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Draft:Interstate 59 in Alabama

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Interstate 59 marker
Interstate 59
Map
I-59 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ALDOT
Length241.36 mi[1] (388.43 km)
ExistedAugust 14, 1957[2]–present
HistoryCompleted June 2, 1980[3]
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end I-20 / I-59 at the Mississippi state line west of Cuba
Major intersections
North end I-59 at the Georgia state line northeast of Hammondville
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountiesSumter, Greene, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, St. Clair, Etowah, DeKalb
Highway system
  • Alabama State Highway System
← SR 58→ SR 59

Interstate 59 (I-59) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs 445.23 miles (716.53 km) from Slidell, Louisiana to just outside of Wildwood, Georgia. In the U.S. state of Alabama, I-59 travels 241.36 miles (388.43 km) from the Mississippi state line near Cuba to the Georgia state line northeast of Hammondville. It serves as the main Interstate Highway connecting the cities of Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Gadsden. For more than half of its length in the state, I-59 runs concurrently with I-20. Past the routes' split in eastern Birmingham on their way to Georgia, I-20 takes a shorter path through Birmingham's eastern suburbs and the southern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, while I-59 follows a longer route through the city's northern suburbs and over the mountains on its way to Gadsden.

Of the four states which I-59 covers, the segment in Alabama is the longest and accounts for more than half of its entire length overall.[4][5] The Interstate parallels the older U.S. Route 11 (US 11) corridor for its full extent within the state. I-59 was first signed into the Interstate Highway System in 1957, and construction began in 1960. The portions of the highway were completed slowly, with the very last segment being opened in 1980. Since then, many projects have been undertaken on I-59 to relieve congestion within the metropolitan areas it passes. The Interstate has three auxiliary routes: I-359 in Tuscaloosa, I-459 within the Birmingham metropolitan area, and I-759 in Gadsden.

Route description

[edit]

Like all other Interstate, U.S., and state highways in Alabama, I-59 is a part of the National Highway System for its entire length in the state. Annual average daily traffic along the Interstate varied, with the busiest stretch of the Interstate being the concurrency with I-20 at the SR 79 interchange east of Birmingham, carrying a total of 150,954 vehicles in 2023.[6] The lowest amount was 15,342 vehicles in northeastern DeKalb County near the Georgia state line.[6]

Mississippi to Birmingham

[edit]
I-20 westbound/I-59/US 11/SR 5 southbound heading out of Birmingham

I-20/I-59 enters Sumter County, Alabama from Lauderdale County, Mississippi near the town of Cuba. Immediately upon entering the state, the highway approaches the welcome center for eastbound/northbound travelers and then reaches an interchange for indirect access to US 80. Continuing on through rural forest land, I-20/I-59 crosses the Toomsuba Creek with an interchange shortly after for SR 17 for York at milepost 8. The Interstate travels still in a northeast direction for another 9 miles (14 km) before crossing the Sucarnoochee River and meeting SR 28 for Livingston. It treks on for several more miles through wooded areas, crossing the Tombigbee River and entering Greene County. The highway passes by several marshes for a fair distance and approaches a rest area only accessible northbound, with the southbound rest area immediately following. The Interstate next has an interchange with SR 14 northwest of Eutaw with an interchange for US 11/US 43 also serving the city. I-20/I-59 crosses the Buck Creek before entering Tuscaloosa County. Still within forested terrain, the Interstate meets with SR 300 and stays in a northeast direction while skirting by more marshes before bridging the Black Warrior River. The highway turns almost entirely eastward and approaches the commercial developments of Tuscaloosa. Its first interchange is with SR 69 and I-359 for the University of Alabama at a partial cloverleaf interchange (parclo) and turns completely east to enter the city center. At milepost 73, I-20/I-59 meets US 82 (McFarland Boulevard) for downtown. It then has another interchange with US 11 (Skyland Boulevard) at a single-point urban interchange.[7][8][9][10]

