During a murky day, Interstate 65 southbound travels to Exit 34 for Alabama 59. Alabama 59 bypasses Bay Minette to the west, and continues southward with U.S. 31 as the Gulf Shores Parkway (which is accessible from Exit 37) to Loxley. Alabama 59 ultimately ends at the Alabama Gulf Coast, near Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The highway is two lanes south to Bay Minette, but widens to four lanes with the advent of the Gulf Shores Parkway southward to the terminus.Photo taken 04/11/02.
Interstate 65 southbound at Exit 34 for Alabama 225. Spanish Fort is located 21 miles to the south, with Alabama 225 carrying two lanes amidst rolling hills to the bayfront destination. The next interchange for Interstate 65 southbound is 12 miles away at Exit 22. Interstate 65 was repaved during 2001/2002 throughout northern Baldwin County. Photo taken 04/11/02.
A gander at the westward view from the Alabama 225 overpass over Interstate 65. In the distance, the beginning of the Tensaw River bridge can be seen. Pavement in southern Alabama, northwest Florida, and southern Mississippi is often bleached red. This is due to the native red clay that is used for the bases of roadways in the south. Photo taken 07/01.
A lengthy bridge system spans the waterways of the Alabama and Tombigbee River delta at the Mobile and Tensaw Rivers. The swampy area features Mifflin Lake and Little Lizard Creek as well, and thus provides for three separate navigational crests on the bridge system. This view looks at the steel arches over the Mobile River. Speed limits on the bridges remain at 70 mph, with four lanes of overall traffic. Photo taken 10/10/99.
Exit 22 near the town of Creola (pop. 2,002) is the first of twelve Mobile County interchanges along the final miles of Interstate 65. The junction connects with local roads that serve not only Creola, but also the nearby town of Axis and settlements along the Mobile River to the east. Photo taken 04/11/02.
The first metro area interchange for the city of Mobile is Exit 19 with U.S. 43 at the city of Satsuma. This photograph displays the one-mile guide sign for the upcoming directional interchange. Photo taken 10/25/03.
A lone cloverleaf ramp facilitates travel between Interstate 65 southbound and U.S. 43. U.S. 43 carries four lanes throughout Mobile County, representing an important route from the city of Mobile to Citronelle (pop. 3,659), Thomasville (pop. 4,649), Demopolis (pop. 7,540), and
Tuscaloosa (pop. 77,926). South of this point, U.S. 43 parallels Interstate 65 for its final miles to the city of Prichard. The divided highway serves Satsuma, Saraland, and Chickasaw, and en route to its terminus at U.S. 90/Truck U.S. 98. Photos taken 10/25/03.
Interstate 65 southbound reassurance shield just past Exit 19. This particular assembly features 1972 MUTCD specifications. The four mile stretch on which this sign is posted was to have been the site for the northern terminus of the planned Mobile Bypass. However, this plan is no longer on the docket as 1,500 plus residents raised opposition at various ALDOT public hearings for the project. While on paper the proposal is cancelled, the idea may reemerge in the future as traffic demands increase. Photo taken 06/01.
Interstate 65 southbound at Exit 15. Although not signed, Celeste Road is actually Mobile County 41. The county highway connects U.S. 43 in Saraland (pop. 12,288) with the town of Citronelle in the northern tier of the county. Photo taken 10/25/03.
One mile north of the second Saraland interchange. Exit 13 serves Industrial Parkway (Alabama 158) and Shelton Beach Road (Alabama 213). In addition the junction also serves the University of Mobile by way of Mobile County 55 and Alabama 158. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Drawing to within one half mile of the Alabama 158 & 213 overlap at Exit 13. These two highway share pavement within the Interstate 65 partial cloverleaf interchange. Alabama 213 travels southward to Prichard west of I-65 and northeastward toward Satsuma east of I-65. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Interstate 65 southbound at the reconstructed Exit 13 interchange with Alabama 158 & 213. A two lane ramp is in place for Industrial Parkway. The ramp expands to four lanes before intersecting the west end of the Alabama 158 & 213 overlap. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Replaced Interstate 65 southbound Alabama shield. This sign was posted just south of the Exit 13 interchange at Alabama 158/213. Began in 1999 and completed in 2003, the former diamond interchange at that junction was expanded to include a new southbound cloverleaf to Interstate
65 from Alabama 158 west/213 south. In conjunction with that project, an Interstate 65 widening project took place, bringing the six lane portion of the freeway northward to Exit 13. The southbound scene here now features six overall lanes with a concrete jersey barrier median. The future of Interstate 65 will extend the six lane section northward to Exit 19 ultimately. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Crossing the Chickasabogue Creek on Interstate 65 southbound is this upcoming exits sign. Interstate 65 originally became six lanes at this point. Ahead is Exit 10 for West Lee Street and the city of Chickasaw. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Two mile sign bridge for the Exit 9 stack interchange with Interstate 165 southbound. This six lane freeway serves downtown Prichard and Mobile. Photo taken 11/04/03.
