U.S. 82 eastbound at the intersection with Pickens County
highways 21 & 30. These local roads connect U.S. 82 with Alabama 86 to the south in the vicinity of the
town of Gordo (pop. 1,677). Photo taken 09/28/03.
A closer look at the Pickens County 21 & 30 pentagons
depicted above. U.S. 82 maintains two lanes through to the Tuscaloosa County line, but is in the process of
being four-laned from Gordo eastward to Northport (pop. 19,435). Photo taken 09/28/03.
One mile west of the Northport city center is the U.S. 82
eastbound merge with U.S. 43 south. The two routes pair together for one mile. To the left U.S. 43 travels
two miles to the southern terminus of Alabama 171 and 24 miles to New Lexington. Photo taken 09/28/03.
U.S. 43 south & U.S. 82 east at the northern end of the
Black Warrior Parkway (Tuscaloosa West Bypass). This two lane highway travels south to Interstate 20-59 Exit 69.
The crossing over the Black Warrior River is tolled. Photo taken 09/28/03.
U.S. 82 eastbound splits with U.S. 43 southbound at Alabama 69
in Northport. Downtown Tuscaloosa is two miles to the right. There U.S. 43 and Alabama 69 southbound
encounter the north end of Interstate 359 and U.S. 11. To the left Alabama 69 northbound travels 20 miles to
Windam Springs, crossing over Lake Tuscaloosa on the way. Photo taken 09/28/03.
The first "exit" of the U.S. 82 freeway in the eastbound
direction, is for Rice Mine Road. Numbered Tuscaloosa County 30, this roadway straddles the northern banks of
the Black Warrior River from Northport eastward to north Tuscaloosa. The intersection ahead is part of the
"interchange." Photo taken 08/10/02.
As U.S. 82 eastbound ascends upon the Black Warrior River
Bridge, this sign bridge guides motorists to the next three exits for the freeway. Each of these interchanges
serves the University of Alabama campus. This is the only advance warning given to traffic for the Jack
Warner Parkway exit at the south end of the bridge. Photo taken 08/10/02.
U.S. 82 crosses the Black Warrior River into Tuscaloosa and the
Jack Warner Parkway interchange. This roadway, shown as River Road on some maps, is a scenic multi-lane
highway between U.S. 82 and U.S. 43/Alabama 69 along the southern banks of the Black Warrior River.
The parkway sees a riverside park featuring walking paths and picnic areas one mile to the west.
Photo taken 08/10/02.
The second exit of the U.S. 82 east Tuscaloosa bypass is
with Campus Drive. This diamond interchange serves just that, the University of Alabama campus. Many buildings
of the college can be seen to the west of U.S. 82 through here. Photo taken 09/28/03.
The final interchange of the bypass is with Alabama 215/University
Boulevard. This east-west route is the main thoroughfare through the University of Alabama campus. The football
stadium is situated just south of the University Commons area along Alabama 215. Photo taken 09/28/03.
A tight partial cloverleaf interchange composes the Alabama
215 & U.S. 82 interchange. This view looks at the University Boulevard overpass and Alabama 215 westbound
cloverleaf ramp onto U.S. 82 east. Photo taken 09/28/03.
Just before U.S. 82 transitions back into an at-grade
facility, a Norfolk-Southern Railroad overpass is encountered. This photograph looks south on U.S. 82,
now known as McFarland Boulevard, at the rail crossing. Photo taken 09/28/03.
U.S. 82 eastbound as it nears the junction with Interstate
20-59. The interchange area is buffeted by heavy commercial development and several signalized
intersections. Photo taken 09/28/03.
Entering the junction with Interstate 20-59 along U.S. 82/McFarland
Boulevard eastbound. The federal route travels north-south through the eastern reaches of the Tuscaloosa area.
One mile to the south Alabama 215 returns for its southern conclusion. At that point, U.S. 82 turns to the southeast
toward the capital city of Montgomery. Duncanville is encountered first in ten miles. Photo taken 09/28/03.