I-20 eastbound/I-59 northbound at the I-65 interchange in Birmingham

The surroundings return to wilderness as I-20/I-59 continues eastward and meets US 11 again at a parclo interchange at milepost 79 for Cottondale. Shortly thereafter, the Interstate approaches a rest area accessible in both directions. The Interstate continues through some industrial development with a Daimler Truck North America station to the north of it. Immediately, the highway slants northeast and crosses the Hurricane Creek. It then skirts around the shoreline of Gallant Lake as it intersects US 11/SR 5. This time, however, US 11 and SR 5 begins a concurrency with the Interstate Highways as they slant northeast from a north direction yet again. The highway turns even more northeast to intersect with SR 216 as it enters forested land again and cuts into Jefferson County. From here, I-20/I-59/US 11/SR 5 continues in a northeastward track before meeting the southern terminus of I-459 in Bessemer at a trumpet interchange, with I-459 branching east to serve the southern suburbs of Birmingham. Two miles (3.2 km) later, US 11/SR 5 splits off at Academy Drive to serve downtown Bessemer as I-20/I-59 maintain their northeastward track whilst bypassing Bessemer in the process. The highway turns slightly and then more northward to bridge the Valley Creek as it passes along the west side of Bessemer. Turning back northeast and then entirely east, I-20/I-59 enters the developments of Birmingham and passes some of the city's neighborhoods such as Ensley, Belview Heights, and Central Park. It then turns fully eastward and meets US 78 (Arkadelphia Road) at milepost 123. Reaching milepost 124, I-20/I-59 meets I-65 at a large braided interchange. This stretch is most commonly referred to as "Malfunction Junction".[11] Past this interchange, the road turns southeast for a view of the Birmingham skyline before the road angles northeast for another large interchange with US 31 and the western terminus of US 280 (Elton B. Stephens Expressway) which serves the downtown area and the southern suburbs. After exiting downtown but still heading through urbanized development, I-20/I-59 intersects SR 79 (Tallapoosa Street) and then the highway turns southeast again for an interchange for the Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport. After this interchange, I-59 ends its 130-mile (210 km) concurrency with I-20 at exit 130, which heads southeast for Atlanta.[7][10][12]

Birmingham to Georgia

[edit]
I-59 northbound at the SR 23 interchange

Having separated from I-20, I-59 stays in a generally northeastward track as it continues through the city's suburban developments. Its next three interchanges are all northbound-only as it has another interchange with US 11 (1st Avenue) and turns east. The Interstate has an indirect connection with SR 75 as it gently ascends a steep incline and enters the Cahaba River watershed whilst passing over US 11 (Gadsden Highway) without directly intersecting it. Next, I-59 turns back to the northeast and meets the northern terminus of I-459 near Trussville as it leaves the developments of Birmingham and enters forested land again. It continues through the forest for 4 miles (6.4 km) and reaches the main exit for Trussville while bypassing Grayson Valley and Chalkville to the southeast. Turning back east again, I-59 bridges the Cahaba River and quickly slants northeast as it has another interchange with indirect access to US 11 and then enters St. Clair County. I-59 passes through more wooded areas before intersecting with SR 174 for Odenville while avoiding Springville to the southeast. It makes another turn to the east for an interchange with SR 23. The direction of the Interstate slants northeast again as it bridges a small stream and passes the shoreline of Pinedale Lake and near Pinedale Shores. The northbound lanes reach a rest area. A brief distance later, I-59 reaches an intersection with US 231 for Ashville as the Interstate bypasses the city to the north. Continuing northeast, the surroundings of the Interstate remain rural and the Interstate next bridges the Dry Creek before entering Etowah County. At milepost 181, I-59 meets SR 77 at a parclo interchange and approximately a mile later, enters the city of Gadsden and intersects the western terminus of I-759 at a tri-stack interchange.[7][12]

