Alabama 22 and its companion Alabama 63
travel from U.S. 280 into downtown Alexander City (pop. 15,008). South of the city, Alabama 22 turns westward
along U.S. 280 for a two-mile overlap. The east-west route links U.S. 280 with the Coosa County seat of
Rockford (pop. 428) 17 miles to the west. Photo taken 09/29/03.
U.S. 280 is a four-lane divided highway between Alexander City
northwest to the southeast Birmingham suburbs. There are two interchanges along this highway, one of which
serves the north-south Alabama 9. Photo taken 09/29/03.
Alabama 9 is a split route with two segments. The southern
segment is the hidden counterpart for U.S. 331 from Montgomery southward. The northern segment begins at U.S. 231
& Alabama 21 near Wetumpka (pop. 5,726) 34 miles to the south. The state route meets U.S. 280 six miles south
of the town of Goodwater (pop. 1,633). Photo taken 09/29/03.
Alabama 21 is a lengthy state highway traveling from the Florida
state line near Atmore northward through the capital city of Montgomery to Sylacauga in southern Talladega
County. U.S. 280 sees an interchange with the route as it nears the city of Sylacauga (pop. 12,616) to the
north. Photo taken 09/29/03.
U.S. 280 is quite scenic between Alexander City and Childersburg
(pop. 4,927) with sweeping views of the Appalachian Piedmont. Depicted in this photograph is the off-ramp for
Alabama 21. One mile to the north lies downtown Sylacauga. Beyond there Alabama 21 travels 22 miles to the County Seat of
Talladega (pop. 15,143) and 45 miles to the city of Anniston (pop. 24,276). Photo taken 09/29/03.
At the south end of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway, U.S. 280 begins its solo venture southeastward toward Sylacauga and Auburn/Opelika. This photograph looks eastbound at the rising sun on the U.S. 280 eastbound departure from U.S. 31 south. A short freeway segment of the highway is situated from this interchange eastward to Hollywood Boulevard at roughly the city limits line between Homewood and Mountain Brook. Photo taken 02/11/01.
Rosedale Drive merges directly onto U.S. 280 from the west at the U.S. 31 stack interchange. This photograph is taken as U.S. 280 leaves U.S. 31, and heads eastbound within the vicinity of Lane Park. Photo taken 08/10/02.
A short freeway segment for U.S. 280 exists between U.S. 31/Rosedale Drive and Hollywood Boulevard on the south edge of Lane Park. This sign bridge directs traffic for Hollywood Boulevard and Montevallo Road for the eastern suburb of Mountain Brook. The city limits of Homewood end beyond this interchange, with U.S. 280 skimming across Mountain Brook before reaching Alabama 149. Photo taken 08/10/02.
U.S. 280 overlaps with U.S. 431 in this eastbound/southbound photograph. The two highways share a divided four-lane highway for 22 miles between Opelika/Interstate 85 and this junction with U.S. 80 near Phenix City. The stretch carries a 65 mph speed limit and no traffic lights. At this scene, is the current westbound end of the Columbus, Georgia/Phenix City north bypass of U.S. 80 (Known as the J.R. Allen Parkway). The freeway connects the twinned U.S. highways with Interstate 185 north of Columbus. Temporary end signage is posted on the westbound side of the U.S. 80 freeway, implying that the limited access highway may be extended a short distance westward to the original two lane version of U.S. 80. Presently, U.S. 80 overlaps with U.S. 280/431 southward to reach that same alignment. Top photo taken 10/15/99; bottom photo taken 08/22/03.
The Phenix City bypass widens to six lanes from U.S. 80 southward. Depicted here is the U.S. 80 westbound split from U.S. 280 east and U.S. 431 south. Downtown Phenix City is 1.5 miles to the left via old U.S. 80. To the right, U.S. 80 travels three miles to Ladonia (pop. 3,229).
Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 280 east and U.S. 431 southbound at their split southwest of Phenix City. The upcoming interchange sees U.S. 431 southbound depart for the southeast Alabama towns of Seale and Eufaula (pop. 13,908), and the city of Dothan (pop. 57,737). Photo taken 08/22/03.
From U.S. 431 to the Georgia State line at the Chattahoochee River, U.S. 280 upgrades to a limitd-access highway. There are two interchanges along the route, the second of which serves Seale Road and Colin L. Powell Parkway. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 280 eastbound at the Colin L. Powell Parkway & Seale Road off-ramp. This interchange saw reconstruction between 1999 and 2003. Seale Road represents the original routing of U.S. 431. It derives its name from the town of the same name 11 miles to the south. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 280 west
Westbound U.S. 280, as the Lane Park exit. The guide signage displays "Birmingham Zoo-Gardens". Lane Park is home to the Birmingham Zoo and Botanical and Japanese Gardens. Photo taken 08/10/02.
An interchange exists with U.S. 280 and that of Park Lane Road for Lane Park. The return ramp has merged in this westbound photograph, as U.S. 280 prepares to turn northward along the Elton B. Stephens Expressway/U.S. 31. Photo taken 08/10/02.
Albeit dark, a wide view of the U.S. 31/280 stack interchange. This fully reflective signage includes Montgomery as a southbound control city of U.S. 31. The highway is designated the Montgomery Highway, and intersects Interstate 65 six miles to the south at Exit 252. Photo taken 08/10/02.
The same stack interchange, only from the U.S. 280 westbound perspective. This button copy signage dates from the initial completion of the freeway. Note that the Homewood sign bracket may have supported a U.S. 280 westbound sign-panel at one time, but now only facilitates traffic to the local Rosedale Drive. Photo taken 02/11/01.
U.S. 280 was relocated from a downtown terminus to the north end of the Red Mountain Expressway at the Interstate 20/59 interchange. This end shield is posted on at the split with Interstate 20/59 ramps on U.S. 31 northbound. The eastern terminus of U.S. 280 occurs in contrast at the small town of Blitchton, Georgia, west of Savannah. See the U.S. 31 Alabama page for more photos of the U.S. 31/280 freeway overlap in Birmingham. Photo taken 02/11/01.
