Interstate 359 is a 2.30-mile spur from Interstates 20/59 into downtown Tuscaloosa near the University of Alabama campus. The highway is cosigned with U.S. 11 and Alabama 69 for the entire length, with transitions to surface streets at each end. The northbound end of Interstate 359 leads to a high level bridge over the Black Warrior River that carries U.S. 43 and Alabama 69 to Northport (pop. 19,435).
Interstate 359 north
Northbound Interstate 359 from U.S. 11 south/Alabama 69 north at the westbound Interstate 20/southbound Interstate 59 cloverleaf ramp. There are no exit numbers for the Interstate 20/59/359 junction, although the state of Alabama does use Exit 0 for the southern terminus of
Interstate 65. Photo taken 09/28/03.
Interstate 359 sees the first of two northbound exits for 35th Street and the University of Alabama. This photograph shows the overhead one sees while leaving Interstate 20/59. Exit 1 also serves nearby Kauloosa Avenue. Photo taken 09/28/03.
The first northbound Interstate 359 reassurance shield, cosigned with U.S. 11 south and Alabama 69 north. The sign does retain the state name, but in an alternate format being that the font for "Alabama" is the same height as that for "Interstate". U.S. 11 and Alabama 69 overlap for the entire 2.30 miles of the six to eight lane freeway. Photos taken 08/10/02.
Six lanes continue north of Exit 1 for 35th Street to the northern terminus and transition to a surface street for U.S. 11/Alabama 69. Traffic continuing northward can easily access the University of Alabama campus via University Boulevard (Alabama 215) beyond Exit 2 and the northern terminus of Interstate 359. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Northbound Interstate 359, Southbound U.S. 11, and Northbound Alabama 69 approaching Exit 2, 15th Street/Stillman College, one-half mile. Omitted from this guide sign is the fact that 15th Street carries U.S. 11 south and U.S. 43. Photo taken 08/10/02.
End Interstate 359 sign bridge posted at the Exit 2 interchange with U.S. 11 south and 43 north (15th Street). U.S. 11 southbound departs Interstate 359 and Alabama 69 for an overlap with U.S. 43 south. U.S. 43 northbound joins Alabama 69 northbound toward downtown and the city of
Northport. Photo taken 09/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 359 transitions onto a surface street at this point. This end is very similar to Interstates 175 and 375 in St. Petersburg, Florida, with the ramps connecting onto one-way streets. It is possible that an extension of Interstate 359 northbound could be constructed in the block between the two one-way streets; however, it is unclear if such construction is likely to occur. However, provisions were clearly left here for Interstate 359 to continue its northbound journey from here, perhaps all the way to the Black Warrior River Bridge. But for now, this marks the northern terminus of Interstate 359. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Interstate 359 south
The southbound beginning of Interstate 359. U.S. 43 southbound departs Alabama 69 for U.S. 11 south at the freeway beginning. The two routes share a 34-mile overlap between Tuscaloosa and the Greene County seat of Eutaw (pop. 1,878). Interstate 359 and Alabama 69 southbound share a wrong-way overlap with U.S. 11 northbound from here to the freeway conclusion. There are no stand-alone reassurance shields for Interstate 359 in the southbound direction. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Featured on this southbound Interstate 359 sign bridge are the two mainline interchanges. Exit 1 ahead serves 35th Street and Kauloosa Avenue. 1.25 miles to the south is the southern terminal interchange with Interstate 20-59. Photo taken 08/10/02.
The 35th Street diamond interchange serves the southern reaches of the city of Tuscaloosa. The east-west surface street connects Moody Swamp Road from the west with Alabama 215/24th Avenue. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Situated within the Exit 1 partial cloverleaf interchange is the one-mile overhead for the upcoming Exit 0 interchange with Interstate 20-59. Two lanes are allocated for the upcoming ramp. Photo taken 08/10/02.
End Interstate 359 southbound sign bridge. Interstate 20-59 northbound travel to the city of Birmingham in 49 miles. 85 miles to the southwest lies the Interstate 20-59 southbound control city of Meridian, Mississippi. Photo taken 08/10/02.
The final off-ramp of Interstate 359 serves Interstate 20-59. This photograph looks at the ramp partition and associated sign bridge. Interstate 359 itself continues to a traffic light at Skyland Boulevard. There U.S. 11 northbound turns east and Alabama 69 sinks southward. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Scenes Related to Interstate 359
This shield assembly is found on the southbound side frontage road at the 35th Street partial cloverleaf interchange (Exit 1). Photo taken 09/28/03.
