the downtown area. Photo taken 10/28/03. Speed advisory signs are posted in anticipation of the George C. Wallace Tunnel on Interstate 10 eastbound due to the sharpness of the roadway curvature. Additionally, traffic from Water Street merges just before the tunnel portals. Theses signs have lights that illuminate when traffic is travelling faster then 45 mph. Similar signs can be found on Interstate 85 at the Interstate 65 south ramp. Photo taken 08/24/03. Traffic that merges from Water Street onto Interstate 10 eastbound is greeted with this sign bridge. Displayed is a combination of Exit 27/U.S. 90/98 guide signage and lane control signals. Photo taken 11/05/03. From the Church Street parking lot across from Mobile Government Plaza is this view of the Wallace Tunnel western portal. Visible above is historic Fort Conde. Photo taken 08/21/03. Western portal of the George C. Wallace tubes on Interstate 10 eastbound. Just above the entrance of the tunnel is the historic Fort Conde. This military installation dates from the Spanish-American War. However most of the facility is a reproduction from the original facility. Photo taken 08/24/03. Descending below the Mobile River within the Wallace Tunnel. The Mobile River plays an important role in the transportation and storage facilities of the nearby Alabama State Docks. The waterway also is the last leg of the Tennessee-Tombigbee River system from Appalachia to the Gulf of Mexico. Top photo taken 11/05/03; bottom photo taken 12/20/03. Interstate 10 eastbound sign bridge for Exit 27/U.S. 90-98/Battleship Parkway at the departure of the Wallace Tunnel. U.S. 90 and 98 east carry four lanes and a 50 to 55 mph speed limit parallel to Interstate 10. Interstate 10 begins its eight mile elevated Mobile Bayway here while skirting the northern shallow portions of the body of water for which it is named. Photo taken 11/16/03. Sources: "New I-10 exit ramp to open." The Mobile Register, January 11, 2005. Page Updated July 13, 2006.