U.S. Route 231 (US 231) in Alabama runs north–south up through the eastern half of Alabama for 306.273 miles (492.899 km). US 231 enters the state from Florida south of Madrid and exits into Tennessee, running councurrently with US 431 north of Hazel Green. US 231 passes through the major cities of Dothan, Troy, Montgomery, and Huntsville.
 U.S. Route 231 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US 231 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by ALDOT | ||||
| Length | 306.273 mi[1] (492.899 km) | |||
| Existed | 1926[2]–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |   US 231 / SR 75 at Florida state line near Madrid | |||
| ||||
| North end |  US 231 / US 431 at Tennessee state line near Hazel Green | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Alabama | |||
| Counties | Houston, Dale, Coffee, Pike, Montgomery, Elmore, Coosa, Talladega, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount, Cullman, Marshall, Morgan, Madison | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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| ||||
From the Florida state line to Wetumpka, US 231 is a major four-lane divided thoroughfare that connects Central Alabama to the Florida Gulf Coast and Panama City. Between Wetumpka and Arab, excluding its overlap with US 280 between Sylacauga and Harpersville as well as portions through major towns, the road is largely rural and two lanes. Between Arab and the Tennessee state line, the route returns to a four-lane divided highway; the route is upgraded to a limited-access freeway and adjoining frontage roads named Memorial Parkway within the city of Huntsville.
During its route through the state, US 231 runs concurrently with three state highways. Between the Florida state line and southern Dothan as well as between Huntsville and the Alabama state line, US 231 runs concurrent with unsigned State Route 1 (SR 1). Between northern Dothan and Huntsville, the route is overlaid with SR 53, which is unsigned along its portion with US 231 but does have a signed segment north of Huntsville. Finally, while bypassing Dothan, US 231 is overlaid with the signed SR 210).
Route description
editIn Alabama, US 231 is paired with unsigned State Route 53 (SR 53) from Huntsville to Dothan.
The route passes through mostly straight terrain between the Tennessee state line and Meridianville, which is home to its junction with Bob Wade Lane, which eventually becomes SR 255.
The route descends down a slight hill and enters Huntsville. It becomes a freeway (Memorial Parkway). It junctions with US 72 east/ Sparkman Drive. After a short concurrency with US 72, it splits off onto University Drive. The route almost immediately junctions with Interstate 565 (I-565). It then junctions with a two-part interchange (Clinton Avenue/US 431 South/SR 53 North; Governors' Drive). Here, it gains SR 53 and loses US 431. The route continues south as a freeway until it reaches a specific point when it becomes a four-lane divided highway. It passes by Redstone Arsenal Gate 3's access road, Hobbs Road. The route continues south until it reaches the Clement C. Clay Bridge. It promptly crosses the Tennessee River into Morgan County.
The route eventually junctions with SR 36. It climbs up Brindlee Mountain into Union Hill. While climbing, the route makes a slight curve from the southwest to the southeast that is easily noticeable on road maps. It then passes through Morgan City and enters Marshall County. The route heads through mountainous terrain to Arab, which is home to its junction with SR 69. This junction is a diamond interchange and is directly above the line with Cullman County.
There are no major junctions in Cullman County.
It eventually crosses the line into Blount County. The road turns to the southwest and junctions with SR 67. It quickly junctions with US 278. Eventually, the route reaches Blountsville, and past Blountsville, the route junctions with SR 79 North. It reaches Cleveland and splits off from SR 79, which continues on its right of way to Birmingham. US 231 then junctions with SR 160 West, which continues on its next right-of-way. It passes through mountains until it reaches Oneonta, which is home to its junction with SR 75. The route climbs up a high hill and descends it, now crossing into St. Clair County.
The route eventually junctions with US 11 and then I-59. It enters Ashville. It junctions with SR 23 and US 411/SR 25 North. After a moderate concurrency with the two routes, US 411 and SR 25 turn southwest towards Leeds. US 231 heads directly south towards Pell City. The route heads through extremely hilly terrain as a two-lane and three-lane road. It reaches Coal City and junctions with SR 144. It continues down through the same terrain to I-20. It reaches US 78 and then SR 34.
