| U.S. 78/3rd Avenue South at 25th Street. A short ramp between
25th Street and U.S. 31 south/U.S. 280 east is situated one block to the north. Meanwhile, U.S. 78 travels
under the freeway viaduct through industrial areas to the east. The Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
is set amidst the industrial landscape. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| A pair of reassurance shields are posted along the one
way 4th Avenue South eastbound for U.S. 78 at the Elton B. Stephens Expressway viaduct. U.S. 78 westbound follows
the one way 3rd Avenue South one block to the north. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
|
| The northbound Elton B. Stephens Expressway sign bridge
for the U.S. 78 off-ramp via 27th Street. It appears that U.S. 280 westbound originally departed the freeway
here for U.S. 78 westbound (3rd Avenue South). Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 4th Avenue South eastbound at 27th Street. The block of 27th
Street between 4th and 3rd Avenue South features the on and off-ramps to the northbound U.S. 31 & westbound
U.S. 280 Elton B. Stephens Expressway. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| These unusual truck shields are posted at the U.S. 78 eastbound intersection with the 35th Street viaduct. Traffic turning to the left crosses over the nearby railroad lines, with a connection to U.S. 11/1st Avenue North. Traffic continuing straight must turn in one block, as U.S. 78 switches from two one-way streets to one multi-lane highway. Photo taken 08/10/02.
|
| At the southern terminus of U.S. 411 in downtown Leeds, Alabama
25 southbound enters U.S. 78 for a very brief overlap. The state route quickly departs U.S. 78 ahead, turning
southeast to U.S. 231 and the town of Vincent (pop. 1,853). Photo taken 09/29/03.
|
| U.S. 78 west
|
|---|
| U.S. 78 westbound at the U.S. 411 southern terminus and split
with Alabama 25 north in downtown Leeds (pop. 10,455). The two routes pair together along Whitmire Street for
eight blocks to the northern terminus of Alabama 119 at Ashville Road. U.S. 78 meanwhile continues west along Parkway
Drive to Alabama 119 and Interstate 20 Exit 140. Photo taken 09/29/03.
|
| Detail of the U.S. 78/411 & Alabama 25 shield assembly at
downtown Leeds. U.S. 411 and Alabama 25 remain together through to the Georgia state line near Forney in
Cherokee County. They intersect Interstate 20 at Exit 144. Photo taken 09/29/03.
|
| Now situated within the city of Birmingham on 3rd Avenue South
westbound approaching 27th Street. A pair of ramps from U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east link
the Elton B. Stephens Expressway with U.S. 78 via 25th Street. Traffic wishing to travel the freeway south to
Homewood turns left from 4th Avenue South to 25th Street south ahead. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Ramps along 27th Street between 4th Avenue South (U.S. 78 east) and 3rd
Avenue South carry traffic to and from the northbound direction of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Closer look at the left-hand side U.S. 31 & 280 shield
assembly at 27th Street. In the background is the ramp to the freeway northbound. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The right-hand pair of shields for U.S. 31 & 280 at 27th
Street. 27th Street only continues two more blocks to the north to 1st Avenue South. The street is discontinuous
because of the Amtrak, CSX, and Norfolk Southern Railroad lines. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Detail of the U.S. 31 north & U.S. 280 westbound shield
assembly at the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue North and 27th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Looking north from the right-hand sidewalk of 3rd Avenue South
at the U.S. 31 & Interstate 20-59 sign bridge above. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 3rd Avenue South is one-way in the westbound direction. This
scene looks at U.S. 78 as it crosses underneath the Elton B. Stephens Expressway viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The southbound expressway sign bridge for the U.S. 78
interchange as seen from 3rd Avenue South. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| A pair of U.S. 31 & 280 shields guide motorists from U.S.
78 westbound to the 25th Street on-ramp. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 westbound continue together for another
two miles south to the the city of Homewood and end of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 78 westbound along 3rd Avenue South as it approaches
24th Street. U.S. 78 turns northward to cross the 24th Street viaduct and the Amtrak, CSX, and Norfolk Southern
Railroads below. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 78 westbound merges with U.S. 78 eastbound along
the 24th Street viaduct. Four blocks to the south, U.S. 78 turns westbound along 1st Avenue North with U.S.
11 south. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| First westbound U.S. 78 reassurance shield along 24th Street.
The intersection in the background is with 2nd Avenue South. The viaduct over the railroad lines begins beyond
the traffic light ahead. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Looking northwest at the central business district skyline
of Birmingham from the viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The view looking south from the 24th Street viaduct of U.S. 78.
Rising in the background is Red Mountain. The cut is that the location of the Red Mountain Expressway
(U.S. 31 & 280). Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Now north of the viaduct, U.S. 78 descends to street level
and intersects U.S. 11 at 1st Avenue North. Here U.S. 78 turns left onto U.S. 11. The pair overlap through
the central business district to Alabama 5 at the Owenton neighborhood of west Birmingham. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Detail of the U.S. 11 & 78 westbound shield assembly attached
to the 1st Avenue North traffic light mast arm. U.S. 11 northbound travels along 1st Avenue North toward
Birmingham International Airport and the city boundary. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| The first set of U.S. 78 westbound & Alabama 5 northbound shields one
encounters along their 37 mile overlap from the city of Birmingham to the Walker County seat of Jasper. This
assembly is posted between U.S. 11/3rd Avenue North and 4th Avenue North. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 8th Street becomes Arkadelphia Road in this northbound scene
of U.S. 78 west & Alabama 5 north. The campus of Birmingham Southern College is situated to the left. Arkadelphia
Road curves to the northwest before returning northeasterly at Interstate 20-59. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Button copy guide sign at the U.S. 78 westbound & Alabama 5
northbound on-ramp to Interstate 20-59 eastbound. This partial cloverleaf interchange is situated two miles west
of Malfunction Junction (Interstate 65) and the central business district of Birmingham. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
Page Updated November 3, 2003.
