| U.S. 31/280 shield assembly at the gore point for the Rosedale Drive off-ramp from northbound. U.S. 280 shares pavement for its final three miles with U.S. 31 on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| Button copy signage abounds on the U.S. 31/280 freeway. This sign bridge is located on the freeway northbound as it approaches the Highland and Arlington Avenue exit. As the limited access highway continues northward, it approaches the valley in which the central business district of Birmingham rests. Photo taken 02/11/01.
|
| As of August 10th, 2002, the button copy signage in the above photograph was still in place. This sign bridge is posted just after U.S. 280 westbound merges onto U.S. 31 north.
|
| One-half mile guide signage for the Arlington/Highland Avenue exit on U.S. 31 north/U.S. 280 westbound. Traffic merging from the right enters the freeway from 21st Avenue. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| U.S. 31/280 maintain six lanes through the Highland Avenue interchange. The departing ramp connects with a frontage-type road that links Arlington and Highland Avenues. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| U.S. 31 south/U.S. 280 east approaching 21st Avenue and Vulcan Park. The Elton B. Stephens Expressway sees a dramatic rock cut (the Red Mountain Geological Cut) as it ascends out of the central business district valley towards Homewood. The city of Birmingham is home to 242,820 residents, with 662,047 residents living in Jefferson County. Top photo taken 02/11/01; bottom photo taken 08/10/02.
|
|
| Button copy signage on U.S. 31 north/U.S. 280 west for 8th Avenue near the Highland Avenue overpass. The 8th Avenue exit serves the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Saint Vincent's Hospital. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| University Boulevard is added to the guide signage for the 8th Avenue exit on northbound. That is because 8th Avenue changes its name to University to the west of the interchange. The Five Points and Avondale neighborhoods of the city are accessible from this cloverleaf ramp. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| A new reflectorized overhead is in place on northbound for the U.S. 78/3rd and 4th Avenue exit. Interesting enough, the lighting assembly was left in place with the sign replacement. Standard policy is to remove the lighting fixtures when replacing out of date signage. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| U.S. 31 north/U.S. 280 west at the U.S. 78/3rd and 4th Avenue South exit for downtown Birmingham. Note the imprint of a shield next to the U.S. 78 shield on the right-hand panel. This is a remnant from the former downtown U.S. 280 routing. The next interchange is for U.S. 11, the last exit before the freeway ends at Interstate 20 and 59.Photo taken 02/11/01.
|
| Another view of the button copy sign bridge on U.S. 31 north/U.S. 280 west at the U.S. 78 exit. Both 3rd and 4th Avenue are shown on the guide signage, because the exit ramp connects with 27th Street midway between the two avenues. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| Button copy signage on U.S. 31 north/U.S. 280 west, announcing the upcoming junction of Interstates 20/59. The northern end of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway transitions directly onto Carraway Boulevard. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| The last exits for the expressway of U.S. 31/280 north/west are for U.S. 11/1st Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North. U.S. 11 cuts through the heart of the business district, overlapping with nearby U.S. 78 two blocks to the west. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| A cloverleaf ramp connects U.S. 31 north/U.S. 280 west with 2nd Avenue North. The Amtrak/Norfolk-Southern railroad lines two blocks to the south separate the geographical street designations of north and south. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| U.S. 280 comes to an end one-half mile before the Interstate 20/59 and U.S. 31 stack interchange. The flyover ramps for Interstate 20/59 west/south give a sweeping view of the downtown area, with the city street grid far below. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| U.S. 280 was relocated from a downtown terminus to the north end of the Red Mountain Expressway at the Interstate 20/59 interchange. This end shield is posted on at the split with Interstate 20/59 ramps on U.S. 31 northbound. The eastern terminus of U.S. 280 occurs in contrast at the small town of Blitchton, Georgia, west of Savannah. Photo taken 02/11/01.
|
| Northbound ramps from U.S. 31 to Interstate 20/59. The signs are non-reflectorized with button copy lettering. This interchange is stacked high above the city street grid, offering a stellar view of the downtown skyline to the south and west. U.S. 31 descends back to street level as 28th Street en route to northern suburbs of Fultondale and Gardendale. Photo taken 02/11/01.
|
| Proof of the fantastic view of the Birmingham skyline from the U.S. 31/Interstate 20-59 stack interchange. This photograph is taken from the northbound U.S. 31 to westbound Interstate 20/southbound Interstate 59 flyover. The Interstate pair intersect nearby Interstate 65 at "Malfunction Junction" two miles to the west. Photo taken 02/11/01.
|
| U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east
|
|---|
| U.S. 31 southbound makes a turn over 26th Street (visible to the right below), at 5th Avenue. Amtrak and Norfolk-Southern rail-lines travel through the downtown area parallel to 1st Avenue. Those can also be seen to the right. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| With the late-afternoon sunshine shrouding the high-rises in darkness, the central business rises out of the valley. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| A look at the downtown skyline of Birmingham from the U.S. 31/280 freeway to the east. Downtown appeared to be a mixture between old and new, with modern high-rises overlooking older residential and commercial areas to the east and south of the central business district. Photo taken 02/11/01.
|
| A fourth southbound lane joints the fold between the U.S. 11 and U.S. 78 exits. The button copy signage dates from the freeways 1960s completion, however the fully reflectorized shields are younger. The yellow sign in the background indicates that the right-lane is for exit only. The original striping of the freeway probably included a right-hand shoulder. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| Southbound U.S. 31/eastbound U.S. 280 at the U.S. 78/3rd and 4th Avenue South interchange. U.S. 78 parallels Interstate 20 eastward towards the state line of Georgia. Westward, U.S. 78 cuts through downtown before exiting the city at Adamsville to the northwest. U.S. 78 to the northwest of Birmingham metro is a part of High Priority Corridor 10/Interstate 22. Photo taken 02/11/01.
|
| Adjacent to the northbound side ramps, are similar ramps connecting to 25th Street on southbound. Traffic can turn to access either 3rd or 4th Avenues. U.S. 78 follows 4th Avenue from 24th Street eastward to Crestwood Boulevard. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| With Saint Vincent's Hospital in view to the southwest, U.S. 31 south/U.S. 280 east approaches the 8th Avenue/University Boulevard exit. There is no southbound access to Highland or Arlington Avenues. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| Ascending upon Red Mountain on south U.S. 31/east U.S. 280 at the Highland Avenue overpass. The next exit, three-quarters of a mile away, is for 21st Street. The interchange is a half-diamond folded to the north. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| Upcoming exits sign on U.S. 31 south/U.S. 280 east as it leaves the downtown area of Birmingham. This is the only mentioning of the Homewood exit until the expressway actually reaches that interchange. Signage is non-reflectorized with button copy lettering. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| Button copy signage for U.S. 280 on U.S. 31 southbound. The stacked interchange for the split, also features ramps to the west, serving the Rosedale neighborhood of Homewood. The control cities for U.S. 280 are that of Mountain Brook, a southeastern suburb, and Sylacauga, the next town of importance as the highway leaves the metro area of Birmingham. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| Southbound U.S. 31, as it splits with U.S. 280 eastbound. The signage on this sign bridge is more modern, as it has reflectorized sheeting. The "Zoo-Gardens" sign panel refers to the nearby Lane Park and Birmingham Zoo, located along U.S. 280 within one-half mile. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| U.S. 31 travels through the city of Homewood (pop. 25,043)
south of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. The cross street is that of 28th Avenue to the west and Ventura
Boulevard to the east. U.S. 31 is now known as the Montgomery Highway. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
Page Updated November 1, 2003.