US 231 reaches Shelby County. It parallels the Coosa River as it reaches Vincent, which is home to its next junction with SR 25. They continue south to Harpersville. SR 25 junctions with US 231 for the last time here as US 231 turns onto US 280.
The routes then cross into Talladega County. After a long journey to Sylacauga, the route turns off of US 280 at its junction with SR 21, which is a Diamond Interchange. The route enters Coosa County near this point.
In Coosa County, the route junctions with SR 22 in Rockford. It then enters Elmore County after a long journey south.
In Elmore County, there are no major junctions until it reaches SR 9. This point is the line with the city of Wetumpka. The route junctions with SR 14 and SR 170 north of the city. Within the city, the routes (SR 9, US 231, and SR 21) junction with SR 111. The routes then enter Montgomery County.
The routes junction with SR 152/Northern Boulevard, a half-beltway around Montgomery. The routes join the half-beltway. SR 152 ends at this point, though. The routes turn from east to south and junction with Atlanta Highway. The routes junction with I-85 and gain US 80. The routes turn to the west. US 231 and US 82 turn to the south. SR 21, US 80, and SR 9 continue onward with US 82 west to I-65, US 331, and US 31. US 82 and US 231 continue onward to Pike Road, which is not a road, but a town. South of here, US 82 turns off of US 231 and US 231 continues onward on a four-lane divided highway into Pike County.
There are no major junctions in Pike County until US 231 reaches Troy. Here, the route junctions with US 29, SR 10 west, and SR 87. US 231 continues southeast to Brundidge, which is home to its junctions with SR 10 east, SR 93, and SR 125. The route then cuts a corner of Coffee County.
There are no major junctions in Coffee County.
The route then enters into Dale County. The route junctions with SR 123 and SR 51 in the far-vicinity of Ariton, Alabama. The route reaches Ozark, which is home to its junctions with SR 27, SR 249, and once again SR 123. In Midland City, the route junctions with SR 134 and SR 605. The route has officially entered the Dothan Metropolitan Area.
In Houston County, the route has no major junctions until it reaches the Ross Clark Circle, which is US 84 and SR 210. This same junction is the junction with US 231 Bus. and the point where SR 53 ultimately leaves its state-wide concurrency with US 231. The route turns south onto the Ross Clark Circle and heads to the junction with US 84 Bus. East/US 84 West. Here, US 84 leaves the Ross Clark Circle. It then continues southeast until it reaches SR 52. SR 52 does not have a business route, unlike US 231 and US 84. The route turns to the full east and junctions with US 431 once again, for the first time since Huntsville, Alabama, alongside US 431 Bus. This junction marks the southern terminus of US 431. The route turns south off of the Ross Clark Circle with SR 1. It then heads south for the Florida state line. The route junctions with SR 109 in Hodgesville and SR 605 once again in Madrid, before finally crossing the state line into Campbellton, Florida.
History
editWhen US 231 was first assigned along with the rest of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, the route ran only as far north as Montgomery. In 1952, the route was extended through the rest of the state and on to Indiana.[2]
The section of US 231 in Huntsville was built as a bypass around the downtown area. The original route ran up what is now Whitesburg Drive on the south side of the city, and Meridian Street in the north.
