Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Interstate 65 northbound - Mobile County Interstate 65 cuts a swath through the city of Mobile west of the Mid-Town section of the municipality. Five interchanges serve the city with a sixth at Cottage Hill Road a possibility in the future. Interstate 65 Northbound The northbound beginning of Interstate 65 from Interstate 10 westbound. The Interstate 65 shield attached to the light post originally carried a "TO" placard above. Considering the redundancy of that designation, the placard was subsequently removed. Thus this shield could be considered the first Interstate 65 mainline shield. Photo taken 10/31/03. Exits 1A/B signage for U.S. 90/Government Boulevard on Interstate 65 northbound. The U.S. 90 interchange serves the Mid-town and Cottage Hill areas of Mobile. Hank Aaron Stadium, the home of the Class AA Mobile Baybears (San Diego Padres affiliate), is accessible from Exit 1A (the guide sign in the background eludes to this). Photo taken 10/30/03. Contextual photograph of the first northbound reassurance shield. This particular shield was installed during 2001, and uses smaller numbers (an older specification).Interstate 65 starts out as four lanes, with two lanes from both the east and westbound Interstate 10 ramps. Interstate 65 pavement was resurfaced during 2001. Photo taken 10/25/03. Exits 1A/B sign bridge on Interstate 65 northbound at the Halls Mill Road overpass. The left-hand panel displays that Interstate 65 Thru Traffic use the left lane. These signs while somewhat inappropriate, are posted throughout the city limits of Mobile on the freeway. Traffic usually travels between 70-80 mph in the left-lane. Halls Mill Road incidentally composes the original alignment of U.S. 90 through south Mobile. Photo taken 10/25/03. As of February 10, 2004, the Exit 1A/B panels depicted above were replaced with a single retroreflective panel for the consolidated Exit 1 off-ramp. The Exit 1B cloverleaf ramp closed officially Sunday February 8, 2004. Photo taken 05/04/04. Interstate 65 northbound loses its right-hand lane to U.S. 90 east/Exit 1A. Traffic exiting onto Government Boulevard is greeted with the Mobile "Motor Mile", a cluster of numerous car dealerships. Eventually U.S. 90 heads towards downtown and changes its view to a residential landscape. The scene here now sees a two-lane off-ramp depart for U.S. 90 (Exit 1). Photo taken 10/30/03. The revised ramp structure and guide sign for U.S. 90 (Exit 1) from Interstate 65 northbound. The two-lane ramp quickly expands to four overall (two per direction) similar to the Exit 3 off-ramp to Airport Boulevard. Photo taken 05/04/04. New guide signs and lane configurations on the consolidated Exit 1 off-ramp to U.S. 90 (Government Boulevard). Additionally traffic signals govern the movements from Interstate 65 onto the respective directions of Government Street. However red arrow lens on the mast arm supported signals were replaced with red balls to allow for right-hand turns after a stop soon after their installation. Photos taken 05/04/04. Northbound Interstate 65 at the now closed Exit 1B/U.S. 90 westbound cloverleaf ramp. Weaving traffic has caused safety concerns for the Interstate 65 mainline traffic with this interchange. So new intersections were created on the traffic plagued U.S. 90 below, allowing access to all of U.S. 90 via one ramp instead of the current setup of two. The resultant will be a six-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange along the lines of the configuration at nearby Exit 3/Airport Boulevard. The ramp closed to traffic February 8, 2004. Photo taken 10/25/03. The one mile guide sign for Exit 3/Airport Boulevard is posted just north of the Exit 1 cloverleaf interchange. Ahead is the Cottage Hill Road (Mobile County 40) underpass. An interchange with this arterial may be added to Interstate 65 in the future. Photo taken 10/29/03. Upcoming exit signs such as this one along Interstate 65 north are common throughout the city of Mobile. The next three interchanges serve primary arterials serving Midtown and West Mobile. Photo taken 10/30/03. One half mile south of the partial cloverleaf interchange of Exit 3. Interstate 65 adds an auxiliary lane for the Airport Boulevard off-ramp from the U.S. 90 (Government