This report is from a daytrip into Alabama from Meridian, MS on March 27, 2000.
Had the day off yesterday, so I took a quick "research" trip up to Tuscaloosa
and Birmingham. I picked up the 20-year transportation plans from both cities,
took a few pics, and scouted out the relatively new "western bypass" of
Tuscaloosa.
Notes:
- Every interstate shield I saw in Alabama (except BGS) had the state name on
them.
- The "western bypass" is a new route between I-20/59 and US 82 west of
Tuscaloosa. It includes a toll bridge across the Black Warrior River, and is
named "Black Warrior Parkway". Also has a county road designation: CR 16. It's
4-lanes undivided with shoulders, turn lanes at major intersections, 2
stoplights (at US 11/43 and US 82), and is 55 MPH south of the river, 45 MPH
north. Toll at the bridge is $0.75 for passenger cars, and the toll booth is on
the south side of the river. I was told that the owner of the toll bridge has a
lot of political clout in the area.
- US 82/AL 69 intersection in Northport is a large one. 3 through lanes each
direction through the intersection on both routes, and 2 left turn lanes for
each left turn.
- There's a short freeway-type section along US 82/MacFarland Blvd in
Tuscaloosa.
- The I-20/59/US 11/AL 5 multiplex is inconsistently signed.
- One thing I haven't noticed before, is that on the Elton B. Stephens
Expressway (US 31/280), there is an abandoned loop from the SB expressway to EB
1st Ave (US 11). I was fighting traffic at the time, so I didn't get a pic.
- Some of the long-range plans for the Birmingham-Tuscaloosa area include
completion of Corridor X, the Northern Beltline, and the Black Warrior Loop (a
northern/northeastern bypass of Northport/Tuscaloosa, from US 82 to I-20/59).
Also major widenings of I-20/59 (both the duplex and separated routes), I-65,
I-459 (between I-65 and I-20), US 82, and US 31/280. Full reconstruction
of the I-20/59/I-65 interchange is also planned.
Back to the Roadtrip Report Archive
Back to Magnolia Meanderings
(C) 2007, Adam Froehlig