A portion on the north side of Brindlee Mountain, south of Huntsville, was damaged by a landslide in 2020. It was replaced by an elevated section.[3]
Major intersections
edit| County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | | 0.000 | 0.000 |  US 231 south – Panama City | Continuation into Florida | |||
| | 0.324 | 0.521 |   SR 605 north – Rehobeth, Taylor | Southern terminus of SR 605 | ||||
| | 7.520 | 12.102 | Graceville (SR 109 south) / Eddins Road | Northern terminus of SR 109 | ||||
| Dothan | 13.264 0.000 | 21.346 0.000 |      US 231 Bus. north (SR 1 north / South Oates Street) / US 431 north / SR 210 (SR 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle) to US 84 east – Ashford, Headland | North end of SR 1 overlap; south end of SR 52 Truck / SR 210 overlap; southern terminus of US 231 Bus. / US 431; mileposts switch from SR 1 to SR 210 | ||||
| 1.793 | 2.886 |  SR 52 (Hartford Highway) – Slocomb | North end of SR 52 Truck overlap; western terminus of SR 52 Truck | |||||
| 3.370 | 5.423 |  US 84 west / US 84 Bus. east (SR 12 / West Main Street) – Enterprise | South end of US 84 overlap; western terminus of US 84 Bus. | |||||
| 4.904 24.007 | 7.892 38.636 | US 231 Bus. south (SR 53 south / Montgomery Highway) / US 84 / SR 210 east (Ross Clark Circle) to US 431 north – Eufaula | North end of US 84 / SR 210 overlap; south end of SR 53 overlap; northern terminus of US 231 Bus.; mileposts switch from SR 210 to SR 53 | |||||
| Dale | Midland City | 29.857 | 48.050 |  CR 59 / SR 605 south | Northern terminus of SR 605; SR 605 is unsigned | |||
| 30.594 | 49.236 |  SR 134 – Midland City, Pinckard, Newton | Interchange | |||||
| Ozark | 41.092 | 66.131 |   SR 123 south / CR 29 – Newton | South end of SR 123 overlap | ||||
| 41.775 | 67.230 | SR 123 north (South Union Avenue) / Lakeview Road – Downtown Ozark, Ariton | North end of SR 123; Downtown Ozark signed northbound only, Artion southbound only | |||||
| 43.754 | 70.415 |   SR 27 north / SR 249 (Andrews Avenue) – Downtown Ozark, Fort Novosel | South end of SR 27 overlap | |||||
| 44.700 | 71.938 | SR 27 south – Enterprise | North end of SR 27 overlap | |||||
| | 53.911 | 86.761 |  SR 51 – Ariton, Enterprise | |||||
| | 56.010 | 90.139 | SR 123 south – Ariton | Northern terminus of SR 123 | ||||
| Coffee |
No major junctions | |||||||
| Pike | | 62.939 | 101.291 |  SR 125 south – Elba | Northern terminus of SR 125 | |||
| Brundidge | 64.586 | 103.941 |  SR 93 north (East Main Street) – Brundidge | Southern terminus of SR 93 | ||||
| 65.830 179.592 | 105.943 289.025 |   SR 10 east / CR 3316 (S.A. Graham Boulevard) – Brundidge, Clio, Camden, Butler | South end of SR 10 overlap. Mileposts switch from SR 53 to SR 10. | |||||
| Troy | 170.347 | 274.147 |   SR 87 south (Elba Highway) / SR 167 / South Brundidge Street – Elba, Enterprise | Northern terminus of SR 87 / SR 167 | ||||
| 168.272 77.150 | 270.808 124.161 |  US 29 / SR 10 west (SR 15) – Luverne, Union Springs | Interchange. Mileposts switch from SR 10 to SR 53. | |||||
| Montgomery | | 89.421 | 143.909 |  SR 94 west | Eastern terminus of SR 94 | |||
| | 105.875 171.098 | 170.389 275.356 |  US 82 east (SR 6 east) – Union Springs, Eufaula | South end of US 82 / SR 6 overlap; mileposts switch from SR 53 to SR 6. | ||||
| Montgomery | 162.008 | 260.727 |    SR 271 north (Taylor Road) to I-85 | Southern terminus of SR 271 | ||||
