Southbound U.S. 45/signed Alabama 17 at Deer Park and the
eastern terminus of Washington County 8. Note the character of U.S. 45 and the lack of curvature referred to
in the above photograph. Washington County 8 travels a short distance through the settlement of Burbank
before crossing the Mississippi state line near Leakesville. Photo taken 02/10/12.
U.S. 45 southbound approaching the western terminus of Alabama 158.
Known as Industrial Parkway, Alabama 158 travels eastward to Alabama 213, Interstate 65, and U.S. 43 in the
city limits of Saraland. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Shield assembly at the intersection of the west end of Alabama 158.
Included are Truck U.S. 90 and 98 trailblazers for the connection to Bay Bridge Road via U.S. 43/Telegraph Road.
The Truck U.S. 90 shield should be removed, as it was decommissioned with the U.S. 90 realignment of 2001.
Alabama 158 is slated for expansion west to meet a northern extension of Schillinger Road (Mobile County 31).
The project will result in the four-laning of Industrial Parkway from Alabama 213 west to U.S. 45. This intersection
will be upgraded to a full interchange in the process. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Two lane U.S. 45 southbound continues through the Prichard city
limits to the community of Eight Mile south of Alabama 158. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Nearing the southern terminus of Alabama 217/Lott Road. Lott Road
skirts the northern reaches of the Mobile metropolitan area, travel west than north serving rural areas of Mobile
County. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Within the Exit 8 cloverleaf interchange of Interstate 65 on
U.S. 45 southbound. This full cloverleaf interchange will soon be reconfigured into a partial-cloverleaf
interchange. The change is sought to reduce weaving traffic concerns on the Interstate 65 mainline below associated
with the cloverleaf ramps. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Descending from the Interstate 65 interchange to the intersection
with Berkley Avenue. To the right is the beginning of the northbound side frontage road of the freeway. The
service roads discontinue north of Saint Stephens Road. Photo taken 11/04/03.
Entering the central area of Prichard, U.S. 45/Saint Stephens Road sees this reassurance shield beyond the intersection with Clark Avenue. Downtown is a short distance to the east. Photo taken 11/12/03.
At the intersection of Prichard Avenue, U.S. 45 crosses into the city limits of Mobile. Prichard Avenue is a primary arterial between Mobile Street to the west and Wilson Avenue to the east. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Continuing southward in Mobile, another reassurance shield for U.S. 45 is posted. Photo taken 11/12/03.
At the south end of Wilson Avenue, U.S. 45 turns southward toward Three-Mile Creek. Wilson enters from downtown Prichard and Interstate 165 to the left. The arterial was once apart of Alternate U.S. 43. Photo taken 11/12/03.
At this intersection, U.S. 45 sees the south end of the Craft Highway and the north end of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. These two arterials serve working class areas of both Mobile and Prichard. Photo taken 11/12/03.
A pair of 24" Crouse Hinds brand signals reside at the east end of Gloria York Avenue. This short street was renamed from Finch Avenue during 2003. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Southbound U.S. 45 shield posted after the intersection with Gloria York Avenue. At Three-Mile Creek, the federal route turns easterly for its final mileage. Photo taken 11/12/03.
Between Three-Mile Creek and the five point intersection with Catherine & Congress Streets, U.S. 45 expands to four lanes. In between is the intersection with Cox Street. Photo taken 10/31/03.
U.S. 45 at the five point intersection with Catherine Street and
the eastern beginning of Congress Street. Congress Street parallels Saint Stephens Road to the north, eventually
entering the central business district near the Bishop State Community College main campus. The traffic lights
here are 24" Eagle brands. Photo taken 10/31/03.
One block east of Catherine Street is the traffic light with
Lafayette Street. Lafayette Street is a secondary arterial traveling between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
and U.S. 90/Government Street. Photo taken 10/31/03.
Entering the final block of U.S. 45 in the city of Mobile.
Center Street enters from the right, just before U.S. 45 draws to a close at Spring Hill Avenue (U.S. 98).
Photo taken 10/31/03.
Southbound end of U.S. 45 and Saint Stephens Road at U.S. 98/Spring Hill Avenue. The terminus is part of a five point intersection, with the adjacent north-south Ann Street included. U.S. 98 carries four lanes westward to the hospital district, and six lanes eastward to downtown Mobile. Photo taken 10/31/03.
U.S. 45 did not always end here, instead it originally continued eastward along U.S. 98 into downtown via Broad Street to a joint terminus with both U.S. 31 and 43. The termini of the three highways coincided at this location for continuity between the city center and points north along each U.S. route. With the advent of the Interstate system, there was less of a need to continue this co-signage. So each route was truncated back to where it shared pavement with U.S. 90 and/or U.S. 98.
Note the empty bracket below the end U.S. 45 shield. This would have displayed a straight arrow to direct traffic along eastbound Spring Hill Avenue. U.S. 43 was only truncated to Prichard in fall of 2001. U.S. 31 and 45 were truncated in previous years. Photograph taken 06/01/04.
