| The first of three Interstate 59 children is encountered at
Exit 71 of Interstate 20-59 east/north. Interstate 359 constitutes a short 2.30 mile limited-access spur into
the city of Tuscaloosa. Photo taken 09/28/03.
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| A sign bridge is positioned one mile from the southern
terminus of Interstate 359 on Interstate 20 east/59 north for Exit 71. This particular assembly represents the
first usage of Birmingham as a control point of the paired routes. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Eastbound at Exit 71A for Alabama 69 south. Interstate
359 shares pavement with both Alabama 69 and U.S. 11 between Interstate 20-59 and downtown Tuscaloosa. To the
right, Alabama 69 splits with U.S. 11. The state route is the same Alabama 69 that
terminates in Jackson well to the south. U.S.
11 meanwhile, turns to the east at the southern end of the freeway, paralleling Interstate 20-59 to Cottondale (Exit 79)
where the federal route crosses paths again. Top photo taken 08/10/02; bottom photo taken 09/28/03.
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| The Exit 71B cloverleaf ramp of
Interstate 359/Alabama 69 north
and U.S. 11 south departs Interstate 20-59 east. There are two interchanges along the Tuscaloosa freeway spur.
The first serves 35th Street (Exit 1). The second serves 15th Street (Exit 2). Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| A second view of the northbound beginning of Interstate 359
at Exit 71B. Interstate 359 directly transitions into U.S. 43 northbound near downtown Tuscaloosa. Alabama 69
continues with the federal highway across the six-lane Black Warrior River to Northport. There, U.S. 43 begins
a short overlap with U.S. 82 west. Photo taken 09/28/03.
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| View of the gore point signage from Northbound Interstate 59
and Eastbound Interstate 20 to northbound Interstate 359, signed in typical Alabama fashion for a connection
between two Interstates. This is the best exit to take to get to the University of Alabama, home of the
Crimson Tide, and to Stillman College (via Exit 2). Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Northbound Interstate 59 and Eastbound Interstate 20
approaching Junction U.S. 82, one mile (Exit 73). U.S. 82 is partially composed as a freeway between Rice Mine
Road and 15th Street. This segment encompasses the Black Warrior River crossing, the second for the city of
Tuscaloosa. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The auxiliary lane added from the Interstate 359 interchange
departs via Exit 73 for U.S. 82/McFarland Boulevard. The usual travel amenities are located at this junction.
Otherwise, U.S. 82 continues to the southeast toward the capital city of Montgomery. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Interstate 20-59 east at Exit 73/U.S. 82. U.S. 82 continues
southeastward as a four-lane highway 30 miles to the Bibb County seat of Centreville (pop. 2,466). The highway also
skirts the northern perifury of the Talladega National Forest. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| U.S. 11 again crosses Interstate 20-59 at Exit 76 between
south Tuscaloosa and the town of Cottondale. The diamond interchange with the highway is located one mile
ahead. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Northbound Interstate 59 and Eastbound Interstate 20 at Junction U.S. 11 northeast of Tuscaloosa. From here to Birmingham, U.S. 11 closely parallels Interstates 20-59. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Exit 77 facilitates a second access point for the Tuscaloosa
suburb of Cottondale via Tuscaloosa County 37. The north-south route travels between U.S. 82 at Duncanville
to U.S. 11. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| At Exit 79, U.S. 11 returns for a third Tuscaloosa area
encounter. Known as University Boulevard, U.S. 11 travels from the northwest at Cottondale southeast across
the freeway to the village of Coaling. U.S. 11 will again meet Interstate 20-59 at Exit 97. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Exit 86 of Interstate 20-59 serves Tuscaloosa County 59. This
north-south highway travels from U.S. 11 west of Vance (pop. 500) northward to Brookwood (pop. 1,483) at
Alabama 216 and Kellerman further north. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Northbound Interstate 59 and Eastbound Interstate 20
approaching Exit 89 (one-half mile), Mercedes Drive near Vance. Recent construction results in the expansion of
Interstate 20-59 from four to six lanes. In addition, a concrete jersey barrier finds placement along the median
of the route to help prevent head-on collisions. The added lanes will assist in weekend trips during the fall from
Birmingham to Tuscaloosa to cheer on the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Northbound Interstate 59 and Eastbound Interstate 20 at Exit 89, Mercedes Drive. This exit serves a Mercedes automobile plant immediately adjacent to the freeway. It also leads to Vance. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Approaching Exit 97 along Interstate 20-59 northeast. The upcoming
interchange features the merge of U.S. 11 and Alabama 5 northbound onto the freeway. The four-way overlap
