| 27th Street
|
|---|
| Walking along 27th Street North
|
|---|
| 27th Street southbound at U.S. 78 east/4th Avenue South.
4th Avenue Southbound carries two lanes in the easterly direction only. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| A detail of the U.S. 78 eastbound shield assembly at
27th Street and 4th Avenue South reveals fading and cracking. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The end of the U.S. 31 North & U.S. 280 Westbound off-ramp
to 27th Street. This exit is signed as U.S. 78. To the left is U.S. 78 west/3rd Avenue
South and to the right is U.S. 78 east/4th Avenue South. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 27th Street northbound at the U.S. 31/Elton B. Stephens Expressway
ramp. This block is located between the east and westbound directions of U.S. 78 along 3rd and 4th Avenues South.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 27th Street at U.S. 78 west/3rd Avenue North. 27th Street
northbound ends ahead at the CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak railroad lines. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 31 north & U.S. 280 westbound shield assembly at the
27th Street on-ramp to the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. View looks southward at 4th Avenue South (U.S. 78
east). Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 78 West/3rd Avenue South
|
|---|
| Walking along U.S. 78 West
|
|---|
| 3rd Avenue South westbound approaching 27th Street. 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.
|
| 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.
|
| A pair of ramps from U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east link
the 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.
|
| 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 West/24th Street
|
|---|
| Walking along 24th Street North
|
|---|
| 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.
|
| U.S. 11/1st Avenue North
|
|---|
| Walking along U.S. 11 North
|
|---|
| The intersection of 24th Street (U.S. 78 south of 1st Avenue North)
and 1st Avenue North (U.S. 11). Traffic continuing straight through the traffic light into downtown enters
the U.S. 11 south & U.S. 78 westbound overlap. 24th Street crosses over the railroad lines via a four lane
viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 11 northbound reassurance shield. This assembly is posted
just beyond the intersection with 24th Street (U.S. 78 east). Ahead is the intersection with 25th Street and
the Elton B. Stephens Expressway at 26th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| A cloverleaf ramp from U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound
to U.S. 11/1st Avenue North sits abandoned. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The abandoned ramp as it merges onto U.S. 11 northbound.
The U.S. 11 viaduct begins on the western side of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The substandard nature of the cloverleaf ramp no doubt
played a role in its demise. Traffic to U.S. 11 can either utilize the Carraway Boulevard ramp to the north
or the 3rd Avenue South (U.S. 78) ramp to the south. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Looking back toward downtown and the cloverleaf ramp
merge onto U.S. 11. One block to the east is the U.S. 11 & 78 overlap beginning at 24th Street.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| This photograph looks eastward from the abandoned merge lane
of the U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound cloverleaf ramp to U.S. 11 north. Traffic interests to U.S. 31
north & U.S. 280 west are advised to turn left onto 26th Street ahead. Four blocks to the north is the
northbound on-ramp to Interstate 20-59 at 5th Avenue North. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| A closer look at the bank of shields on U.S. 11 north/1st
Avenue North. By the time traffic can access U.S. 31, U.S. 280 northbound will have concluded. That is because
26th Street ties into U.S. 31 at the north end of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. The same intersection
allows traffic to enter the freeway at its beginning for U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Walking along U.S. 11 South
|
|---|
| The U.S. 11/1st Avenue North viaduct as it crosses over a
Norfolk Southern Railroad line below. The elevated stretch of highway begins at 26th Street and the Elton B.
Stephens Expressway. U.S. 11 returns to the surface at the 33rd Street viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| There is no direct access from 1st Avenue North to the Elton
B. Stephens Expressway. An off-ramp does exist from U.S. 31 north & U.S. 280 west to U.S. 11 however. Traffic
wishing to access the freeway is advised to turn right onto 26th Street north to Carraway Boulevard. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The western end of the U.S. 11 viaduct east of the Elton B.