Boulevard) westbound on-ramp. Photo taken 10/30/03. Northbound Interstate 65 at Exit 3 for Airport Boulevard. This is what the redesigned Exit 1 will resemble upon completion, with all traffic utilizing one ramp. Airport Boulevard is the main east-west drag throughout the city of Mobile. Various restaurants, retail stores, and bars can be found along its right-of-way. The Mobile Regional Airport is located on Airport Boulevard six miles to the west. It is recommended however to take Spring Hill Avenue or Moffett Road to reach the facility in lieu of the heavily congested six lane Boulevard. Photos taken 10/30/03. The Exit 3 cloverleaf interchange conversion completed by 1996. This northbound scene reveals the location of the removed Exit 3B guide sign and cloverleaf ramp grade (now a grassy area). The overpasses carry Airport Boulevard. Ahead is the next Interstate 65 exit, that of the diamond interchange at Dauphin Street. Photo taken 10/31/03. One half mile south of Exit 4/Dauphin Street is this upcoming exits guide sign along Interstate 65 north. The freeway expands to four lanes with the addition of an exit-only auxiliary lane for Exit 4. The guide sign in the background indicates that Dauphin Street serves Spring Hill College and the Mobile Museum of Art. Photo taken 10/29/03. Interstate 65 northbound at Exit 4/Dauphin Street. Dauphin Street was extended during the 1970s west across Interstate 65 to McGregor Road. The highway composes a four lane divided parkway from McGregor eastward to Florida Street. The thoroughfare serves the Spring Hill Memorial Hospital campus. Portions of this facility can be seen to the left. Much further east, Dauphin Street travels through residential areas en route to downtown and the Lower Dauphin Entertainment District. This area of restaurants, bars, and the Saenger Theatre (home to the Mobile Symphony) can be found between Broad Street (U.S. 90-98) and Royal Street in the central business district. Photo taken 10/29/03. Upcoming exits sign for Exits 5A & 5B. Ahead is the Old Shell Road undercrossing. Traffic wishing to access this arterial can utilize the Beltline Highway frontage road system of Interstate 65 between Spring Hill Avenue and Dauphin Streets to access the east-west street. Photo taken 10/29/03. Interstate 65 northbound reassurance shield between the Dauphin Street (Exit 4) and Springhill Avenue (Exit 5A) interchanges. Neutered Interstate 65 shields, such as this one, can be found along the mainline of Interstate 65 through Mid-town Mobile. Top photo taken 10/25/03; bottom photo taken 02/28/02. Exit 5A for Springhill Avenue departs in 0.25 miles. Exit 5A & 5B are the last to serve the city of Mobile. Photo taken 10/29/03. Sandwiched between U.S. 98/Moffett Road to the north and Old Shell Road to the south, is the Springhill Avenue partial cloverleaf interchange. This photograph shows a combination of slotted and fully reflectorized signage on Interstate 65 north at the interchange. Photo taken 10/25/03. A slight distance beyond the Springhill Avenue/Exit 5A interchange is the U.S. 98/Moffett Road (Exit 5B) off-ramp. The tight quarters of Interstate 65, Moffett Road, and the adjacent Norfolk-Southern Railroad line mandate the use of the Interstate 65 service roads. The northbound exit composes a short ramp to the northbound side service road. U.S. 98 itself is underneath Interstate 65 at the location of the photograph (see next photo). The service roads of Interstate 65 that can be found from Halls Mill Road northward are disconnected between Spring Hill Avenue and Moffett Road due to the aforementioned railroad corridor. Top photo taken 10/25/03; bottom photo taken 11/04/03. Utilizing the Exit 5B ramp to the North Beltline Highway. Traffic wishing to access Moffett Road turns southward on the frontage road to intersect U.S. 98. The frontage road continues northward to Prichard and U.S. 45 otherwise. Photo taken 11/04/03. Interstate 65 northbound approaching the Mobile/Prichard city limits. Pictured here is the former one-mile guide sign for junction U.S. 45 (Exits 8A/B). The sign was removed during the 2005 reconstruction of Exit 8 and not replaced. Photo taken 11/12/03. Before reaching Exit 8 on Interstate 65 north, drivers encounter guide signage for Exit 9 (junction Interstate 165). Interstate 165 