continues northward into the city of Bessemer at Exit 108. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Northbound Interstate 59 and Eastbound Interstate 20 at Exit 97, Junction U.S. 11 and Alabama 5. U.S. 11 is the original route parallel to Interstates 20-59, and Alabama 5 is a major north-south route leading north from U.S. 43 near Thomasville to U.S. 11 near Woodstock. It passes through communities such as Lamison, Safford, Marion, Centreville, and West Blocton. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Eastbound Interstate 20 and Northbound Interstate 59, U.S. 11 and Alabama 5 approaching Exit 100, Abernant and Bucksville. This exit also leads to the Tannehill Ironworks Historic State Park. The iron ore and steel industry plays a major role in the Birmingham industrial foundation. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Situated before the diamond interchange of Exit 104 is the
two-mile guide sign for Exit 106. Exit 106 represents the southern terminus of the Birmingham Bypass - Interstate
459. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Exit 104 departs Interstate 20 east/59 north for Rock Mountain
Lakes. The interchange also serves the village of McCalla along nearby Jefferson County 18. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Interstate 20-59 northbound expand to four lanes in anticipation
of the impending split with Interstate 459 north. Exit 106 allows through-traffic to bypass the cities of Bessemer
and Birmingham for long-distance destinations such as Atlanta and Chattanooga. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Interstate 459 northbound departs Interstate 20-59. The
33-mile route varies between four and six lanes while carrying a 65 mph speed limit. The bypass has succumbed to
development pains of its own, with heavy sprawl along the Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and Mountain Brook
interchanges. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Replaced gore-point sign at Exit 106 along Interstate 20-59
northeast. The junction currently exists as a trumpet interchange, but that status may change with the eventual
extension of the belt-line to the north. See the High Priority
Corridors @ SouthEastRoads.com: Birmingham Northern Beltline (Corridor 28) page for more details.
Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The Exit 108 interchange represents the departure of U.S. 11
and Alabama 5 from the Interstate 20-59 fold. Now beyond the Interstate 459 beginning, Interstate 20-59 revert
back to just four lanes through the city of Bessmer (pop. 29,672). Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Interstate 20-59 northbound at the Exit 108 diamond interchange
at Academy Drive. U.S. 11 and Alabama 5 briefly travel Academy before turning northeast along the Bessemer
Super Highway. This divided highway travels through the heart of the city, continuing from there into western
reaches of the city of Birmingham. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The third Bessemer city interchange (soon to be fourth with the
additional of the Visionland interchange near milepost 110) of Interstate 20-59 is Exit 112. This diamond
interchange serves 18th and 19th Streets and downtown. The city street grid sees "Street" for northwest to
southeast orientated roads. "Avenue" is applied to the southwest to northeast roads. Thus not to be confused
is the following interchange (Exit 113) with 18th Avenue. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| At Exit 113, Interstate 20-59 takes a brief northerly jog
around the city of Brighton (pop. 3,640). 18th Avenue crosses the freeway between Highland Memorial Gardens
and the Bessemer/Brighton city line. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The one-mile guide sign for Exit 115 remains an original
from the Interstate 20-59 completion. The interchange forthcoming serves the north-south Jaybird Road. This
surface street serves the communities of Hueytown (pop. 15,634), Midfield (pop. 5,626), and the Dolomite neighborhood
of west Birmingham. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The interchange for Exit 115 is split between a folded diamond
to the south (featured in this photograph) and a directional connector for southbound Interstate 20-59. The
reasoning for this split configuration is the close proximity of nearby Jefferson County 56 (North Bessemer
Highway & Valley Road). Jaybird Road actually ends just north of this junction at the said highway.
Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Exit 118 is Valley Road, which is the primary route leading
east into the suburb of Fairfield (pop. 12,381). Following this exit east will connect to parallel route U.S.
11/Alabama 5, which is known as the Bessemer Super Highway southwest of Birmingham and Third Avenue within downtown
Birmingham. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The first of two Fairfield interchanges, Exit 118, departs
Interstate 20-59 northbound in this photograph. The diamond interchange utilizes local streets as frontage
roads on the northbound side. As for Valley Road itself, the arterial continues from the previous Exit 115
interchange eastward to the Birmingham/Fairfield city limits. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| With the advent of traffic from Exit 118, Interstate 20-59
expands from four to six overall travel lanes. At Exit 119, the R. M. Scrushy Parkway intersects the paired
Interstates. It is unclear as to whether the naming of this local arterial emanates from that of beleaguered
Health South CEO Richard Scrushy. If that is the case, it is highly unlikely that this roadway will retain
its name in the future. Otherwise as the roadway continues into Birmingham, the name changes to Avenue F.
Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| While there are two southbound off-ramps within the 119-120
mileposts of Interstate 20-59, no northbound Exit 119B exists. Therefore the next interchange is Exit 120 with
the southern terminus of Alabama 269. This obscured view looks at the one-mile guide sign for that interchange.
Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Placed just after the Exit 119B off-ramp is this set of
Interstate 20-59 reassurance shields. The Interstate 20 shield is much older than the Interstate 59 counterpart.
The left-hand shield features 1972 specifications while the one on the right features the more modern 1979
specifications. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Arriving at the Exit 120 interchange, Interstate 20-59 encountered
this original set of button copy overheads. Featured are three panels, each featuring a different type of
route shield. The Alabama 269 shield itself is the last known button copy state shield to survive along the
Alabama Interstate system. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| A revisit to the area sees the replacement of the button copy
Interstate 20-59 shields on the left-hand panel. In fact, all of the mainline Interstate button copy shields
no longer stand as of October 2003. As for the exit itself, Alabama 269 begins here, traveling to the west via
20th Street through the Ensley and West Ensley neighborhoods of the city. Further to the northwest, the state
highway reduces to two lanes, traversing rocky terrain en route to Jasper and future Interstate 22. Photo taken
09/28/03.
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| Interstate 59-20 reassurance shields, posted just beyond the
Exit 120 interchange. Many instances of the reassurance shields feature Interstate 59 to the left and Interstate
20 to the right within the state of Alabama. Unlike the previously depicted assembly, both shields here
are more modern, featuring 1979 MUTCD specifications. Photo taken 09/25/03.
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| Interstate 20-59 turn to a more east-west fashion on their approach
to downtown Birmingham. While doing this, the pair encounter Exit 123 with U.S. 78/Arkadelphia Road. U.S. 78
is a significant route in that it composes Appalachian Regional Development Corridor X, the future Interstate
22. U.S. 78 here is a four lane divided surface arterial serving the Owenton and Thomas neighborhoods of the
city. Photo taken 09/25/03.
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| A partial cloverleaf interchange facilitates the movements
between U.S. 78 and the Interstate 20-59 freeway. 11 blocks to the south, U.S. 78 enters a downtown overlap
with U.S. 11 along 3rd Avenue North. There Alabama 5 (not shown on Exit 123 guide signs), enters U.S. 78 from
U.S. 11. The state highway continues with the federal route northwest to the control city of Jasper (pop. 14,052).
Photo taken 09/03.
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| A look at the Exit 123 sign bridge a year earlier reveals button copy
shields for the Interstate 20-59 pull-through panel. Also visible is the remnants of the original U.S. 78 shield
on the right-hand panel, moved to the west so that Jasper could be added. At the town of Jasper, U.S. 78 splits
with Alabama 5 and enters the future Interstate 22 freeway. At the previous junction, Alabama 269 intersected
Interstate 20-59. At the first mainline junction of the Jasper freeway segment of Corridor X, Alabama 269
reappears. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Traversing the East Thomas neighborhood of the city, Interstate
20-59 encounter the one-mile sign bridge for the upcoming junction with Interstate 65. The interchange itself,
Exit 124A/B, is locally known as "Malfunction Junction" due to the left-hand entrance and exit ramps associated
with the connection. Photo taken 09/28/03.
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| A second view of the slotted overheads that compose the first
Exit 124A/B sign bridge. This is the first usage of this type of sign on Interstate 20-59 east/north. The
southbound Interstate 65 ramp for Homewood (pop. 25,043), Hoover (pop. 62,742), and Montgomery (pop. 201,568)
will depart first. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The second sign bridge for the upcoming Exit 124 interchange.
Two lanes are allocated for southbound interests via Interstate 65. While the center panel indicates that two
lanes will continue through to downtown, three are actually allocated for Interstate 20-59 east.
Photo taken 09/28/03.
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| A closer look at the sign bridge depicted above. Note the original
sign lighting assemblies to remain. The original set of signs here included Nashville as the northbound
control city of Interstate 65. The switch to Huntsville occurred in the 1980s.1
Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Exit 124A departs for Interstate 65 southbound. The travel
lanes of Interstate 20-59 east briefly cross over the westbound counterpart to allow for a shorter left-hand
ramp for Exit 124B. This configuration occurs for all the carriageways for Interstates 20, 59, and 65.