Behind the camera U.S. 82 departs Interstate 65
after an 11-mile overlap between Prattville and the capital city. Depicted here is the South Boulevard
reassurance shield assembly for U.S. 80/82 eastbound & Alabama 21 northbound. The three highways overlap for
six-miles on the six-lane surface arterial. Photo taken 10/10/99.
U.S. 231 and 331 trailblazers posted just past the above reassurance shield assembly. Interstate 65 exit signage also has U.S. 231/331 trailblazers within it. U.S. 331 used to continue northward to downtown and the state capital dome. It was truncated to South Boulevard with the great rerouting of all non-Interstate highways in the 1980s. U.S. 231 enters East Boulevard where U.S. 82 leaves South Boulevard, six miles to the east. Photo taken 10/10/99.
The transition from South Boulevard to East Boulevard, where U.S. 82 exits and U.S. 231 enters. The two highways share pavement for twelve miles as they head towards southeastern Alabama. U.S. 231 joins Montgomery to Troy, Dothan, and ultimately the Florida Panhandle and Panama City. This corridor has been talked about for a future Interstate corridor. U.S. 82 on the other hand, takes less precedence as it sinks southeastward to Union Springs and Eufaula, before crossing the Chattahoochee River into the Peach State. Photo taken 12/07/99.
U.S. 82 west
U.S. 80/82 westbound & Alabama 21 southbound as they approaching
Interstate 65 in south Montgomery. The area surrounding the South Boulevard interchange with
Interstate 65 sees your typical bumper crop of roadside amenities. The close proximity to Interstate 85 sees
trailblazers for the nearby southern terminus. Continuing west through this interchange takes Alabama 21 to
U.S. 31 as West Boulevard and ultimately to Maxwell AFB. Photo taken 10/04/01.
Originally intended to facilitate through traffic with a
bypass of Montgomery, East and South Boulevards have since succumbed to heavy traffic woes associated with
development. In the 1980s, all numbered routes with the exception of Interstates 65 and 85 were relocated to
this loop system of roads. Photograph looks westward at U.S. 80/82 and Alabama 21 southbound at Interstate
65. U.S. 80 travels south with Interstate 65 for one mile to Exit 167. As of 2001, U.S. 82 now overlaps with
Interstate 65 north to Prattville (Exit 179). Photo taken 10/10/99.
A unique directional guide panel is in place for the Jack Warner Parkway interchange along U.S. 82 westbound. The roadway is designated Tuscaloosa County 88, and continues eastward to the suburb of Holt and ultimately to Alabama 216 near Peterson. Photo taken 08/10/02.
The Tuscaloosa east bypass of U.S. 82 draws to a close at the
north end of the Black Warrior River bridge. An exit ramp for nearby Rice Mine Road departs ahead. North of this
departure U.S. 82 sees a reduction in speed limit with the advent of at-grade intersections and associated
connecting frontage roads. Photo taken 08/10/02.
In the city of Northport (pop. 19,435), U.S. 82 travels through
several traffic lights and maintains four to six lanes through the commercialized frontage. U.S. 43 northbound
eventually merges onto U.S. 82, with the pair of routes traveling west out of the city. This photograph shows
a hanging guide sign for the Black Warrior Parkway (West Tuscaloosa Bypass), a north-south route with a toll
bridge between Interstate 20-59 and U.S. 43 & 82. Photo taken 09/28/03.
U.S. 82 varies between two lanes and four divided lanes
between Northport and the town of Gordo (pop. 1,677) in Pickens County. Construction is well underway to four-lane
the entire facility from Northport to Gordo. Depicted here is the eastern terminus of Alabama 86 as seen
from U.S. 82 west. Photo taken 09/28/03.
U.S. 82 enters the center of Gordo and encounters the southern
terminus of Alabama 159. The north-south route travels 30 miles linking the town with Fayette (pop. 4,922), the
seat of the County by the same name. Photo taken 09/28/03.