A close-up of the two mile slotted overhead for Exit 9. Note that the Interstate 165 shield retains the state name with 1979 MUTCD specifications. Photo taken 11/04/03.
One half mile north of the only Chickasaw interchange of Interstate 65. The city is sandwiched between Saraland and Prichard roughly between Interstate 65 and U.S. 43. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Interstate 65 southbound at the Exit 10/West Lee Street diamond interchange. West Lee Street in itself is a local avenue in Chickasaw (pop. 6,634). However one can maneuver via connecting roads to access U.S. 43 to the east, and Whistler Street, Wasson Avenue, and U.S. 45
to the west and south. Photo taken 11/04/03.
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 65/165 Exit 9 graphical slotted overhead on southbound within the Exit 10 interchange. West Lee Street is the overpass behind the sign bridge. This is the second of four overhead sign assemblies for the downtown Mobile and Prichard freeway spur. The 4 mile highway
opened to traffic on October 28, 1994 at a cost of $240 million. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Interstate 165 southbound overhead. This sign is fairly nondescript, and is only in place to alert traffic that merged from the Exit 10/West Lee Street on-ramp of the exit-only nature of the right-hand lane. In the background is a 1978 spec Interstate 65 shield, and a Truck
U.S. 98 guide sign for Exit 9. Photo taken 08/21/03.
A look at the Interstate 65 Alabama southbound reassurance shield mentioned above. This is the last 1972 specifications shield southbound on the freeway. In the background is an Interstate 10/Truck Route sign for Interstate 165. These truck route signs were installed during the
year 2001 and can be found on all three Mobile area Interstates. Photo taken 08/21/03.
Truck Route sign posted for the Bay Bridge Road connection to Interstate 10 via Interstate 165. Interstate 165 sees three southbound off-ramps to serve the city of Prichard (pop. 28,633), the third of which features U.S. 90 and Truck U.S. 98. The route in conjunction with those federal highways provides for an eastern bypass to Interstate 10 and eastward traffic interests. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Interstate 65 southbound at Interstate 165 (Exit 9). Interstate 165 also serves the downtown area of Prichard and the city's government complex. Interstate 165 is six lanes with a 65 mph speed limit throughout its 4.90 miles. The freeway transitions to the six-lane surface
boulevard Water Street at its southern terminus. The connection features the Mobile Convention Center and Alabama State Docks. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Upcoming exits sign for the interchanges at Exits 8, 5B, and 5A. Above is the Interstate 165 southbound beginning from Exit 9. In the background is the southbound on-ramp from Interstate 165 north. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Drivers from Interstate 165 merge onto Interstate 65 southbound ahead of the Exit 8 junction with U.S. 45 (St. Stephens Road). A construction project saw completion in 2005 to reconfigure the former full-cloverleaf interchange with St. Stephens Road into a partial-cloverleaf interchange. This project was undertaken to eliminate weaving traffic concerns associated between the closely placed loop ramps with the freeway. Pictured here is the before and after comparison of Exit 8A/B signs versus the solo Exit 8 panel. Notice the "Interstate 65 Thru Traffic Left Lane" slotted panel in place. These particular panels can be found along Interstate 65 throughout the Mobile and Prichard areas. Any perspicuous driver understands that the instructions on that panel should be amended to reference the middle lane as well for through traffic. Photos taken 11/04/03 & 02/08/06.
All traffic destined for U.S. 45 (St. Stephens Road) departs Interstate 65 southbound via a consolidated Exit 8 off-ramp. The federal highway represents the main route between Mobile and Meridian, Mississippi. In addition U.S. 45 acts as an evacuation route during hurricane situations and thus four-laning of the highway throughout the drive between Mobile and Meridian is planned or underway. Photos taken 11/04/03 & 02/08/06.
