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U.S. Highway 31 - Alabama

U.S. 31 north
The first seven miles of U.S. 31 are orientated in an east-west fashion, as the highway parallels Interstate 10 to the north. While in Spanish Fort, U.S. 31 follows a four lane parkway, as seen in these northbound photographs at the southern end of Alabama 225. Alabama 225 connects U.S. 31 with the fast growing areas of north Spanish Fort, Historic Blakeley State Park, and Stockton 24 miles to the north. The state highway intersects Interstate 65 at Exit 31. Photos taken 12/20/03.
Four miles to the east of the Alabama 225 junction, is the northern terminus of Alabama 181. Alabama 181 is a short state route that links U.S. 31 with Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 at Malbis. The expansion of Spanish Fort and the Mobile metropolitan area ends at this junction. However, new development is slated for the area, including that of a large shopping mall along Alabama 181. The construction of the mall is well underway. A new signal was installed at the Interstate 10 westbound off-ramp to the Malbis Plantation Parkway in 2002. Photos taken 12/20/03.
U.S. 31 & Alabama 59 shields posted after their merge at the community of Stapleton. The two highways join for a 10.7 mile marriage between Stapleton and the Baldwin County seat of Bay Minette. Photo taken 05/16/04.
A second set of U.S. 31 & Alabama 59 shields guide motorists northbound on the Gulf Shores Parkway through Stapleton. Baldwin County 39 departs Gulf Shores Parkway ahead for Baldwin County 138 and the community of Crossroads. The four-lane parkway otherwise features a grassy median and 65 MPH speed limit. Photo taken 05/16/04.
U.S. 31 & Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) northbound at junction Baldwin County 138 (Hurricane Road). These two photographs look at the parkway northbound at the eastern terminus of Baldwin County 138. The former state route, connects Bay Minette with Alabama 225 near the Tensaw River to the southwest. The highway, and Alabama 225 at that point, are generally considered "back roads". At this point along the Parkway, development has encroached in association with Bay Minette in the form of car dealerships and strip malls. Photo taken 04/11/02.
Northbound split of U.S. 31 and Alabama 59 west of downtown Bay Minette. This sign bridge is located on the CSX Railroad underpass, with an Interstate 65 trailblazer in place. U.S. 31 turns to the east and enters downtown Bay Minette while Alabama 59 bypasses the town to the north and west continuing the four-lane Gulf Shores Parkway. Interstate 65 is located six miles to the north via both Alabama 59 and Alabama 287. The split between the two highways is handled by a traffic light, surrounded by a shopping plaza and other commercial development. Note the greenouts over the down arrows on both panels and the placement of double yellow flashers to coincide with the signal warning signs in the second photograph. Photos taken 04/11/02 & 06/14/04.
U.S. 31 northbound shield posted on D'Olive Street eastbound after the route parts with Alabama 59 (McMeans Avenue). The four-lane surface street travels 0.6 miles east from Gulf Shores Parkway to downtown Bay Minette. Photo taken 06/14/04.
Like many southern Alabama county seats and towns, Bay Minette includes a town square at its city center. U.S. 31 follows a one-way set of streets around the County Courthouse from D'Olive Street onto East 2nd Street. Alabama 287 ends on the north side of the square via Hand Avenue. Photo taken 06/14/04.
U.S. 31 northbound departs the Bay Minette city square for East Second Street. Traffic continuing north within the square enters U.S. 31 southbound 90 degrees from the northbound beginning of Alabama 287 (Hand Avenue). Hand Avenue carries the state highway two miles north to junction Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Highway). From there both state routes continue to respective diamond interchanges with Interstate 65. Photo taken 06/14/04.
1.4 miles east of downtown Bay Minette is the community of Eastwood and the western terminus of Baldwin 112 (Old Pensacola Road). Baldwin 112 constitutes a direct connection between central Baldwin County and Pensacola, Florida in lieu of Interstate 10. The drive along Old Pensacola Road provides a quick 30-mile jaunt through pine logging country to Escambia County and the Perdido River. Photo taken 02/08/06.
Baldwin 112 was originally Alabama 112. The rural route was downgraded to Baldwin County 112 in exchange for an extended Alabama 181 along Baldwin 27 (Belforest Road) between U.S. 90 at Malbis and U.S. 98 near Weeks Bay. ALDOT crews swapped out signs by early 2006 even though Alabama 181 was not extended southward yet. Photo taken 06/14/04.
Baldwin 112 (Old Pensacola Road) departs U.S. 31 northbound for Gateswood and Muscogee, Florida. The county highway transitions into Escambia 184 at the Perdido River. Photo taken 02/08/06.
U.S. 31 northbound, traversing some rolling hills near the intersection with Baldwin County 61 south of Perdido. Traffic is very light between Bay Minette and Perdido, due to the close-by routing of Interstate 65. In the distance is a truck-climbing lane. Photo taken 08/24/02.