Photo taken 09/25/03.
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| 93 miles to the north lies the city of Huntsville, Alabama.
While Interstate 65 does not directly travel to the Madison County seat,
Interstate 565 does. This wintertime view portrays the
short Exit 124B off-ramp for that direction. Photo taken 02/11/01.
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| Summertime view of the Interstate 20-59 eastbound Exit 124B
off-ramp. Interstate 65 northbound sees an additional five interchanges within the city of Birmingham. The
north-south freeway also serves the suburbs of Fultondale (pop. 6,595) and Gardendale (pop. 11,626) via Exits
266, 267, 271, and 272. The interchange with Interstate 20-59 is signed as Exit 261A/B. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Upon passing the Interstate 65 interchange, the city of
Birmingham spreads into view. This is Alabama's largest city, and the many high rises and skyscrapers
illustrate this fact, especially when compared to the downtowns of Montgomery and Mobile to the south.
Some have even gone so far as to consider Birmingham the next Atlanta, but that kind of economic boom has
clearly not happened here just yet... but it is definitely a growing Southern city. Photo taken 09/27/03.
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| Upon departing the Interstate 65 junction, Interstate 20-59
quickly encounter the first of two downtown area exits. The first is Exit 125A with 17th Street. This surface
street is home to the South Trust Tower and the Cabana Hotel. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Two lanes depart for 17th Street and downtown Birmingham
in this Interstate 20-59 eastbound photograph. 17th Street is also home to Kelly Ingram Park, one of two
area city parks. Across from this green space is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Photos taken 08/10/02.
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| A night time view of the original guide signs depicted above.
The button copy shields for Interstate 20-59 on the pull-through panel were replaced between August and
September of 2003. Photo taken 08/24/03.
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| View of downtown as seen from northeastbound Interstates
20-59 over the side jersey barrier. The high-rise in the foreground is that of the Alabama Power Company.
The tallest high-rises of Birmingham can be no higher than 454 feet. This restriction is mandated by the
FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) due to the proximity of the central business district to the Birmingham
International Airport flight path. This explains the uniform height of the skyline.2
Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The second Birmingham downtown exit of Interstate 20-59 is that
of Exit 125B for 26th Street. This off-ramp serves the Jefferson County Court House, the city of Birmingham
Public Library, Lynn Park and its bubbling fountain, and other downtown area interests. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Interstate 20-59 eastbound at the 22nd Street off-ramp. Ahead
is the stack interchange with U.S. 31 and the western terminus of U.S. 280 (Exit 126A). The Alabama Sports
Hall of Fame and the Birmingham Civic Center are also served by Exit 125B. Both facilities are located to
the northwest of the freeway viaduct. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The third downtown area interchange is that of Exit 126A.
This junction connects Interstate 20-59 with the north-south U.S. 31-280 Elton B. Stephens Expressway. The
limited access highway begins beneath the Interstate 20-59 viaduct from Carraway Boulevard. From there the
highway travels south along the eastern periphery of the CBD, ascending over Red Mountain near the Vulcan
Statue and Park toward Homewood. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| This night shot looks at the same sign bridge. Some of the
lighting fixtures surprisingly were still operational at the time of this photograph. While the U.S. 31-280
freeway is officially designated the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. It is also shown on maps and referred to
on area traffic reports as the Red Mountain Expressway. Photo taken 08/24/03.
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| A third view shows the wintertime landscape of Interstate 20-59
as it nears the Exit 126A interchange with U.S. 31-280. This interchange represents the western terminus of U.S.
280 and an end sign is posted on the Red Mountain Expressway northbound before the ramps for the Interstate 20-59
viaduct depart. Photo taken 02/11/01.
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| The Exit 126A off-ramp as it partitions to U.S. 31 south/280
east and U.S. 31/Carraway Boulevard north. The original alignment of U.S. 31 through the city was along 26th
Street. This surface arterial parallels the Elton B. Stephens Expressway along the western side. Carraway Boulevard
extends from 26th Street northward to the Norwood neighborhood of the city. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Exit 126B (31st Street), as evidenced by this overhead sign,
leads to the Sloss Furnaces, a local historical attraction. The Sloss Furnaces were used for iron ore smelting
between 1882 and 1972, a span of 90 years. After the furnaces were closed, they were transitioned
into a tourist attraction, to show how iron was smelted at the turn of the century. Locals are proud of these
furnaces, complete with tall smokestacks, and they are seen as a symbol of Birmingham, a tribute to its
industrial past and future. In addition, the furnaces are now used as an exhibition hall. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| East of the U.S. 280 terminal interchange, Interstate 20-59
descend to at-grade and encounter the diamond interchange of Exit 126B. 31st Street, the north-south arterial
that intersects the freeway here, facilitates travel through older industrial areas of the city (including the
Sloss Furnaces) to the south and the neighborhood of Norwood to the north. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The button copy signs remain at Exit 126B, however the Interstate
shields on the pull-through panel are new. The next interchange is that of the southern terminus of Alabama 79.
