| 9th Street southbound at 3rd Avenue North in the city of Birmingham. 9th Street southbound
carries U.S. 11 & 78 shields in the northbound direction between 1st Avenue North and this intersection. However
this set of shields alludes to the fact that U.S. 11 north & U.S. 78 east follow 3rd Avenue North through
the 9th Street intersection. This may relate to the idea that U.S. 11 & 78 continue eastward to 14th Street via
3rd Avenue North as is suggested by some maps. Two blocks to the east is the folded diamond interchange with
Interstate 65. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| The first shields for U.S. 11/78 on 1st Avenue North Eastbound one
sees after 17th Street. The two highways are configured on separate one-way streets through the high-rises of
downtown. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| U.S. 11 north/U.S. 78 east within the vicinity of
the downtown Birmingham Street Mall. The core of the business district can be seen here, as a mixture of old
and new high-rises soar skyward. Photos taken 08/10/02.
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| Still in Downtown Birmingham, U.S. 11 south/U.S. 78 east
reassurance shields. This urban scene is located on 1st Avenue North as it approaches the intersection with
21st Street. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| The intersection of 24th Street (U.S. 78 south of 1st Avenue North)
and 1st Avenue North (U.S. 11). Traffic continuing straight through the traffic light into downtown enters
the U.S. 11 south & U.S. 78 westbound overlap. 24th Street crosses over the railroad lines via a four lane
viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| U.S. 11 northbound reassurance shield. This assembly is posted
just beyond the intersection with 24th Street (U.S. 78 east). Ahead is the intersection with 25th Street and
the Elton B. Stephens Expressway at 26th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| A cloverleaf ramp from U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound
to U.S. 11/1st Avenue North sits abandoned. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| The abandoned ramp as it merges onto U.S. 11 northbound.
The U.S. 11 viaduct begins on the western side of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| The substandard nature of the cloverleaf ramp no doubt
played a role in its demise. Traffic to U.S. 11 can either utilize the Carraway Boulevard ramp to the north
or the 3rd Avenue South (U.S. 78) ramp to the south. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Looking back toward downtown and the cloverleaf ramp
merge onto U.S. 11. One block to the east is the U.S. 11 & 78 overlap beginning at 24th Street.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| This photograph looks eastward from the abandoned merge lane
of the U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound cloverleaf ramp to U.S. 11 north. Traffic interests to U.S. 31
north & U.S. 280 west are advised to turn left onto 26th Street ahead. Four blocks to the north is the
northbound on-ramp to Interstate 20-59 at 5th Avenue North. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| A closer look at the bank of shields on U.S. 11 north/1st
Avenue North. By the time traffic can access U.S. 31, U.S. 280 northbound will have concluded. That is because
26th Street ties into U.S. 31 at the north end of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. The same intersection
allows traffic to enter the freeway at its beginning for U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| U.S. 11 South
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|---|
| The U.S. 11/1st Avenue North viaduct as it crosses over a
Norfolk Southern Railroad line below. The elevated stretch of highway begins at 26th Street and the Elton B.
Stephens Expressway. U.S. 11 returns to the surface at the 33rd Street viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| There is no direct access from 1st Avenue North to the Elton
B. Stephens Expressway. An off-ramp does exist from U.S. 31 north & U.S. 280 west to U.S. 11 however. Traffic
wishing to access the freeway is advised to turn right onto 26th Street north to Carraway Boulevard. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| The western end of the U.S. 11 viaduct east of the Elton B.
Stephens Expressway. A set of Interstate 20 and 59 shields is posted for the 26th Street connection to
the nearby freeway via the 5th Avenue North on-ramp. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Detail of the Interstate 20 and 59 shields at the west end
of the 1st Avenue North viaduct. Both shields adhere to 1979 MUTCD specifications. The assembly is attached
to a light post. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Side profile of the U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound sign
bridge for the U.S. 78 3rd & 4th Avenue South off-ramp. Photograph taken from the U.S. 11 vantage point east
of the viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| The area underneath the U.S. 31 & 280 viaduct is allocated
for parking. 26th Street is cut by the Amtrak, CSX, and Norfolk Southern railroad lines south of 1st Avenue
North. The street resumes at U.S. 11 and travels north alongside the viaduct to 5th Avenue North. This view
of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway elevated highway is taken from the westbound sidewalk of 1st Avenue North.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Peeking through the gap between the north and southbound
viaducts at the button copy guide sign for U.S. 31. U.S. 31 traffic to Carraway Boulevard stays to the left
as Interstate 20-59 based traffic departs from the right. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Junction U.S. 78 shield on U.S. 11 south/1st Avenue North
at 25th Street. One block ahead the U.S. 11 & 78 overlap begins. The conjoining section will persist through to
14th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| The intersection of 24th Street and 1st Avenue North as seen
from the northeast corner. North of this intersection 24th Street carries no numbered highway. With that stated,
a 276 milepost is posted two blocks to the north. It is unclear as to whether or not 24th Street was at one
time part of U.S. 31 or part of another routing. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| A closer look at the mast arm supported shield assembly for
the U.S. 11 & 78 merge at 24th Street. The first set of reassurance shields for the pair can also be seen
in the background. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Southbound U.S. 11/Westbound U.S. 78 reassurance shields,
situated on 1st Avenue North in downtown. These are the first signs motorists see after the routes merge
at the intersection of 24th Street and 1st Avenue North. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| One block removed from 14th Street, a north-south arterial that
continues uninterrupted by the CSX/Amtrak lines that bisect the central business district, is this set of
U.S. 11 south & U.S. 78 westbound reassurance shields. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Four blocks to the west, U.S. 11 & 78 pass underneath Interstate
65 and reach 9th Street. Here the tandem turn right (north) from 1st Avenue North onto 9th Street.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| U.S. 11 south & 78 westbound on 9th Street north at 2nd Avenue
North. The federal routes will turn from 9th Street north to 3rd Avenue North at the next intersection.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| A closer look at the shield assembly attached to the 2nd
Avenue North mast arm traffic light assembly. The shields are a bit misleading, as 9th Street is U.S. 11 & 78.
