Interstate 459 - Alabama
The southern belt of Birmingham, Interstate 459 is six lanes with a 65 to 70 mph speed limit. It is the preferred route for all through traffic in the area. Total mileage is 32.80, but a slated northern extension of the freeway will over double that amount. The addition to the freeway, which is High Priority Corridor 28, will take Interstate 459 around the north side of the metropolitan area of Birmingham, with a junction at Interstate 59 near Trussville.
Planned Improvements
Roadwork is underway to expand and redesign the congested Exit 19 interchange with U.S. 280 near Mountain Brook. A three-phase project is underway to address problems with the busy junction. Phase one saw the widening of the U.S. 280 overpasses over Interstate 459 and the widening of a four-lane bottleneck to six lanes at the east entrance to the Summit Shopping Center. Next to be completed is the realignment and extension of the right-hand turn lane from Interstate 459 northbound to U.S. 280 eastbound. Phase Two of the project will commence Summer 2004 and involve the construction of a new flyover ramp to replace the current left-hand turn of U.S. 280 westbound onto Interstate 459 southbound. This new flyover will begin from a new westbound lane of U.S. 280 that will start 400 feet east of Grandview Parkway and depart the highway at Blue Lake Drive. A flyover to Interstate 459 northbound from this direction will also be constructed. This will eliminate the U.S. 280 to Blue Lake Drive ramp (a relocation of Blue Lake to Grandview will be constructed). $24 million is already earmarked for this phase of the roadwork. Phase III involves the construction of a half-mile long flyover ramp departing Interstate 459 northbound 2,000 feet south of the current northbound Exit 19 ramp. This ramp will replace the left-hand turn that facilitates U.S. 280 westbound movements along the current exit ramp.1
Highway Guides
| Scenes Related to Interstate 459 |
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Interstate 459 neutered shields at Exit 1 on Jefferson County Route 18 eastbound. The Alabama State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) allows for both state name and non-state named shields for Interstate highways in the Heart of Dixie. Photo taken 08/10/02. |
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An older Interstate 459 Alabama shield at the overpass for Jefferson County 18 over Interstate 459. This overpass has a date stamp from 1982. Photo taken 08/10/02. |
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