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Route map:
Interstate 65 in Alabama
Interstate 65 (I-65) meanders across 366 miles
(589 km) of the Alabama countryside linking six of the
state's 10 largest cities. The highway links together many
important roadways that make commerce inside and
outside of the state's boundaries possible. It starts at I-10
Interstate 65
near Mobile. The route passes through the major cities of
Montgomery, Birmingham, and Decatur before entering
Tennessee in the north near the town of Ardmore,
Alabama.
Route description
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
I-165 in Prichard
I-65 starts its northward journey in Mobile as a three-
Future I-85 southwest of
lane freeway at a directional Y interchange with I-10 not
far from the Gulf of Mexico. From there, it runs Montgomery
northeast, intersecting with I-165 in Prichard. At exit 13 Future I-685 / I-85 in
in Saraland, the Interstate transitions from three to two Montgomery
lanes. The highway next crosses the Mobile–Tensaw
I-459 in Hoover
River Delta at the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge. En
route to Montgomery, it passes county seats Evergreen I-20 / I-59 in Birmingham
(Conecuh County) and Greenville (Butler County). In the
I-22 in Fultondale
case of a hurricane evacuation on Alabama's coast, I-65
can be converted to an evacuation route where all lanes Future I-422 in Morris
flow in the northbound direction from Mobile to
Montgomery. This process is known as contraflow. The I-565 / US 72 Alt. in
terrain on this stretch of road is slightly hilly, aside from Decatur
a stretch in southern Conecuh County near Castleberry,
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into the fringes of Decatur in an open area of seemingly "endless" cotton fields where it intersects,
inside Decatur, with SR 20, U.S. Route 72 Alternate (US 72 Alt.), and the spur route I-565 to
Huntsville.
Between Walkers Chapel Road in Fultondale and the Tennessee River in Decatur (Limestone County),
I-65 has been designated the "Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway". The sign designating the north
end of this portion of road cites Reagan's speech in Decatur on July 4, 1984. The Interstate then
continues, passing Athens, and merges with US 31. The two routes travel concurrently approximately
12 miles (19 km) to the Tennessee state line.
In the Birmingham–Hoover vicinity, a plan to widen the Interstate from North Birmingham to
Alabaster has been proposed.[4] The project is to widen the Interstate by adding an HOV lane and
keeping the original three lanes making it four lanes in each direction.[5] This is planned to stretch to
the Pelham area. From there, the Interstate will widen from two lanes each way to three lanes each
way into the Helena–Alabaster area.
History
I-65 south Alabama Welcome
Center and rest area with the Saturn
The first section designed for the future Interstate Highway
IB rocket
System spanned from the Tennessee border to Athens at US 31. It
opened on November 15, 1958, and has a historical marker on the
Tennessee side of the border. It was converted to full Interstate
standards around 1970. The first section of Interstate in Alabama
opened to traffic was the eight-mile (13 km) stretch of I-65
between northern Jefferson County and Warrior on December 10,
1959.[7] A 26-mile (42 km) segment between Clanton and Calera
opened to traffic on March 23, 1961.[8] On April 1, 1961, a 26-mile
(42 km) section between north of Warrior and SR 69 near
Cullman opened to traffic.[9] On May 25, 1961, two segments of I-
65, a 14-mile (23 km) segment near Clanton and a six-mile I-65 between Birmingham and
(9.7 km) segment between Calera and Alabaster, were opened. [8] Decatur near milemarker 277
In Mobile, the 6.8-mile (10.9 km) section between US 90 and
US 45 opened on January 4, 1963.[10] Work on the Tennessee
River bridges in Morgan and Limestone counties began in April 1969, and the bridges were dedicated
and opened on November 21, 1973.[11]
While most of I-65 in Alabama was completed in the 1960s, the last segments to be completed were
some of the last segments to be completed on the entire Interstate Highway System. The 11.7-mile
(18.8 km) section between Alabaster and Hoover opened on May 20, 1981.[12] The first contacts for
the construction of the 12-mile (19 km) segment between US 43 north of Mobile and SR 225 in
Baldwin County, including the six-mile-long (9.7 km) General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge, were awarded
in 1967, and the section was opened on October 2, 1981.[13] At the time, this was the most expensive
highway project in the state's history, costing $137 million (equivalent to $351 million in 2021[14]).[13]
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In 2004, following the death of former-President Ronald Reagan, a lengthy segment of I-65 from
Jefferson County to Limestone County was designated the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. The
sign designating the north end of the segment includes a statement from Reagan's speech at Point
Mallard Park in nearby Decatur on July 4, 1984.