Remnants of the word "TO" can be seen to the left of the Alabama 79 shield on the middle panel. Photo taken 09/27/03.
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| Approaching the eastern split of Interstate 20 and 59, the
freeway narrows to six lanes at the Alabama 79/Exit 128 interchange. Alabama 79 north/Tallapoosa Street takes
traffic northward to Tarrant City (pop. 7,022) and ultimately Huntsville. Photo taken 02/11/01.
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| Featured midway between Exits 126B and 128 is a typical two-mile
junction sign for an Interstate to Interstate interchange. In this case, the Exit 130 sign advises motorists of
the upcoming Interstate 20-59 split near the airport. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Interstate 20-59 eastbound as they draw closer to the diamond
interchange of Exit 128/Alabama 79. The right-hand lane added from Exit 126B becomes an exit-only allocation
for Exit 128. Tallapoosa Street, the name of which Alabama 79 takes, serves the Vanderbilt and Inglebrook
neighborhoods of the city. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Interstate 20-59 cross over Vanderbilt Road before encountering
the Tallapoosa Street interchange of Alabama 79. Vanderbuilt Road continues north to 27th Avenue before overtaking
Alabama 79 and Tallapoosa Street northward to the Boyles neighborhood and Tarrent City. Photo taken 08/24/03.
|
| A third reminder of the upcoming Exit 128 interchange. To the
south Tallapoosa Street ends at 40th Street, a north-south roadway that was cut by the construction of
Interstate 20-59. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Two lanes are allocated for the Alabama 79 off-ramp of Interstate
20-59 northbound. This is because of the continued growth along the corridor northward through Tarrent City and
points north. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| A second view of the Exit 128 ramp departure. Ahead is the
Exit 129 partial cloverleaf interchange with Airport Boulevard. Birmingham International Airport flanks
Interstate 20-59 to the north between these two interchanges. Photo taken 09/27/03.
|
| A gem of a find, a pair of 1972 specification Interstate 20-59
reassurance shields are posted just beyond the Exit 128 return ramp. This is the only set of older style shields
posted along the Interstate 20-59 mainline. There are instances however, where the Interstate 20 shield remains
in the older format while Interstate 59 is newer. Photo taken 09/27/03.
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| Slotted overhead signage for the pending split of Interstates 20 and 59. Aside from Interstates 80 and 90 in Ohio and Indiana, this is one of the largest merged sections of Interstate in the country. The next exit is Airport Boulevard, which is important in its own right as the primary route to the international airport. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Exit 129 for Airport Boulevard departs Interstate 20-59
eastbound. The surface arterial ends at the airport terminal to the north. To the south, the roadway becomes
the Messer-Airport Highway, traveling ultimately to downtown via 5th Avenue North. The neighborhood in the vicinity
of this interchange is that of Woodlawn. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| After 153 miles of marriage, Interstate 20 and 59 divorce.
Interstate 59 continues northeastward with six lanes to the Birmingham suburbs of Center Point (pop. 22,784) and
Trussville (pop. 12,294), while Interstate 20 sees a reduced capacity with four lanes eastward to Irondale
(pop. 9,813) within the metropolitan area. Expanding outwards of the Birmingham metro area, Interstate 59
travels to Gadsden
(52 miles northeast) and a terminus near Chattanooga, Tennessee 131 miles away. Interstate 20 takes a eastern
trajectory to Anniston (55 miles) and Atlanta (135 miles). The plane to the right of the panel is making its
approach to nearby Birmingham International Airport. Top photo taken 02/11/01; bottom photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Scenes Related to Interstate 20-59
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| Exit 119 is the first interchange within the city of Birmingham along the cosigned Interstates from the southwest. Photograph shows a typical urban mast arm traffic light assembly within the state of Alabama, older bridge design and guard rails, and another bank of Interstate 20/59 shields. Photo taken 02/11/01.
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Page Updated October 27, 2003.
