U.S. Highway 84 - Alabama
U.S. 84, part of a longer route that extends from Colorado to Georgia, is planned for improvements that will create a continuous four-lane corridor from Texas east to Georgia. In Alabama, as of 2004, U.S. 84 is four-laned for 89.4 miles, 21.2 miles are under construction, 55.8 miles are included in the five-year plan for four-laning, and 77.1 miles are not proposed for any improvements at this time.1 Some of the funds earmarked for this expansion project are already collected, but the proposed Interstate 14 project may compete for the limited funds.
Known as the El Camino Corridor east of Sweetwater, Texas, the U.S. 84 corridor was used by westward settlers in the 1800s. The rest of the El Camino Corridor continues southwest to El Paso, then south to Mexico City, Mexico. U.S. 84 was originally (in 1926) a fairly short route, starting in Dothan and extending east to Brunswick, Georgia. In 1933, U.S. 86 was commissioned across Mississippi along today's U.S. 84 corridor. In 1934, Alabama and Mississippi agreed to extend U.S. 84 west from Dothan to Grove Hill, taking over the entire route of U.S. 86, which was decommissioned. U.S. 84 was later extended in phases to its current terminus in Cortez, Colorado, taking a northwesterly turn in Goldthwaite, Texas to reach Colorado.1
| U.S. 84 East |
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U.S. 84 eastbound at the southern terminus of Alabama 47 in the village of Mexia. Not much exists for Mexia, but Alabama 47 is routed here because of its connection to U.S. 84 from the Monroe County seat of Monroeville. Alabama 47 cuts through the heart of downtown, so a truck route is designated along U.S. 84, Alabama 21/41, and Alabama 21 Bypass to bypass the heart of the town. Photo taken 06/01/02. |
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Eastbound U.S. 84 leaving the intersection with Alabama 47. This is the first Truck Alabama 47 northbound shield. It might be noted, that U.S. 84 probably followed Alabama 47 into downtown Monroeville and Alabama 136 into nearby Excel originally. Bypasses of older towns like this are common throughout Alabama, created just to "straighten out" the routing of the through highways. A similar example can be found at Alabama 177 loop into Jackson, which was the former roadway for U.S. 43. Photo taken 06/01/02. |
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A myriad of highway shields face drivers on eastbound U.S. 84 at this intersection midway between Monroeville and Excel. Here is the scoop: Alabama 21 enters the intersection from the rundown towns of Frisco City and Uriah to the south, heading north with Alabama 41 and Truck Alabama 47 into Monroeville proper. Alabama 41 south turns onto U.S. 84 east, with the two highways sharing roadway to the equally decrepit village of Repton. Located within one mile is Alabama 136, a looping highway that ties into Alabama 21/41 near Monroeville to the north, crossing U.S. 84 and dipping into Excel before reemerging at U.S. 84 four miles to the east. Photo taken 06/01/02. |
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U.S. 84 eastbound at U.S. 331 in downtown Opp. A new bypass east of Opp exists for U.S. 331 motorists around the city, leaving U.S. 84 to handle the brunt of east-west traffic through town on its own. Nearby are the western terminus of Alabama 52 and 134. U.S. 84 east and U.S. 331 turn to the north (left) and encounter Alabama 134 while U.S. 331 southbound enters from the left and continues straight in this photograph toward Alabama 52. Photo taken 11/25/01. |
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A short distance north of downtown Opp (pop. 6607) is the split of U.S. 331 northbound from U.S. 84 eastbound. Traffic continuing straight will reach the capital city of Montgomery in 80 miles. Traffic turning to the right will see the shield in the next photograph. Photo taken 11/25/01. |
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Eastbound U.S. 84 reassurance shield in a residential area of Opp, posted just east of the overlap with U.S. 331. U.S. 84 travels northeast to the Coffee County seat of Elba in 14 miles before recurving to the southeast to Enterprise in 29 miles. Photo taken 11/25/01. |
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| U.S. 84 West |
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U.S. 84 westbound reassurance shield, posted just past the Interstate 65 interchange (14 miles to the east of Repton). An abandoned gas station stood across from this sign at the time of the photograph. However, this station has since been resurrected, and is now open for business. There was virtually no traffic on U.S. 84 at the time of this photograph. Photo taken 10/10/99. |
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Shifting eight miles to the east of the conglomeration of state highways in the above photograph, is the departure of Alabama 41 from U.S. 84. This photograph looks at westbound, with Alabama 41 south leaving the highway. The two highways cross a Norfolk-Southern Railroad line just to the west. Not much to see in Repton, other then a few old homes and abandoned storefronts. Photo taken 06/01/02. |
Sources:
- Project to widen U.S. 84 creeping along by Connie Baggett, Mobile Register, Sunday, December 12, 2004
Page Updated December 19, 2004.
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