I-59 northbound meeting SR 77 in Gadsden

Shortly thereafter, I-59 crosses the Big Wills Creek as it enters the city of Attalla and some suburban development. It intersects US 278/US 431 (Fifth Avenue) for downtown and makes a turn to the northwest, then the northeast. As the Interstate skirts the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, I-59 briefly parallels SR 211 for approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) before intersecting it at milepost 188. The Interstate stays in a northeast direction, then makes a gentle curve to the northwest again where it continues to travel below the foothills of the mountains and crosses over US 11 indirectly for the second time. The Interstate makes a turn back to the northeast and parallels the Big Wills Creek for 8 miles (13 km). During this time, it enters its final county in the state, DeKalb County. At milepost 205, it has an interchange with SR 68 for Collinsville. Bypassing Collinsville to the west, I-59 keeps its northeast trek and once again parallels the Big Wills Creek. I-59 then approaches the commercial developments of Fort Payne as it reaches its next interchange with SR 35 for the downtown area and Pine Ridge. I-59 avoids Fort Payne to the west and immediately after, parallels Isbell Field to the west then crosses a small stream before meeting with US 11 for the last time. I-59 makes a turn to the north and crosses the Big Wills Creek yet again as it reaches an interchange for indirect access to US 11. It crosses underneath the bridge carrying US 11 and makes another curve to the northeast. The Interstate travels through forested land for a few more miles before entering a small amount of development near the town of Hammondville and intersecting SR 40/SR 117 for the center of town. I-59 heads north and a bit northeast where it makes a very gentle descent along the foothills of the mountains. The final interchange it has is at milepost 239 at Sulphur Springs Road with indirect access to US 11 and the southbound lanes have an exit for the welcome center before I-59 exits Alabama into Dade County, Georgia.[7][13][14][15]

History

[edit]

Planning and construction

[edit]
I-59 was originally proposed to run to Nashville and not Chattanooga in the 1955 plan.

The general alignment for the freeway that would eventually become I-59 was included in the National Interregional Highway Committee's report from 1944, titled Interregional Highways, and the subsequent 1947 plan produced by the Public Roads Administration, which was part of the now-defunct Federal Works Agency.[16][17] When I-59 was first established in the 1957 numbering plan designated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, its proposed route was roughly the same as it travels today, as it would run from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Meridian, Mississippi. As part of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, Alabama was able to have 137.8 miles (221.8 km) of Interstate Highways under construction in the state. I-59 was one of these Interstate Highways planned to be built, with its route instead being planned to run from Nashville to New Orleans.[18] The first section of I-59 became under construction in 1959, which was the segment from Argo to St. Clair Springs. Other projects included grading and drainage from St. Clair Springs to Whitney, a distance of 9.362 miles (15.067 km). As a result, the planned routing of I-59 would run parallel to US 11, and the four-laned section of US 11 in Bessemer would be converted into an interstate-standard freeway, later I-59. While I-59 was planned to go through the center of Birmingham, residents were objected to it. As a result, the city proposed an alternate route for the Interstate Highway to travel north of the Birmingham airport instead of directly through the city which would provide a faster and wider way to Gadsden and points north.[19]

Two projects for I-59 went into play on November 22, 1960, with both projects being in DeKalb County. The first project involved 10.1 miles (16.3 km) of base and concrete pavement from US 11 near downtown Fort Payne to Rodgers as part of the Birmingham-Chattanooga link. The contractor for this stretch was Southern Roadbuilders Inc. from Augusta, Georgia at an estimated cost of $2.34 million (equivalent to $18.5 million in 2023[20]). The other project, also in DeKalb County, had a length of approximately 6.546 miles (10.535 km) of base and concrete pavement from Rodgers Road to the Georgia state line, with the contractor here being Claussen-Lawrence Construction Co. from Augusta. This stretch had a cost of about $1.6 million (equivalent to $12.6 million in 2023[20]) and was also part of the Birmingham-Chattanooga link.[21] 1961 saw another two bidding projects be performed. In Tuscaloosa County, I-59 required grading and drainage from Boyd Crossing to Union Church, a distance of 4.9 miles (7.9 km) and part of the Birmingham-Meridian link. In Etowah County, grading and drainage structuring were performed from US 11 to the DeKalb county line, a distance of 5.4 miles (8.7 km).[22] Lastly, also in DeKalb County, work also included 0.087 miles (0.140 km) of bridges from the Etowah county line to SR 68, with an estimated cost of $292,698 (equivalent to 2.31 million in 2023[20]), and the contractor for this project was The Scott Company from Opelika.[23]

Exit list

[edit]
CountyLocationmi[24]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Sumter​0.00.0