Future
Just a few miles north of I-22 will be the new interchange (exit 274), which will be Corridor X-1, and
has been designated as Interstate 422. This loop route will connect I-65 with I-59 northeast of
Birmingham and I-20/I-59 southwest of Birmingham, and this will serve as an Interstate Highway
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bypass of Birmingham, augmenting the existing I-459, which already provides the southern loop of
Birmingham. Construction of this interchange is still several years away, but right-of-way is in the
process of being acquired to build I-422.
Exit list
County Location mi[16] km Exit Destinations Notes
US 90 (SR 16,
1.930 3.106 1
Government Boulevard)
US 98 (SR 42 /
5.752 9.257 5B
Moffett Road)
SR 158
13.067 21.029 13 (Industrial Parkway) / SR
213 – Eight Mile,
Saraland Saraland, Citronelle
US 43 (SR 13) –
19.495 31.374 19 Satsuma, Creola,
Thomasville, Demopolis
Mobile River
24.220 38.978 General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge
Tensaw River
Baldwin SR 225 – Stockton,
31.793 51.166 31
Spanish Fort
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SR 59 – Bay
33.935 54.613 34
Minette, Stockton
CR 1 (Jack Springs
53.574 86.219 54
Road)
SR 21 – Atmore,
Escambia 57.656 92.788 57 To Pensacola
Uriah
SR 41 – Brewton,
77.402 124.566 77
Repton
CR 7 – Castleberry,
83.372 134.174 83
Lenox
US 84 (SR 12) –
Conecuh
92.930 149.556 93 Evergreen, Conecuh
Evergreen,
Conecuh County, Monroeville
County
SR 83 – Evergreen,
96.509 155.316 96
Conecuh County, Midway
SR 106 –
113.969 183.415 114
Georgiana, Starlington
SR 10 (Pineapple
Butler Highway) – Greenville, Southern end of SR 10
127.661 205.450 128
Pine Apple, Butler, Truck overlap
Meridian
Greenville
SR 185 – Fort
141.531 227.772 142
Deposit, Logan
SR 97 –
151.108 243.185 151
Lowndes Letohatchee, Davenport
To US 31 (SR 3,
157.628 253.678 158
Tyson Road) – Pintlala,
Tyson
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Future southern
166 I-85 to I-685 – terminus of Montgomery
Atlanta, Meridian bypass
US 80
Northern end of
east / US 82 east (SR 6 US 80/SR 8 overlap;
168.213 270.713 168 east / SR 8 east / SR 21 / southern end of
South Boulevard) to US 82/SR 6 overlap
US 231 (SR 53) / US 331
(SR 9)
Montgomery
Southbound exit and
169.513 272.805 169 Edgemont Avenue
Montgomery northbound entrance
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US 31 / SR 22
205.340 330.463 205 (SR 3) – Clanton,
Verbena
Lake Mitchell Road –
Clanton 208.35 335.31 208
Clanton, Lake Mitchell
SR 25 (Main
228.380 367.542 228 Street) – Montevallo,
Calera
CR 52 – Pelham,
241.841 389.205 242
Helena
Pelham
SR 119 (Cahaba
246.062 395.998 246
Valley Road)
CR 17 (Valleydale
247.262 397.930 247
Road)
US 31 (Montgomery
251.967 405.502 252
Highway/SR 3)
253.697 408.286 254 Alford Avenue
University Boulevard
258.827– 416.542– (northbound) Signed as exit 259
259A
258.957 416.751 6th Avenue South northbound
(southbound)
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US 11 (US 78/SR 4
259.697– 417.942– east/SR 7, 3rd Avenue Signed as exit 260B
260 North) / 6th Avenue
259.937 418.328 northbound
North – Downtown
Birmingham
Signed as exits 261B
I-20 / I-59 – (east/north) and 261C
260.562 419.334 261 Gadsden, Atlanta, (west/south); I-20/59
Tuscaloosa exits 124B-C; hybrid
interchange
Proposed interchange;
Morris 274 I-422
future I-422
SR 91 – Hanceville,
291.861 469.705 291
Colony
US 278 (SR 74) –
307.464 494.815 308
Cullman, Double Springs
Cullman
SR 157 (Section
310.039 498.959 310 Line Road) – Cullman,
Moulton
Decatur–
SR 67 – Decatur,
Priceville 333.337 536.454 334
city line Priceville, Somerville
Wheeler Lake
336.619 541.736 Bridge over Wheeler Lake and Tennessee River
Tennessee River
Limestone Signed as exits 340A
(west) and 340B (east)
southbound; I-565 exit 1
I-565 east / SR westbound & 1A-B
Huntsville 340.002 547.180 340
20 west (US 72 Alt.) – eastbound; eastern
Huntsville, Decatur terminus of SR 20;
western terminus of I-
565
US 72 (SR 2) –
351.024 564.918 351
Athens, Huntsville
Athens Southern end of US 31
US 31 south (SR 3 overlap; unsigned
354.157 569.960 354
northern terminus of
south) – Athens SR 3
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CR 100 – Thach,
Elkmont 360.918 580.841 361
Elkmont
SR 53 south
Northern terminus of
364.826 587.131 365 (Upper Elkton Road, 7th SR 53
Street) / CR 81 –
Ardmore
See also
United States portal
U.S. roads portal
References
1. "FHWA Route Log and Finder List: Table 1" (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.cf
m). Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
2. "Heroes Highway of Alabama" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080513044018/http://www.montgo
merygop.net/HeroesHighway/main_hh.htm). Montgomerygop.net. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.montgomerygop.net/HeroesHighway/main_hh.htm) on May 13, 2008. Retrieved
August 5, 2009.
