U.S. 431 through Alabama originally carried the number of U.S. 241.
U.S. 431 north
U.S. 431 northbound at the west Phenix City bypass/U.S. 280.
This interchange marks the beginning of the 26-mile Phenix City to Opelika overlap of the two highways. The
downtown areas of both Phenix City and Columbus lie one half mile to the northeast. Traffic interests to
Interstate 185 and the city of Atlanta can access that freeway in eight miles via U.S. 280 & 431 to U.S. 80
east. Photo taken 08/22/03.
U.S. 431 south
U.S. 431 southbound as it snakes its way from rural Chambers
County into the Opelika vicinity at old U.S. 280. Notice the empty bracket to the right. This once held an
westbound U.S. 280 shield. U.S. 280 originally overlapped with U.S. 431 a short distance between Interstate 85
and this intersection. U.S. 280 saw realignment during the mid-1990s from downtown to an Interstate 85 overlap
with the new Exit 58 interchange. A four-lane parkway takes U.S. 280 from there back to the original alignment.
Downtown Opelika (pop. 23,498) by the way, is located about a mile to the northwest. Photo taken 10/15/99.
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.
Business U.S. 231 & 431 - Dothan
U.S. 231 and 431 share a Business route overlap through downtown Dothan. The two routes, U.S. 84, Alabama 52 all once had their primary routing through the city. However, with the completion of the Ross Clark Circle around the city, all of the mainline highways bypassed the city, with business counterparts following the original route. This photograph shows a shield assembly from the overlapped Business U.S. 231/431 as they jointly come to a close at U.S. 231/431 (Ross Clark Circle). This intersection also marks the southern terminus of the U.S. 431 mainline. Photo taken 11/25/01.
The U.S. 231 southbound perspective of the U.S. 431/Business U.S. 231/431 southern terminus, south of Dothan. U.S. 84 and Alabama 52 are situated on the northern half of the Ross Clark Circle and thus receive trailblazers at this intersection. Photo taken 11/25/01.