Stephens Expressway. A set of Interstate 20 and 59 shields is posted for the 26th Street connection to
the nearby freeway via the 5th Avenue North on-ramp. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Detail of the Interstate 20 and 59 shields at the west end
of the 1st Avenue North viaduct. Both shields adhere to 1979 MUTCD specifications. The assembly is attached
to a light post. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Side profile of the U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound sign
bridge for the U.S. 78 3rd & 4th Avenue South off-ramp. Photograph taken from the U.S. 11 vantage point east
of the viaduct. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The area underneath the U.S. 31 & 280 viaduct is allocated
for parking. 26th Street is cut by the Amtrak, CSX, and Norfolk Southern railroad lines south of 1st Avenue
North. The street resumes at U.S. 11 and travels north alongside the viaduct to 5th Avenue North. This view
of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway elevated highway is taken from the westbound sidewalk of 1st Avenue North.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Peeking through the gap between the north and southbound
viaducts at the button copy guide sign for U.S. 31. U.S. 31 traffic to Carraway Boulevard stays to the left
as Interstate 20-59 based traffic departs from the right. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Junction U.S. 78 shield on U.S. 11 south/1st Avenue North
at 25th Street. One block ahead the U.S. 11 & 78 overlap begins. The conjoining section will persist through to
14th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The intersection of 24th Street and 1st Avenue North as seen
from the northeast corner. North of this intersection 24th Street carries no numbered highway. With that stated,
a 276 milepost is posted two blocks to the north. It is unclear as to whether or not 24th Street was at one
time part of U.S. 31 or part of another routing. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| A closer look at the mast arm supported shield assembly for
the U.S. 11 & 78 merge at 24th Street. The first set of reassurance shields for the pair can also be seen
in the background. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 3rd Avenue North
|
|---|
| Walking along 3rd Avenue North East
|
|---|
| The first central business district on-ramp to the Elton B.
Stephens Expressway southbound departs from 3rd Avenue North eastbound. The ramp sweeps from the left onto
the U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound travel lanes. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Older damaged shields posted on the right-hand side of
3rd Avenue North at the southbound expressway on-ramp. To the left is the backside of the United States Post
Office facility. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Closer look at the left-hand set of U.S. 31 & 280 shields at
the southbound on-ramp. A proclamation sign is posted to the left. The sign honors Elton Bryson Stephens, a
local city advocate and leader. The expressway bears his name. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 24th Street
|
|---|
| Walking along 24th Street South
|
|---|
| Southbound 24th Street approaching the 3rd Avenue Northbound
on-ramp for U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 west. This shield assembly should also see a U.S. 31 sign. To the left
is the United States Post Office facility. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 31 is not omitted in the second set of signs of 24th
Street southbound for the upcoming 3rd Avenue North intersection. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Older shield assembly at 3rd Avenue North of 24th Street
south. U.S. 78 will tie into 24th Street two blocks to the south. The southbound ramp to the Expressway departs
3rd Avenue North in one half block. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 5th Avenue North
|
|---|
| Walking along 5th Avenue North East
|
|---|
| 5th Avenue North eastbound approaching 25th Street and the
Elton B. Stephens Expressway viaduct. To the right is the United States Post Office facility.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 5th Avenue North itself dives underneath the expressway and associated
26th Street surface arterial. This tunnel emerges east of the freeway and the parallel Norfolk Southern Railroad
line at 27th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| From above the 5th Avenue North portal, the view of downtown
Birmingham and the tunnel ascent. To the right is an vacant lot and 25th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The 5th Avenue North tunnel entrance as seen from an adjacent
parking area above. In the background is the Interstate 20-59 access ramp via U.S. 31 north. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Alongside 26th Street at 5th Avenue North. The Elton B. Stephens
Expressway viaduct soars overhead toward its conclusion at Carraway Boulevard and Interstate 20-59.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 26th Street (Carraway Boulevard south of U.S. 31)
|
|---|
| Walking along 26th Street South
|
|---|
| 26th Street southbound at the 5th Avenue Northbound connector
and on-ramp to Interstate 20-59. Note that three control cities are used. This is because Interstate 20 &
59 split four miles to the north at Exit 130. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Walking along 26th Street North
|
|---|
| 26th Street northbound as it begins from 1st Avenue North (U.S. 11)
from the northbound Expressway off-ramp. 26th Street travels northbound underneath U.S. 31 & 280 at
5th Avenue North. The sign bridge above directs traffic to the 2nd Avenue North cloverleaf ramp. 2nd Avenue
North intersects 26th Street at the traffic light ahead. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Detail of the U.S. 31 & 280 trailblazers on the block of
26th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue North. Traffic wishing to access the federal highways is directed to
take 26th Street north six more blocks to the Carraway Boulevard/Elton B. Stephens Expressway intersection.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Original button copy signs with reflectorized shields dominate
the U.S. 31 & 280 freeway viaduct. This photograph looks closer at the sign bridge seen from 26th Street
below. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 26th Street southbound as it cuts a swath underneath the Elton