| 158.668 136.185 | 255.351 219.169 |   US 80 west / US 82 west to I-65 (SR 6 west / SR 8 west / SR 9 south / SR 21 south / South Boulevard) / McGehee Road | North end of US 82 / SR 6 overlap; south end of US 80 / SR 8 / SR 9 / SR 21 overlap; mileposts switch from SR 6 to SR 8. | |||||
| 139.293 107.478 | 224.170 172.969 | I-85 / US 80 east (SR 8 east) to I-65 – Montgomery, Atlanta | North end of US 80 / SR 8 overlap; I-85 exit 6; mileposts switch from SR 8 to SR 9 | |||||
| Atlanta Highway | Interchange via frontage roads; former alignment of US 80 | |||||||
| 111.939 | 180.148 | SR 152 west (Northern Boulevard) to I-65 – Birmingham, Mobile | Interchange; Eastern terminus of SR 152 | |||||
| Montgomery–Elmore county line | | 114.857 | 184.844 | Colonel William R. Lawley Memorial Bridge over Tallapoosa River | ||||
| Elmore | Wetumpka | South Main Street (SR 111 Truck south) | South end of SR 111 Truck overlap | |||||
| 122.395 | 196.976 |  SR 170 east – Tallassee | Western terminus of SR 170; Tallassee signed northbound only | |||||
| 122.736 | 197.524 |    SR 14 / SR 111 Truck north (Tallassee Highway / Coosa River Parkway) – Tallassee, Prattville | North end of SR 111 Truck overlap | |||||
| 123.483 164.428 | 198.727 264.621 |  SR 9 north (Central Plank Road) – Santuck, Central | North end of SR 9 overlap; southern terminus of signed portion of SR 9; mileposts switch from SR 9 to SR 21 | |||||
| Coosa | Rockford | 188.890 | 303.989 |  SR 22 | ||||
| Talladega | Sylacauga | 207.585 43.979 | 334.076 70.777 |   US 280 east / SR 21 north (SR 38 east) | North end of SR 21 overlap; south end of US 280 / SR 38 overlap; mileposts switch to SR 38 | |||
| Childersburg | 32.778 | 52.751 |    SR 76 east (First Street SW) / CR 008 west (Childersburg-Fayetteville Highway) | South end of SR 76 overlap | ||||
| 32.192 | 51.808 |  SR 235 north (Coosa Pines Road) / River Run Road | Southern terminus of SR 235 | |||||
| Talladega–Shelby county line | 31.782 | 51.148 | John A. Teague Bridge over Coosa River | |||||
| Shelby | | 31.106 | 50.060 | SR 76 west (Klein Road) – Montevallo, Columbiana | North end of SR 76 overlap | |||
| Harpersville | 26.100 147.183 | 42.004 236.868 |  US 280 west (SR 38 west) / SR 25 south – Birmingham, Wilsonville | North end of US 280 / SR 38 overlap; south end of SR 25 overlap; mileposts switch from SR 38 to SR 25 | ||||
| Vincent | 150.904 202.174 | 242.856 325.368 | SR 25 north – Leeds | North end of SR 25 overlap; mileposts switch from SR 25 to SR 53 | ||||
| St. Clair | Pell City | 217.028 | 349.273 |  SR 34 east (Mays Drive) / 19th Street South | Western terminus of SR 34 | |||
| 219.073 | 352.564 |  To US 78 (SR 4 / Cogswell Avenue) | Interchange | |||||
| 220.360 | 354.635 |  I-20 – Atlanta, Birmingham | I-20 exit 158 | |||||
| | 221.533 | 356.523 |  SR 174 west – Odenville | Eastern terminus of SR 174 | ||||
| | 223.783 | 360.144 |  SR 144 east – Ragland, H. Neely Henry Dam | Western terminus of SR 144 | ||||
| Ashville | 233.103 192.786 | 375.143 310.259 |    US 411 south (SR 25 south) / CR 33 north | South end of US 411 / SR 25 overlap; mileposts switch from SR 53 to SR 25 | ||||
| 196.884 | 316.854 |  SR 23 south (Sixth Avenue) | Northern terminus of SR 23 | |||||
| 196.908 237.225 | 316.893 381.777 | US 411 north (SR 25 north / Sixth Avenue) / SR 23 | North end of US 411 / SR 25 overlap; mileposts switch from SR 25 to SR 53 | |||||
| 239.907 | 386.093 |  I-59 – Gadsden, Birmingham | I-59 exit 166 | |||||
| 241.036 | 387.910 |  US 11 (SR 7) – Attalla, Birmingham | ||||||