The signs would lead one to believe that U.S. 11 south & 78 eastbound turn east along 3rd Avenue North. These
shields may be posted in relation to the connection to Interstate 65 Exit 260 two blocks to the east.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| 9th Street northbound at 3rd Avenue North. Here U.S. 11
south & U.S. 78 westbound turn left onto 3rd Avenue North westbound. The shields indicate that turning right
will take one to U.S. 11 north & U.S. 78 east. Some maps show the federal route along two separate alignments
through this part of the city. This may factor into the placement of these signs. While we have shown the
alignment of 1st Avenue North and 9th Street, maps also show 3rd Avenue North to 14th Street as part of U.S. 11
& 78. Again this may be in relation to the ramps at Interstate 65 two blocks to the east. Photos taken 10/01/03.
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| Nonetheless, U.S. 11 south & U.S. 78 westbound leave the
9th & 14th Street mess along 3rd Avenue North toward 7th Street and this reassurance shield assembly.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| Nearing the Owenton neighborhood of the city, U.S. 11 south
& U.S. 78 westbound prepare to part from one another. The upcoming intersection with 8th Street also represents
the beginning of the U.S. 11 and U.S. 78 respective overlap with Alabama 5. Alabama 5 enters the intersection
with U.S. 11 northbound via 3rd Avenue. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| U.S. 11 southbound continues along 3rd Avenue North as U.S. 78
westbound turns northward with Alabama 5 along 8th Street. The Interstate 20-59 freeway and Thomas neighborhood
of the city are one mile to the north. U.S. 11 & Alabama 5 continue west through Owenton to Fairview and Central
Park. Photo taken 10/01/03.
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| At Exit 108 U.S. 11 & Alabama 5 southbound merge onto Interstate
20-59 for an 11 mile overlap between Bessmer and Woodstock. This photograph displays the two-mile guide sign
for Interstate 459/Exit 106. This is the first exit of the four-way overlap. The upcoming trumpet interchange represents the eastern extent of a new six-lane segment
of Interstate 20-59. Interstate 459 is a high-priority corridor itself, that of High Priority
Corridors 28. The future aspirations for the route is the creation of a north-belt freeway for the
metropolitan area. Photo taken 09/27/03.
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| With Interstate 459 traffic added to the fold, Interstate 20-59
& U.S. 11/Alabama 5 press southwestward toward the city of Tuscaloosa. Depicted here is a button copy sign for Exit 104/Rock Mountain
Lake. As mentioned above, construction results in the expansion of Interstate 20-59 from four to six lanes with
the installation of a concrete jersey barrier median. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| Interstate 20-59 & U.S. 11/Alabama 5 depart Jefferson County and enter Tuscaloosa
County at the Exit 100 interchange. While not displayed, this interchange represents the eastern terminus of
Alabama 216. The state route travels east-west between Cottondale and nearby Abernant. Bucksville is located
just to the east of this junction. Photo taken 09/28/03.
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| The four-way overlap of Interstate 20-59 with U.S. 11/Alabama 5
concludes at the Exit 97 interchange near the villages of Lakeview and Woodstock. U.S. 11 will continue
to follow Interstate 20-59 through to Tuscaloosa and points south. Alabama 5 meanwhile splits with the federal
route in two miles. The state highway from there skims southward through the Black Belt region of the state,
concluding 107 miles to the south at U.S. 43 near Thomasville (pop. 4,649). Photo taken 08/10/02.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| U.S. 11 & 43 see a 24 mile overlap from the city of Tuscaloosa
southwest to the Greene County seat of Eutaw (pop. 1,878). In downtown Eutaw, the cosigning concludes at
the central square. Here U.S. 43 enters a short overlap with the east-west Alabama 14. This photograph
reveals a shield assembly at the intersection where U.S. 11 leaves U.S. 43. Photo taken 08/10/02.
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Page Updated November 3, 2003.