B. Stephens Expressway viaduct. In the background is the 5th Avenue North ramp connector to 26th Street.
To the left is a ramp connection to the U.S. 31 north & U.S. 280 westbound ramp to Interstate 20-59.
5th Avenue North itself travels underneath this intersection via a two-lane tunnel. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| North of the 5th Avenue North intersection underneath the
Expressway viaduct is this set of U.S. 31 & 280 trailblazers. The ramp that departs from 5th Avenue North
only connects with Interstate 20-59. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Second view of the U.S. 31 & 280 trailblazers along
26th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue North. Ahead is the end Interstate 20-59 Carraway Boulevard ramps
at 6th Avenue North. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 8th Avenue North travels east-west underneath the beginning of
the U.S. 31 & 280 viaduct and just south of their stack interchange with Interstate 20-59. Depicted here is
the 26th Street northbound intersection with that street and associated trailblazers for the Carraway Boulevard
intersection one block ahead. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Four flyovers converge to the right of 26th Street and 8th Avenue
North. The ramps take traffic from Interstate 20-59 and deposit them along the Expressway south or to
the intersection of 6th Avenue North at 26th Street for Carraway Boulevard and U.S. 31. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| A second look at the Interstate 20-59 westbound flyover ramps
just south of the location depicted above. The right-hand ramp takes traffic to the Expressway south. The
left-hand ramp merges with the Interstate 20-59 eastbound Carraway Boulevard ramp. The merged ramps
descend and end at the 6th Avenue North intersection with 26th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Western perspective of the Interstate 20-59 ramps to Carraway
Boulevard (lower ramps) and U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east (upper ramp). The grassy area from which this
photo is taken exists between the Expressway beginning and 26th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 26th Street curves to the northeast to meet Carraway Boulevard
and the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. The intersection ahead marks the western terminus of U.S. 280.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 26th Street view of the Interstate 20-59 eastbound ramps
to U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east (ramp to the right) and Carraway Boulevard (ramp to the left).
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Street sign at the intersection of 26th Street with Carraway
Boulevard and the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. 26th Street is signed as Carraway Boulevard in this instance.
The Expressway flyover to Interstate 20-59 is visible in the background. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| This traffic light marks the end of 26th Street and the
beginning of Carraway Boulevard. U.S. 31 descends from the Elton B. Stephens Expressway onto the boulevard from
the right. U.S. 11 Truck turns from Carraway Boulevard southward along 26th street (to the left).
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 26th Street ends at the Carraway Boulevard/Expressway intersection.
Attached to the traffic light mast arm are U.S. 31 & 280 shields. U.S. 280 eastbound begins at the Expressway
southbound beginning. U.S. 31 continues north through the Norwood and North Birmingham neighborhoods of the
city. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The Interstate 20-59 westbound ramps to Carraway Boulevard
and the Elton B. Stephens Expressway partition above the 26th Street intersection with U.S. 31/Carraway Boulevard.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 8th Avenue North
|
|---|
| Walking along 8th Avenue North West
|
|---|
| Looking south from the sidewalk of 8th Avenue North at the
Carraway Boulevard flyover ramp merge from Interstate 20-59. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Three flyovers stack over a grassy area to the east of
the 8th Avenue North & 26th Street intersection. The lower ramp carries Interstate 20-59 westbound traffic
to the aforementioned Carraway Boulevard ramp (6th Avenue North at 26th Street). The top ramps merge
together for U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound traffic. These flyovers merge the Interstate 20-59 off-ramps
to the Expressway. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The ramp from Interstate 20-59 eastbound to U.S. 31 & 280
splits into separate flyovers. The ramp to the left descends to the intersection of 6th Avenue North at
26th Street. This is the Carraway Boulevard ramp. The flyover to the right merges onto the Expressway southbound.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 8th Avenue North westbound under the connector ramp to
U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east from Interstate 20-59. The shields point U.S. 31 northbound traffic via 26th Street
north. The surface arterial intersects the end of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway at Carraway Boulevard in
one block. Interstate 20-59 traffic is advised to continue straight toward downtown. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 31 & 280 - Elton B. Stephens Expressway
|
|---|
| The beginning of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway mainline.