Traveling the Exit 8 off-ramp is the partition of traffic to north and southbound U.S. 45. Unfortunately for drivers destined for Prichard or Mobile, a traffic light must now be encountered from Interstate 65 southbound. U.S. 45 otherwise ends at U.S. 98 (Springhill Avenue) a few miles to the south. Northbound travelers otherwise continue through Prichard to Eight Mile and Citronelle in northern Mobile County. Photo taken 02/08/06
Historical look at the former Exit 8A loop ramp onto U.S. 45 (St. Stephens Road) southbound from Interstate 65 south. Interstate 65 gains a frontage road system from St. Stephens Road southward to U.S. 90 (Government Boulevard). The frontage roads are known as the Beltline Highway. Photo taken 11/04/03.
One mile north of Exit 5B/U.S. 98 on Interstate 65 southbound. Moffett Road connects downtown Mobile with West Mobile, Semmes, and Wilmer before crossing the state line towards Lucedale, Mississippi. To the right is the Beltline Highway southbound, the frontage road system of
Interstate 65 between Exits 5B and 8. The off-ramp utilizes this frontage road to U.S. 98. Due to the placement of the Norfolk Southern railroad line adjacent to U.S. 98, the frontage road system of Interstate 65 is discontinuous between Exits 5B and 5A at Springhill Avenue. Photo taken 10/31/03.
Interstate 65 southbound at Exit 5B. Although no control cities are used for U.S. 98, it is an important traffic for long
distance travelers. U.S. 98 is the main link from Southwest Alabama and northwest Florida to Hattiesburg and Jackson, Mississippi, and ultimately Memphis, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas. License plates from Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee can often be seen on cars travelling U.S. 98. Photo taken 10/31/03.
Interstate 65 southbound at the cloverleaf ramp to Springhill Avenue/Exit 5A. Springhill Avenue passes through residential areas to the west, and merges with U.S. 98 to the east. The Mobile Museum of Art and Langan Park are two miles to the west on Springhill Avenue. Photo
taken 10/31/03.
Southbound reassurance shield for Interstate 65, posted at the end of the Springhill Avenue/Exit 5A on-ramp. Down below the east service road meets Old Shell Road (behind the camera). The upcoming exits sign in the background is indicates the final three interchanges of Interstate 65: Exit 4/Dauphin Street, Exit 3/Airport Boulevard, Exit 1/U.S. 90 - Government Boulevard. Photo taken 02/28/02.
Southbound, after Springhill Avenue traffic merges onto Interstate 65, is this upcoming exits signage indicating that Dauphin Street/Exit 4 is next. Interstate 65 has just crossed over Old Shell Road (another important east-west corridor in Mobile). There is no direct access
to Old Shell Road, as traffic must utilize the east or west service roads between Exits 4 and 5A to reach that roadway. Photo taken 10/31/03.
Dauphin Street/Exit 4 from Interstate 65 south. Dauphin Street serves the SpringHill and Mid-town sections of Mobile. To the west is SpringHill College, Springhill Medical Center, and Springhill Golf Course. Dauphin Street is a great alternative to Airport Boulevard for traffic bound for McGregor Road to the west. The divided boulevard and interchange here was constructed in the 1970s. Photo taken 05/19/04.
Southbound Interstate 65 at Exit 3 for Airport Boulevard. Interstate 65 is somewhat substandard in that it partially loses its shoulders through the Exit 3 interchange. Two lanes are allocated for Airport Boulevard from each direction, with an eventual expansion to four before the ramps end. 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. First photo taken 05/19/04; remaining photos taken 11/12/03.
Interstate 65 southbound at the former Exit 3A cloverleaf for Airport Boulevard westbound. The grade still exists from the former ramp. The sign bridge remains from the existance of the ramp. Featured still is advance signage for the U.S. 90/Exit 1B/A six-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange. The project that resulted in the conversion of Exit 3 from a full cloverleaf to that of a partial one also occurred at the Exit 1 junction as of February 8, 2004. Photo taken 05/19/04.
U.S. 90/Government Boulevard Exits 1B/A exit guide sign on Interstate 65 southbound. The frontage for Interstate 65 remains the same throughout most of the city limits of Mobile. Service roads flank each side of the Interstate, with various commercial and industrial businesses dotting the landscape. The Exit tab now displays just Exit 1 as of February 8, 2004. Photo taken 10/30/03.
Southbound Interstate 65 approaching Junction Interstate 10, two miles. Like most major interchanges in Alabama, the last southbound interchange for Interstate 65 sees a two-mile advance guide sign. The assembly is posted near the Cottage Hill Road underpass. Winds from Hurricane Katrina toppled this sign in 2005. Photo taken 05/19/04.