 I-20 west / I-59 south – Meridian		Continuation into Mississippi
Cuba0.8041.2941

 To US 80 east (SR 8 east) – Cuba, Demopolis
​3
 I-85 north – Montgomery		Proposed interchange; future southern terminus of I-85[25]
York8.04112.9418 SR 17 – York
Livingston17.05927.45417 SR 28 – Livingston, Boyd
​23.14137.24223
 CR 20 to SR 39 – Gainesville, Epes
GreeneBoligee32.22951.86832 CR 20 – Boligee, West Greene
Eutaw40.76665.60740 SR 14 – Aliceville, Eutaw
​45.33472.95845 CR 208 – Union
Knoxville52.24484.07952 US 11 / US 43 (SR 7 / SR 13) – Knoxville
Tuscaloosa​62.466100.52962SR 300 – Fosters
​68.033109.48968Joe Mallisham Parkway
Tuscaloosa71.367114.85471 I-359 / SR 69 (US 11 / SR 7) – Tuscaloosa, MoundvilleSigned as exits 71A (SR 69 south) & 71B (I-359/SR 69 north); southern terminus of I-359; parclo interchange
73.003117.48773 US 82 / SR 6 (McFarland Boulevard)Luther Stancel Pate III Memorial Bridge
75.961122.24776 US 11 / SR 7 (Skyland Boulevard)
77.102124.08477Buttermilk RoadFormerly signed for Cottondale
79.895128.57979 US 11 (SR 7) – Coaling, Cottondale
86.295138.87886Brookwood, Vance
89.253143.63989Mercedes Drive
​97.138156.32897

 US 11 south / SR 5 south (SR 7 south) – West Blocton, Centreville		South end of US 11/SR 5 concurrency
​100.292161.404100SR 216 – Lake ViewEastern terminus of SR 216
Jefferson​104.159167.628104Rock Mountain Lake RoadAccess via McAshan Drive
​106.201170.914106 I-459 – Gadsden, Montgomery, AtlantaSouthern terminus of I-459; proposed future southern terminus of I-422
Bessemer108.396174.446108

 US 11 north / SR 5 north / SR 7 north (Academy Drive)		North end of US 11/SR 5 concurrency
110.021177.062110Splash Adventure Parkway
112.341180.79511218th Street / 19th Street
Brighton113.280182.30611318th Avenue – Brighton
Midfield115.520185.911115Allison–Bonnett Memorial Drive / Jaybird Road
Fairfield118.304190.392118Valley Road – Fairfield
119.025191.552119Lloyd Nolan ParkwaySigned as exit 119A southbound
Ensley119.727192.682119BAvenue ISouthbound exit and northbound entrance
120.934194.624120 SR 269 (20th Street Ensley) / Ensley AvenueSouthern terminus of SR 269
121.238195.114121Bush BoulevardSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Birmingham123.374198.551123 US 78 / SR 4 (Arkadelphia Road)
124.740200.750124A6th Avenue North – DowntownEastbound exit only
124B-C I-65 – Montgomery, HuntsvilleSigned as exits 124B (south) and 124C (north); I-65 exits 261B-C; hybrid interchange
125.221201.524124D17th Street N. – DowntownEastbound exit and westbound entrance
125.639202.196125B22nd Street – DowntownClosed; was signed as exit 125 westbound[26]
126.239203.162126A

 US 31 south / US 280 east (SR 3 south)