Railroad overpass over U.S. 31, as it enters the town of Atmore in southwest Escambia County. This bridge is apart of the same railroad line in this Alabama 47 photograph taken near Monroeville. The line continues southward to Pensacola, Florida. Photo taken 08/24/02.
U.S. 31 is orientated in an east-west fashion between the Baldwin/Escambia County line to Flomaton. This northbound (eastbound) photograph shows a Junction Alabama 21 shield and signage for Jefferson Davis Community College's Atmore campus. Photo taken 08/24/02.
Situated in downtown Atmore, is the crossroads of U.S. 31 and Alabama 21. Alabama 21 is an alternative route for Interstate 65 to Pensacola, Florida traffic to that of Alabama 113 and U.S. 29 to the east. The route receives a significant amount of traffic for being in a relatively rural environment. Photo taken 08/24/02.
Zooming in on the shield assembly between U.S. 31 and the railroad line in the above photograph. Interstate 65 sees an interchange (Exit 57) with Alabama 21 six miles to the north. Traffic turning to the right will cross the Florida state line in two miles, and will transition to Florida 97 as it migrates southward towards Pensacola. Photo taken 08/24/02.
U.S. 31 northbound at U.S. 29 and Alabama 113. The three highways share a short overlap from this intersection eastward. This intersection is also the historic terminus of the original U.S. 331 between Pensacola and Flomaton. The highway was terminated with the extension of U.S. 29 southward in the 1930s. Photo taken 11/25/01.
It should also be mentioned that Alabama 113 is signed with U.S. 29 and 31 in the Flomaton vicinity. The state highway is signed all the way to the state line crossing of U.S. 29, and directs traffic from Pensacola metro northward to Interstate 65 at Exit 69. This segment of U.S. 29/31/Alabama 113 northbound is being four-laned. Photo taken 08/24/02.
Northbound U.S. 31 at the U.S. 80 & Alabama 21 northbound diamond interchange in the Montgomery metropolitan area. U.S. 31 & 80 used to overlap northward toward downtown Montgomery. In the 1980s, that overlap truncated to the intersection of South Boulevard one mile to the north. In the mid 1990s, U.S. 80 departed with U.S. 31 altogether for a new freeway between this interchange and Interstate 65. Photo taken 08/22/03.
While U.S. 80 now travels east to Interstate 65 and north to South Boulevard, Alabama 21 remains overlapped with U.S. 31 north along the Mobile Highway. This photo looks at the northbound reassurance shields, posted just beyond the U.S. 80 freeway. Alabama 21 enters U.S. 31 from U.S. 80 east. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 31 and Alabama 21 part ways at South Boulevard. Alabama 21 turns east to return to U.S. 80 along South Boulevard. At Interstate 65, U.S. 82 eastbound joins the fold. This is significant to U.S. 31, as U.S. 82 used to follow South Boulevard west to this same intersection. From here U.S. 31 and 82 used to cosign northward to Prattville (pop. 24,303). Now that route is left unto U.S. 31 itself. Photo taken 08/22/03.
In southeastern Chilton County, U.S. 31 travels through the village of Verbena. This photograph looks at a northbound reassurance shield along the rural route through that community. Photo taken 09/25/03.
Approaching Alabama 22 on U.S. 31 northbound near the village of Cooper. Alabama 22 travels east of U.S. 31 to Mitchell Lake and Dam and the Coosa County seat of Rockford (pop. 428). The east-west route continues from there to Alexander City (pop. 15,008) and Roanoke (pop. 6,563) to the Georgia State line. Photo taken 09/25/03.
U.S. 31 northbound at Alabama 22 east. From here eight miles northward through Cooper to the Chilton County seat of Clanton (pop. 7,800), U.S. 31 & Alabama 21 travel together. This overlap includes the Exit 205 interchange of Interstate 65. Photo taken 09/25/03.
Within the city limits of Hoover (pop. 62,742), U.S. 31 northbound along the Montgomery Highway, a six-lane arterial, approaches Interstate 65 and Jefferson County 99. The pentagon refers to the north-south Columbiana Road. This surface street parallels Interstate 65 to the east. Photo taken 10/01/03.
Button copy guide sign for Interstate 65 at the Exit 252 partial cloverleaf interchange along U.S. 31 northbound. To the left is Southland Drive, a local street. Ahead on the left is the cloverleaf ramp for Interstate 65 southbound. Photo taken 10/01/03.
Neutered Interstate 65 shields, done in the New York style of signing practices, at the Exit 252 interchange. Ahead U.S. 31 crosses into the city of Vestavia Hills (pop. 24,476). Jefferson County 99/Columbiana Road is the third left ahead. Photo taken 10/01/03.