3. Simon, Scott (July 23, 2005). "Alabama Billboard's Message Changes" (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20070714161641/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4767655). All Things
Considered. NPR. Archived from the original (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyI
d=4767655) on July 14, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
4. Snyder, Sarah (February 14, 2011). "Planning commission proposes carpool lane on I65" (https://
abc3340.com/news/local/planning-commission-proposes-carpool-lane-on-i65). WBMA. Retrieved
September 3, 2022.
5. "Interstate 65/US 31 Mobility Matters Project: Executive Summary" (https://static1.squarespace.co
m/static/5bfc5ef3f93fd4e73b6c10fa/t/5bfdfa278a922d05c3be253c/1543371309127/I-65_US31_M
obility-Matters_ExecSum-Nov2013.pdf) (PDF). Regional Planning Commission of Greater
Birmingham. November 1, 2011. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20220119161419/https://st
atic1.squarespace.com/static/5bfc5ef3f93fd4e73b6c10fa/t/5bfdfa278a922d05c3be253c/15433713
09127/I-65_US31_Mobility-Matters_ExecSum-Nov2013.pdf) (PDF) from the original on January
19, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
6. Hughes, Bayne (April 6, 2014). "Iconic rocket due for repair" (http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/lo
cal/article_274db950-be01-11e3-a8d4-001a4bcf6878.html). Decatur Daily. Retrieved April 8,
2014.
7. Stanton, Allison (December 11, 1959). "State's road program rolls right along" (https://www.newsp
apers.com/clip/57584979/states-road-program-rolls-right-along/). The Birmingham News. p. 18.
Retrieved August 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_65_in_Alabama 11/12
4/1/23, 4:01 AM Interstate 65 in Alabama - Wikipedia
8. Badger, Eddie (May 23, 1961). "$266 million in road spending predicted" (https://www.newspaper
s.com/clip/57581131/266-million-in-road-spending-predicted/). The Birmingham News. Retrieved
August 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Interstate Road Section Near Cullman Is Opening Saturday" (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5
7582521/interstate-road-section-near-cullman-is/). The Decatur Daily. March 31, 1961. Retrieved
August 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Mobile dedicates urban road link" (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57583273/mobile-dedicates-
urban-road-link/). The Montgomery Advertiser. January 4, 1963. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
11. "Wallace Calls New Interstate Bridge 'Step Forward' " (https://tennessean.newspapers.com/clip/57
580336/wallace-calls-new-interstate-bridge/). The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. United
Press International. November 22, 1973. p. 79. Retrieved August 18, 2020 – via
Newspapers.com.
12. "Hoover-Alabaster I-65 leg opened as commuters wait" (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/575864
78/hoover-alabaster-i-65-leg-opened-as/). The Montgomery Advertiser. Associated Press. May
21, 1981. p. 21. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
13. "James opens final leg of interstate to Mobile" (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57585843/james
-opens-final-leg-of-interstate-to/). The Montgomery Advertiser. Associated Press. October 3, 1981.
Retrieved August 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?" (http://www.me
asuringworth.com/datasets/usgdp/). MeasuringWorth. Retrieved January 1, 2023. United States
Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the Measuring Worth series.
15. "Highway official says I-65 delays may have benefited Birmingham". The Gadsden Times.
December 19, 1985.
16. "Milepost/General Highway Maps" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113457/http://algis.dot.s
tate.al.us/milepostmaps/default.htm). Alabama Department of Transportation. Archived from the
original (http://algis.dot.state.al.us/milepostmaps/default.htm) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 14,
2016.
External links
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