constitutes a 4.30-mile spur between Interstate 65 at Prichard and downtown Mobile. The freeway opened to traffic on October 28, 1994 at a cost of $240 million and represents the best route into downtown Mobile from points west and north. Photos taken 11/12/03. One half mile south of U.S. 45 on Interstate 65 northbound. Completed in 2005, road work reconfigured the full-cloverleaf interchange between U.S. 45 and Interstate 65 into a partial-cloverleaf interchange by eliminating the loop ramps from the freeway onto the surface road. The project also entailed replacing all of the existing U.S. 45 guide signs to reflect the consolidation of north and southbound movements into one ramp. Photos taken 11/12/03 and 02/08/06. All traffic movements to U.S. 45 now depart Interstate 65 via a single ramp rather than the Exit 8A and 8B configuration of the past. Pictured here is the former and new setups for Exit 8. U.S. 45 is known as Saint Stephens Road through this interchange. The roadway heads south through Prichard before terminating at U.S. 98 (Springhill Avenue) west of downtown. Unfortunately much of the corridor of U.S. 45 between from Eight Mile and downtown Mobile is economically repressed and otherwise blighted. Photos taken 11/12/03 and 02/08/06. A look at the former Exit 8B loop ramp onto U.S. 45 northbound from Interstate 65 north. The ramp is just a grassy area now. U.S. 45, while basically serving the needs of local traffic interests here, composes the main corridor between Mobile and the north Mobile County city of Citronelle. Further north the federal highway traverses pine forest farms en route to Yellow Pine and State Line, Mississippi. A four-laning is in progress along the route between the state line and Waynesboro, Mississippi and is planned for all of U.S. 45 north of Prichard in Alabama. Thus U.S. 45 is the main route between Mobile and Meridian, Mississippi. Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 between Exits 8 and 9 expands to eight lanes in width with the addition of a north and southbound auxiliary lane. Featured here is the one mile sign bridge for the southbound beginning of Interstate 165/Exit 9. Two lanes are allocated for the downtown Mobile and Prichard spur. Photo taken 10/25/03. In the background of the above photograph, is this old Interstate 65 Alabama northbound reassurance shield. The specs date from 1972, with this being the first example on the northbound mainline. In the background is one of the many public housing buildings within this part of the Prichard city limits. Top photo taken 10/25/03; bottom photo taken 09/16/00. One of the Truck U.S. 98 guide signs posted within the Mobile area during the Summer and Fall of 2001. This sign reflects the routing for all hazmat cargo across the Mobile River via the Africatown-Cochrane Bridge instead of the Interstate 10 George C. Wallace Tunnel. It should be mentioned that traffic headed to Interstate 10 east from U.S. 45, U.S. 98, and U.S. 43, is better off taking Interstate 165 south to U.S. 90/Bay Bridge Road to access Interstate 10. Photo taken 10/25/03. Northbound split of Interstate 165 from Interstate 65 (Exit 9) at a three level stack interchange. This interchange is situated through residential and wetland areas of northwest Prichard. Note that the sign bridge at the beginning of Interstate 165 indicates the next two Prichard exits on Interstate 165 south. Underneath Interstate 65 at this point is Whistler Street, which incidentally is the first southbound Interstate 165 exit. Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 briefly expands to five lanes with the advent of Interstate 165 northbound traffic. This configuration quickly changes, as the two Interstate 165 lanes merge together before the onset of Exit 10/West Lee Street. Note that there is no northbound control city for Interstate 65. Montgomery, the control city for Interstate 65 throughout Mobile, is 157 miles from this location. Photo taken 04/17/02. Interstate 65 northbound reduces to four lanes at the Thompson Road overpass. The West Lee Street exit is just ahead, with the right-hand lane ending abruptly within the diamond interchange. Exit 10 serves local traffic for the city of Chickasaw. Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 northbound approaching the Exit 13 interchange for Alabama 158 and 213. This former diamond interchange saw reconstruction between 1999 and 2003. Now expanded, the interchange features a new cloverleaf ramp from Alabama 158 west/Alabama 213 south to Interstate 65 south. Additionally, Interstate 65 expands to six lanes northward from Chickasabogue Park to this junction. Photo taken 10/25/03. Crossing the Chickasabogue Creek, one half mile south of Exit 13. While Interstate 65 loses its third northbound lane to Exit 13, provisions are already in place along the rebuilt overpasses over Alabama 158 & 213 for an eventual six-laning. Photo taken 10/25/03. The city of Citronelle is featured for Exit 13 as Alabama 158 connects to U.S. 45 to the west near Kushla. U.S. 45 travels north-south between Alabama 158 and Citronelle in northern Mobile County. Alabama 158 itself will see an extension westward to meet an extended Schillinger Road (Mobile County 31). Construction on these projects should begin in 2004. Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 northbound at the Exit 13 departure of traffic or Alabama 158/213, Industrial Parkway, Saraland, and Eight Mile. The third northbound lane departs as one of the exit-only lanes for Exit 13. Six-laning of Interstate 65 is slated to continue northward to the Exit 19 interchange at U.S. 43. Photo taken 10/25/03. The Exit 13 off-ramp expands to four lanes for Alabama 158 and 213. The two highways share a brief overlap within the interchange itself. As for Industrial Parkway, the highway reduces to two lanes west of Alabama 213 as it continues to a terminus at U.S. 45. A four laning is planned for this stretch of Alabama 158. Eventually the highway will travel westward to Mobile County 31 and U.S. 98 near Semmes. Upon completion of the link with U.S. 98, the federal will realign from the current Moffett Road routing from Semmes to Mobile onto Industrial Parkway. This will allow through traffic interests from Hattiesburg, Jackson, and other Mississippi destinations a four-lane route to/from Interstate 65. Money is allocated in the 2003 three-year STIP for all four segments that compose this roadwork. Photos taken 10/25/03. New Interstate 65 reassurance shields are now in place within the vicinity of the Exit 13 interchange. Featured here is a rare double support shield. This type of assembly is not generally used in the state of Alabama. Photo taken 10/25/03. The one mile guide sign for Exit 15/Mobile County 41 is posted at milepost 14. This stretch of Interstate 65 is patrolled by the Saraland Police Department. Thus keep an eye out at the median crossovers between Exits 13 and 19. Photo taken 10/25/03. Northbound Interstate 65 at Exit 15 for Citronelle and Saraland (Celeste Road). This interchange appears to be in a rural area, but that is not the case. Residential neighborhoods sprawl outwards from Saraland within the vicinity of Celeste Road. Photo taken 10/25/03. After leaving the Exit 15 diamond interchange, a 1972 specification Interstate 65 Alabama shield awaits northbound drivers. The next interchange is four miles away, and is the last within the Mobile metropolitan area. The speed limit is 70 mph northward, barring construction, to Exit 167/U.S. 80 at Montgomery. In normal driving conditions, Interstate 65 sees a 70 mph speed limit throughout this stretch Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 northbound advance signage for Exit 19/U.S. 43. This interchange serves the communities of Satsuma, Creola, and Axis, the northernmost reaches of metro Mobile. U.S. 43, routed to the east of Interstate 65 between Prichard and Satsuma, continues northward along the Mobile and Tombigbee River system to Thomasville. Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 northbound at Exit 19 for U.S. 43. This junction represents a major split in traffic, as Interstate 65 is the only Mobile/Tensaw River crossing between the city of Mobile and U.S. 84 far to the north between Grove Hill and Monroeville. Numerous industries are also located along U.S. 43, with plants situated near the Mobile and Tombigbee Rivers. Two lanes serve U.S. 43 via a sweeping directional ramp. Photo taken 10/25/03. The split of the Exit 19 roadway. U.S. 43 currently represents the main north-south route between Mobile and Tuscaloosa. The highway serves the Black Belt region of western Alabama. This geographic realm is defined by the dark soil that is found throughout the area. Unfortunately, this region also includes the poorest counties within the state. To augment some of the economic woes, the state proposes a Black Belt Freeway, traveling between Mobile and Florence/Muscle Schoals in far northwestern Alabama. It is hoped that the roadway will stimulate economic growth and entice new business and manufacturing plants through the area. Money for study/engineering purposes is allocated in the 2003 three-year STIP. No money however, is present for construction at this time. Photo taken 10/25/03. The one-mile guide sign for Exit 22/Creola on Interstate 65 northbound. Interstate 65 is rural in nature from Exit 19 northwards to Exit 167/U.S. 80 in south Montgomery. Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 northbound at Exit 22 for Creola (Sailor Road). The final interchange within Mobile County, Exit 22 is lightly traveled. This junction intersects local roads that serve the Creola and a nearby campground/marina complex at Dead Lake. Photo taken 10/25/03. Close-up of an Interstate 65 neutered shield on the northbound I-65 Service Road at Exit 22. Continuing straight, and turning to the left takes traffic towards Creola via the Creola Axis Loop Road. The aforementioned campground is also straight ahead via the I-65 Service Road. Photo taken 10/25/03. Looking at Exit 22 from the end of the Interstate 65 northbound on-ramp and off-ramps. Sailor Road crosses over Interstate 65 and abruptly ends at the intersection of the I-65 Service Road. Notice that even though this interchange is rural, overhead highway lighting is in place. Photo taken 10/25/03. Companion Interstate 65 shield at the northbound on-ramp of Exit 22. The I-65 Service Road travels south of here to Satsuma and Lister Dairy Road. Photo taken 10/25/03. Interstate 65 as seen from the Exit 22 overpass. The early part of Summer 2003 featured copious amounts of rainfall. The result is the lush greenery that is displayed within this photograph. Normal summertime conditions feature a dryer scene, with the risk of brush fires common throughout south Alabama during the hot weather months. 2003 rainfall for Mobile: 12" in May, 20" in June, and 12.5" in July. Photo taken 06/03. Just north of the Exit 22 interchange at Creola, Interstate 65 draws near the Mobile County departure of the Mobile/Tensaw River Bridge. The steel arches of the span rise high above the forest situated nearby. Photo taken 08/22/03. Northbound Interstate 65 ascending over the Mobile River Bridge. This is the first in a series of bridge crests between Mobile and Baldwin Counties. The Mobile River in conjunction with the Tombigbee and Tennessee Rivers, composes an important waterway network for the deep south region of the U.S. Photo taken 08/22/03. Afternoon on a warm summer day along Interstate 65 northbound as it ascends over the Mobile and Tensaw Rivers. Photo taken 06/01/02. Dead Lake Road travels between Creola and the Dead Lake Marina along the Mobile River. From this local road, the only ground-level accessible view of the arch bridges by car is available. The scene depicted here is taken from the median of south bridge approach. Photo taken 06/03. Continuing eastward along the Interstate 65 bridges, nearing the midpoint of the first bridge crest. The steel arches are painted red with steel cables supporting the bridge deck below. Photo taken 08/22/03. Traveling underneath the steel arches of Interstate 65 northbound. This segment of Interstate 65 was the last to open between Mobile and Montgomery. The spans opened to traffic during the 1980s. Photo taken 08/22/03. Looking westward from the northbound shoulder at the steel arches over the Mobile River. The downtown Mobile skyline can be seen on a clear day over the southern horizon this perch high above the river below. Photo taken 07/01. Northbound Interstate 65 descending from the Mobile River crest towards Little Lizard Creek, Mifflin Lake, and the Tensaw River. Industrial plants can be seen to the northwest along the Mobile River banks. Photo taken 07/01. Interstate 65 rounds the bend over Mifflin Lake to cross the Middle River over the second of three crests. Photo taken 06/01/02. Page Updated February 10, 2006.