 Carraway Boulevard to US 31 north (SR 3 north)		Western terminus of US 280
126.825204.105126B31st Street N. / 25th Street N. – Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
128.257206.410128 SR 79 (Tallapoosa Street)
129.621208.605129Airport Boulevard
130.301209.699130
 I-20 east – Atlanta		North end of I-20 concurrency; I-20 exit 130A
131.801212.113131Oporto–Madrid BoulevardNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
132.214212.778132 US 11 / SR 7 (1st Avenue North)No access from I-59 north to US 11 south, from US 11 south to I-59 north, or from US 11 north to I-59 south
133.814215.3531334th Avenue SouthNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
134.383216.268134
 To SR 75 (Roebuck Parkway) – Center Point
137.202220.805137
 I-459 south – Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Atlanta		Northern terminus of I-459
Trussville140.802226.599141Trussville, Pinson
143.647231.177143Deerfoot Parkway / Mount Olive Church Road
​147
 I-422 south		Proposed interchange; future northern terminus of I-422[27]
​147.647237.615148
 To US 11 (SR 7) – Argo
St. Clair​153.911247.696154 SR 174 – Odenville, Springville
​156.178251.344156 SR 23 – St. Clair Springs, Springville
Ashville166.322267.669166 US 231 (SR 53) – Ashville, Oneonta
Steele173.650279.463174Steele
EtowahGadsden181.294291.764181 SR 77 – Attalla, Rainbow City
Gadsden–Attalla line182.058292.994182
 I-759 east – Gadsden		Western terminus of I-759
Attalla183.030294.558183 US 278 / US 431 (SR 74 / SR 1) – Attalla, Gadsden
Reece City–Gadsden line188.082302.689188
 SR 211 to US 11 (SR 7) – Gadsden, Reece City
DeKalbCollinsville205.148330.154205 SR 68 – Collinsville, Crossville
Fort Payne218.654351.890218 SR 35 – Fort Payne, Rainsville
222.152357.519222 US 11 (SR 7) – Fort Payne
224.100360.65422449th Street NW
Hammondville231.419372.433231 SR 40 / SR 117 – Valley Head, Hammondville
​239.642385.666239
 To US 11 (SR 7) / Sulphur Springs Road
​241.36388.43
 I-59 north – Chattanooga		Continuation into Georgia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Route Log and Finder List - Interstate System: Table 1". FHWA. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  2. ^ Public Roads Administration (August 14, 1957). Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as Adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). Washington, DC: Public Roads Administration. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2018 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  3. ^ Ingram, Bill (June 3, 1980). "At last: Ribbon-cutting opens I-59 link". Birmingham Post-Herald. Birmingham. p. C4. Retrieved September 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Table 1 - Main Routes - FHWA Route Log and Finder List - Interstate Highway System - National Highway System - Planning - FHWA". www.fhwa.dot.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  5. ^ Alabama Department of Transportation. "2021 Senate Plan" (PDF). ww.dot.state.al.us. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Alabama Department of Transportation. "Alabama Traffic Data". aldotgis.dot.state.al.us. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "Overview map of I-59 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  8. ^ Alabama Department of Transportation. "Sumter County" (PDF). www.dot.state.al.us. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  9. ^ University of Alabama. "Greene County" (PDF). alabamamaps.ua.edu. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  10. ^ a b University of Alabama. "Tuscaloosa County" (PDF). alabamamaps.ua.edu. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  11. ^ Cardone, Jen (June 12, 2024). "Birmingham's 'Malfunction Junction' is no stranger to emergency bridge repairs". CBS 42. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Alabama Department of Transportation. "Jefferson County" (PDF). aldotgis.dot.state.al.us. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  13. ^ University of Alabama. "St. Clair County" (PDF). alabamamaps.ua.edu. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  14. ^ University of Alabama. "Etowah County" (PDF). alabamamaps.ua.edu. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  15. ^ University of Alabama. "DeKalb County" (PDF). alabamamaps.ua.edu. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Weingroff, Richard F. "Designating the Urban Interstates". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  17. ^ Public Roads Administration (August 2, 1947). National System of Interstate Highways (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Public Roads Administration. Retrieved September 4, 2010 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  18. ^ "State Builds 137 Miles Of Interstate Highways". The Montgomery Advertiser. 1958-12-03. pp. 2B. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Bids Sought On 29 State Highway Jobs". Birmingham Post-Herald. 1959-06-02. p. 17. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b c Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  21. ^ "State Announces Low Bids Totaling $7,801,115 For 18 Highway Projects". The Montgomery Advertiser. 1960-11-23. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "2 Madison Projects In State Road Bids". The Huntsville Times. 1961-08-07. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-09-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Low Road Bids Listed". The Montgomery Advertiser. 1961-08-29. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-09-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Milepost Web". October 27, 2016.
  25. ^ Volkert and Associates, I-85 Extension Corridor Study & EUIS Archived December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ Highsmith, Jordan (September 6, 2018). "22nd Street Exit is closing in Downtown Birmingham". CBS 42. Birmingham. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  27. ^ Gray, Jeremy (28 June 2010). "I-422 to infuse billions in Birmingham area". al. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
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