Interstate 65 southbound at the Exit 1B off-ramp for U.S. 90 westbound. As of February 8, 2004, the Exit 1B ramp now carries all motorists wishing to access U.S. 90 below. Upon completion of the interchange reconstruction project, the Exit 1A cloverleaf ramp to U.S. 90 eastbound is closed. Photo taken 10/29/03.
One-half mile guide sign for Exit 1 (U.S. 90) on Interstate 65 south. Greenouts cover the Exit 1B and West annotation that once referred the sign to just Government Boulevard westbound. Photo taken 05/19/04.
Instead of using that ramp, traffic to Mid-town and Downtown Mobile accesses Government Boulevard at a signalized intersection at the end of the consolidated Exit 1 off-ramp. The ramp itself expands from two to four lanes before tying into the surface roadway. Pictured here is the new Exit 1 overhead at the Interstate 65 southbound off-ramp to Government Boulevard. Photo taken 05/10/04.
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. Traffic lights over the right-hand turns from both directions of Interstate 65 originally included red arrows to restrict turn movements. ALDOT replaced those lens soon thereafter with red balls to allow for turns after a complete stop after most motorists disregarded the red arrows. Photos takens 05/10 & 05/19/04.
The former Exit 1A cloverleaf ramp to U.S. 90 east/Government Boulevard of Interstate 65 southbound. The removal of this ramp eliminates the weaving traffic concerns that occurred with the advent of U.S. 90 westbound merging traffic from a cloverleaf ramp behind the camera. This interchange technically should be Exit 2, as milepost 2 is situated just to the south of this ramp. Photo taken 10/30/03.
Interstate 10 slotted overhead on Interstate 65 southbound, one mile before the terminus. Note again there are no Exit 0 tabs in place. The Interstate 10 control cities feature control states instead of Pensacola and Pascagoula (the cities used along the Interstate
10 mainline). Similar state based control cities can be found on the Tri-State Tollway around Chicago, Illinois. This is a fitting concept considering the proximity of the northern terminus of Interstate 65 at nearby Gary, Indiana. Photo taken 10/28/03.
The final southbound Interstate 65 reassurance shield, posted just after the U.S. 90 eastbound traffic merge onto the freeway. To the left of the final 1.5 miles of Interstate 65 is Hank Aaron Stadium. The sports complex is the home to the Double A Mobile Baybears baseball franchise, a San Diego Padres farm team. Photo taken 10/28/03.
Fully reflectorized diagrammatical overhead for the pending Interstate 65 terminus at Interstate 10. Two lanes are allocated for interests to Downtown Mobile and Pensacola, Florida on Interstate 10 eastbound. Five exits serve the city of Mobile toward Mobile Bay. Traffic
continuing to the west is allocated three lanes. Interstate 10's control point of Mississippi is somewhat appropriate, as there are five cities that the Interstate serves along Mississippi's Gulf Coast. They are as follows: Pascagoula (pop. 26,200)/Moss Point (pop. 15,851), Biloxi (pop. 50,644), Gulfport (pop. 71,127), and Bay Saint Louis (pop. 8,209). The use of the state name placates the issue of which city to choose. Once onto Interstate 10 however, Pascagoula is the control city of choice by ALDOT. Photo taken 10/28/03.
Interstate 10/Exit 0 sign bridge at the southern terminus of Interstate 65. Westbound traffic is granted three lanes, but before merging onto Interstate 10, the allocation reduces to two. Note the Interstate 10 gore sign. This is a standard practice in major freeway
junctions with the state of Alabama. Downtown Mobile is six miles to the east, with New Orleans located roughly 123 miles to the east. Photos taken 10/28/03.
Substandard two lane bridges with no shoulders on the Interstate 65 south to Interstate 10 eastbound ramp. When this interchange was initially constructed, bridges associated with Interstate 10/Exit 20 carried only one lane of traffic to/from Interstate 65. Through
population growth, demands have changed dramatically. To placate these problems, the bridges were restriped, allowing for the expansion to two lanes. This has created problems, in that traffic must navigate through cramped quarters with no right-hand shoulder on a rather sharp curve. Hopefully ALDOT will replace this ramp in the near future, with an expanded three-lane structure. Photo taken 10/28/03.
The southbound ramp from Interstate 65 merges onto Interstate 10 eastbound. This left-hand merge becomes the left and middle lanes of eastbound Interstate 10. Interstate 10 is six lanes throughout the Exit 20/Interstate 65 interchange, but yields to Interstate 65 entering traffic at this point. The freeway quickly expands to eight overall lanes east of Interstate 65 (Exit 20). Photo taken 10/28/03.