The freeway commences at the intersection of 26th Street and Carraway Boulevard. The ramp to the left carries
northbound traffic onto Interstate 20-59. The ramp to the right brings Interstate 20-59 traffic onto the
expressway southbound. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 eastbound shield assembly, posted
at the Elton B. Stephens Expressway beginning. The U.S. 280 sign is the first mainline reassurance shield for
the entire route. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 9th Avenue North
|
|---|
| Walking along 9th Avenue North East
|
|---|
| A Truck U.S. 11 shield appears at the 9th Avenue North intersection
with Carraway Boulevard. Again above are the travel lanes of the Interstate 20-59 viaducts. The southbound
ramp of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway begins one block to the south at 26th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The intersection of 9th Avenue North and Carraway Boulevard
occurs directly underneath the eastbound Interstate 20-59 viaduct bridges. The tall flyover above carries
Elton B. Stephens Expressway traffic onto Interstate 20-59 westbound. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| 10th Avenue North
|
|---|
| The U.S. 31 & 280 stack interchange with Interstate 20-59
as seen from 10th Avenue North. A ramp stub exists along the Interstate 20-59 westbound viaduct, for what
appears to be an abandoned on-ramp plan. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Carraway Boulevard (U.S. 31)
|
|---|
| Walking along Carraway Boulevard South
|
|---|
| The ramp from the Elton B. Stephens Expressway to Interstate 20-59
westbound soars over Carraway Boulevard. The Interstate 20-59 viaduct travels below. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| View of the Interstate 20-59 viaduct from the southbound
sidewalk of Carraway Boulevard (U.S. 31). The ramp to the Elton B. Stephens Expressway and 24th Street from
Interstate 20-59 westbound departs to the left. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Looking upwards from Carraway Boulevard, one can see a ramp
stub on the Interstate 20-59 westbound viaduct. It appears that an on-ramp was to have tied in here at
one point. The Exit ramp of Interstate 20-59 curves in the background. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Ahead of the intersection of Carraway Boulevard southbound
with 9th Avenue North is this shield assembly. Above is the Interstate 20-59 viaduct. One block to the south is
26th Street and the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Looking to the southeast from the Elton B. Stephens Expressway
beginning at the Interstate 20-59 ramps to U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east. As mentioned above, the flyover
features a connector ramp to 6th Avenue North & 26th Street (Carraway Boulevard). Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The intersection of Carraway Boulevard and 9th Avenue North.
Above is the Interstate 20-59 viaduct (foreground) and the U.S. 31 north & U.S. 280 westbound flyover ramp to
Interstate 20-59 west. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Shield assembly on Carraway Boulevard southbound approaching
the Elton B. Stephens Expressway beginning. 26th Street departs to the right as the freeway begins straight
ahead. Truck U.S. 11 shields are posted for 26th Street within the vicinity of the Interstate 20-59 & Elton
B. Stephens Expressway. There are no others however, to the south along any of the north-south arteries.
Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| Sign bridge with button copy overheads on the
U.S. 31 north & U.S. 280 westbound flyover ramp to Interstate 20-59. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
| The western conclusion of U.S. 280 occurs at the Elton B.
Stephens ramp transition to Carraway Boulevard. U.S. 31 continues northward from the intersection at 26th
Street. The ramps to the left carry Interstate 20-59 based traffic onto U.S. 31 south & U.S. 280 east.
These ramps also give access to 6th Avenue North at 27th Street. Photo taken 10/01/03.
|
Page Updated November 3, 2003.