| Blount | Oneonta | 253.964 | 408.715 |   SR 75 north (Second Avenue East) to SR 132 | South end of SR 75 overlap | |||
| 253.999 | 408.772 | SR 75 south (Second Avenue East) / Fifth Street North | North end of SR 75 overlap | |||||
| Cleveland | 261.605 | 421.012 |    SR 160 west / CR 1 south – Hayden, Warrior | Eastern terminus of SR 160 | ||||
| 262.639 | 422.676 |  SR 79 south – Birmingham | South end of SR 79 overlap | |||||
| | 264.457 | 425.602 | SR 79 north – Guntersville | North end of SR 79 overlap | ||||
| | 275.547 | 443.450 |  US 278 (SR 74) – Gadsden, Cullman, Holly Pond | |||||
| | 276.305 | 444.670 |  SR 67 north – Decatur | Southern terminus of SR 67 | ||||
| Cullman |
No major junctions | |||||||
| Marshall | Arab | 286.206 | 460.604 |  SR 69 – Guntersville, Arab, Cullman | Interchange; Arab signed northbound only, Cullman southbound only | |||
| Morgan | Lacey's Spring | 303.348 | 488.191 |  SR 36 west – Hartselle | Eastern terminus of SR 36 | |||
| Morgan–Madison county line | Huntsville | 306.534 | 493.319 | Clement C. Clay Bridge over Tennessee River | ||||
| Madison | Begin freeway south of Weatherly Road | |||||||
| Weatherly Road / Whitesburg Drive | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||||
| Meadowbrook Drive west | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||||
| Lily Flagg Road / Logan Drive / Byrd Spring Road | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||||
| Charlotte Drive / Logan Drive / Lily Flagg Road | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||||
| Martin Road / Golf Road | ||||||||
| Airport Road / Jones Valley Road | Jones Valley Road signed northbound only | |||||||
| Drake Avenue | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||||
| Drake Avenue | ||||||||
| Bob Wallace Avenue | ||||||||
| 316.864 333.702 | 509.943 537.041 |  US 431 south (SR 1 south / Governors Drive) / SR 53 north | North end of SR 53 overlap; south end of US 431 / SR 1 overlap; mileposts switch from SR 53 to SR 1 | |||||
| Clinton Avenue — Downtown | ||||||||
| 334.700 | 538.647 |  I-565 (US 72 Alt.) | I-565 exit 19A-B | |||||
| 335.207 | 539.463 |  To US 72 west (SR 2 west / University Drive) / University Drive | ||||||
| Cook Avenue / Oakwood Avenue | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||||
| US 72 west (SR 2 west / University Drive) / University Drive | Southbound exit and northbound entrance; South end of US 72 / SR 2 overlap | |||||||
| US 72 east (SR 2 east / Sparkman Drive) / Max Luther Drive / Sparkman Drive | Northbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of US 72 / SR 2 overlap | |||||||
| Oakwood Avenue | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||||
| East Service Road | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||||
| To US 72 east / Max Luther Drive / Sparkman Drive | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||||
| End freeway south of Mastin Lake Road | ||||||||
| 352.958 | 568.031 | US 231 north / US 431 north (SR 10 north) | Continuation into Tennessee | |||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
edit- ^ a b "Alabama Department of Transportation Milepost/General Highway Maps". Alabama Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ a b Bear, Jake; et al. (June 5, 2020). "End of US highway 231". USEnds.com. Retrieved July 12, 2020.[self-published source]
- ^ WAFF (17 September 2020). "U.S. 231 construction could be done in a few weeks". waff.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