U.S. Highway 31 & 280 (Elton B. Stephens Expressway)
U.S. 31 south
In south Montgomery, U.S. 31 (West Boulevard) overlaps with Alabama 21. The one-mile overlap carries U.S. 31 & Alabama 21 between South Boulevard (Alabama 21) and U.S. 80 (Selma Highway) west of Interstate 65. Depicted here is the U.S. 31 southbound turn from West Boulevard onto the Mobile Highway. Alabama 21 northbound turns eastward onto South Boulevard. U.S. 82 used to continue from West Boulevard to South Boulevard with Alabama 21 to Interstate 65 and U.S. 80. Photo taken 01/16/04.
U.S. 31 & Alabama 21 southbound crossing the Catoma Creek. Pictured here is an original sign bridge for the upcoming U.S. 80 (Selma Highway) diamond interchange. While the freeway segment of U.S. 80 between U.S. 31 and Interstate 65 only came into existance in the mid-1990s, this sign bridge dates most likely from the 1960s. Alabama 21 southbound departs U.S. 31 for ten-mile overlap with U.S. 80 west. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 80 no longer overlaps with U.S. 31, but since this set of overheads never alluded to that fact, it still remains. The bridge on which this assembly is situated crosses over the Catoma River. Photo taken 08/22/03.
One mile to the east of Bay Minette at the western terminus of Baldwin 112 (Old Pensacola Road). Scattered houses, gas stations, and mobile homes are present through this stretch of U.S. 31, as the highway heads southwest through vastly undeveloped forest toward the Baldwin County seat. Photo taken 02/08/06.
Baldwin 112 was signed as Alabama 112 as recently as 2006. The former state highway follows a 30-mile roadway that sinks to the southeast to the Pensacola metropolitan area. The highway is two lanes and travels through no-man's land before crossing the Perdido River at the Florida state line. Photo taken 07/01.
U.S. 31 southbound at the eastbound beginning of Baldwin 112 (Old Pensacola Road). Baldwin County swapped mileage with the state for an extended Alabama 181 over Baldwin 27 (Belforest Road) between Malbis and U.S. 98 near Weeks Bay. Sign crews replaced Alabama 112 shields at the western terminus by early 2006 despite the fact that Alabama 181 was yet to be extended south of U.S. 90. Photo taken 02/08/06.
At downtown Bay Minette, U.S. 31 travels around a square, with the Baldwin County Courthouse in the middle. This area reminds one of the increasing lost small-town America that one sees in old movies. Situated in the square area is various shops and other businesses, with a sheriff's office to the right on Alabama 287. This intersection is via U.S. 31 southbound at the southern terminus of Alabama 287. Alabama 287 connects U.S. 31 with the Gulf Shores Parkway and Interstate 65 to the north. Photo taken 07/01.
U.S. 31 & Alabama 59 share 10.7 miles of pavement between Gulf Shores and Stapleton in central Baldwin County. The four-lane divided highway is known as the Gulf Shores Parkway as it provides part of the route between Interstate 65 and points north to the resort towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Photo taken 06/14/04.
The partition of Alabama 59 and U.S. 31 southbound at Stapleton. U.S. 31 southbound turns westward toward Spanish Fort and its southern terminus from Gulf Shores Parkway. Alabama 59 remains on a southerly heading and intersects Interstate 10 (Exit 44) in six miles. Photo taken 05/16/04.
Southbound reassurance shield posted after the partition from Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) on U.S. 31. 6.2 miles separate Stapleton from Alabama 181 & Baldwin County 27 (Malbis Plantation Parkway) near Spanish Fort. U.S. 31 maintains just two lanes along this rural stretch. Photo taken 05/16/04.
U.S. 31 (Spanish Fort Boulevard) southbound at the Alabama 181 (Malbis Plantation Parkway) northern terminus. Baldwin County 27 spurs northward from the state highway to the right. A large shopping mall is under construction along Alabama 181 between U.S. 31 and junction Interstate 10 (Exit 38). Otherwise Alabama 181 provides a connection between U.S. 90 (Malbis) and 98 on its short journey. Photo taken 05/16/04.
Southern terminus of U.S. 31 at U.S. 90/Truck U.S. 98 in Spanish Fort. Continuing straight U.S. 90 descends to Mobile Bay, where it rejoins with U.S. 98 along Battleship Parkway. Turning to the left takes traffic southward to Interstate 10, Daphne, and Fairhope along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. U.S. 31 was truncated to this intersection in the early 1990s. Originally the highway continued westward with U.S. 90/98 across the bay, then up Bay Bridge Road (current U.S. 90/Truck U.S. 98) to U.S. 43/Telegraph Road. U.S. 31 cosigned with U.S. 43 to a joint terminus with U.S. 45 at the intersection of Broad and Government Streets near downtown Mobile. Top photo taken 08/24/03; bottom photo taken 10/26/99. Note the U.S. 90 shield and cardinal direction banner replacements between the two photos.

Page Updated February 10, 2006.