U.S. Route 31 in Alabama

U.S. Route 31 (US 31) in Alabama runs north–south up through the heart of Alabama for 386.449 miles (621.929 km). US 31 proper begins at a junction with US 90 and US 98 in Spanish Fort and exits the state into Tennessee running concurrently with Interstate 65 (I-65) near Ardmore. US 31 enters the limits of major cities Montgomery, Birmingham, and Decatur. Throughout the state, with the exception of its concurrency with I-65 north of Athens, US 31 runs concurrently with the unsigned State Route 3 (SR 3). Today, aside from portions through major towns and cities, US 31 is largely a rural two-lane highway. The route has largely been supplanted by I-65, with which it has eight junctions and two concurrencies.

U.S. Route 31
Route information
Maintained by ALDOT
Length	386.449 mi[1] (621.929 km)
Existed	1926–present
Major junctions
West end	US 90 / US 98 in Spanish Fort
	US 29 / SR 113 in Flomaton US 84 near Evergreen I-65 at Hope Hull US 80 / SR 21 in Montgomery US 82 / SR 14 in Prattville I-459 near Hoover US 280 in Homewood I-20 / I-59 in Birmingham US 278 in Cullman US 72 in Athens
East end	US 31 / I-65 at Tennessee state line near Ardmore
Location
Counties	Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh, Butler, Lowndes, Montgomery, Elmore, Autauga, Chilton, Shelby, Jefferson, Blount, Cullman, Morgan, Limestone
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided Alabama Highways Interstate U.S. State ← SR 30 → SR 32 ← SR 2 SR 3 → SR 4

Route Description

As with several other U.S. Routes in Alabama, U.S. Route 31 is mostly parallel to Interstate 65 throughout its journey across the state, servicing several towns and cities Interstate 65 bypasses.

Upon leaving US Route 90 and US Route 98 in Spanish Fort, the route heads due east towards the town of Stapleton, where it joins Alabama State Route 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway). About eleven miles later, the route leaves the Gulf Shores Parkway right-of-way and follows a town square around the Baldwin County Courthouse in Bay Minette. Leaving Bay Minette, the route winds northeast, passing fairly close to the northwestern corner of Florida. Upon crossing into Escambia County, the route winds east through Atmore before dipping south into Flomaton. Several hundred feet from the state line with Florida, the route gains U.S. Route 29, which joins it in a fifteen mile concurrency northeast to Brewton. After losing U.S. 29 in Brewton, the route heads directly north, crossing the county line into Conecuh County. A few miles later, the route turns to be parallel with Interstate 65.

Reaching U.S. Route 84 just east of Interstate 65, U.S. Routes 31/84 travel into Evergreen, deviating from I-65. East of Evergreen, U.S. Route 84 heads southeast towards Andalusia, while U.S. Route 31 winds back north into Butler County. In far southeastern Butler County, the route engages in a fairly short concurrency with Alabama State Route 55. From the end of this concurrency in Georgiana north to Tennessee and beyond, U.S. 31 roughly parallels I-65. Heading northeast, U.S. 31 passes through Greenville. After cutting a corner of Lowndes County, U.S. 31 enters Montgomery County and crosses over I-65 for the first time.

After crossing U.S. Route 80 - which follows the historic Selma to Montgomery March Corridor - the route turns onto a beltway routing around western Montgomery, the capital of Alabama. At this point, it passes within a few miles of its child routes U.S. Route 331 and U.S. Route 231. After crossing the Alabama River, the route cuts a corner of Elmore County and enters Autauga County. In Prattville, the route has its junction with U.S. Route 82. It crosses Interstate 65 again a few miles later, quickly entering into Chilton County.

The route reaches its next concurrency with Alabama State Route 22, which it carries across Interstate 65 and into downtown Clanton, the geographical center of Alabama. After leaving SR-22, it heads north into Shelby County. After Calera, the route crosses I-65, serving Saginaw. It yet again crosses I-65 into the town of Alabaster. It enters Jefferson County a few miles later, home of Birmingham (AL) - Alabama's largest city population-wise.

In southern Jefferson County, the route reaches Hoover. At this point, the route crosses Interstate 459 - a partial beltway around Birmingham. In Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham, the route crosses Interstate 65 yet again, its last crossing in the county. Snaking up to Homewood, another suburb of Birmingham, the route reaches U.S. Route 280. At its interchange with U.S. 280, the route becomes the Red Mountain Expressway, descending down Red Mountain. At this point, the city of Birmingham is in stunning view. Descending onto a viaduct above eastern Birmingham, the route has its junctions with U.S. Route 78 and U.S. Route 11 before reaching their Interstate parallels, the concurrent Interstate 20 and Interstate 59, which is also the western terminus of U.S. Route 280. At this junction, the route dips down out of the viaduct onto surface streets, passing through the northern suburbs of Birmingham. A few miles later, the route has its junction with Interstate 22; this is also a dual junction with Interstate 65, but not a crossing. At this point, the route leaves Birmingham.

Winding through Fultondale, Gardendale, Morris, and Warrior, the route serves the communities of hilly northern Jefferson County. After crossing the county line into Blount County, the route has a junction with Alabama State Route 160 immediately followed by a Parclo Interchange with Interstate 65. At this point, U.S. Route 31 enters its first concurrency with Interstate 65. A few miles later in Smoke Rise, the route leaves Interstate 65 at a trumpet interchange. Following an arc, the route winds through a ridge cut, passes through Bangor, and crosses the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River into Cullman County.

Immediately entering Garden City, the route slowly starts to arc back towards I-65. In Hanceville, the route passes Wallace State University and also passes within a few miles of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Winding north out of Hanceville, the route crosses into the city limits of Cullman. A few miles into the city limits, the route engages in a concurrency with Alabama State Route 69. About two miles later, it reaches U.S. Route 278, which is also the end of the SR-69 concurrency. Heading north out of town, the route crosses SR-157, the University of North Alabama Highway. After descending down into Morgan County, the route yet again crosses Interstate 65. Heading north, the route passes through Hartselle before serving Decatur. Just south of the Tennessee River, the route enters its next concurrency with U.S. 72 Alt.

Crossing the Tennessee River into Limestone County, the route has a Directional-T Interchange and loses U.S. 72 Alt, heading north out of the junction. Passing by Calhoun Community College, the route heads its way to Athens (AL). At this point, it has a Parclo Interchange with U.S. Route 72. A few miles later, it returns to a concurrent state with Interstate 65, which it follows all the way to one mile above the state line with Tennessee.

Major intersections

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Baldwin	Spanish Fort	0.000	0.000	US 90 (SR 16) / US 98 (SR 42 / Spanish Fort Boulevard)	Southern terminus
		0.209	0.336	SR 225 north	Southern terminus of SR 225
	Daphne	3.634	5.848	SR 181 south / CR 27 north (Jimmy Faulkner Drive) to I-10	Northern terminus of SR 181
	​	9.819	15.802	SR 59 south – Loxley, Gulf Shores	Southern end of SR 59 overlap
	Bay Minette	20.446	32.905	SR 59 north (McMeans Avenue) to I-65 / D'Olive Street	Northern end of SR 59 overlap; To I-65 signed northbound only
		21.135	34.013	SR 287 north (Hand Avenue) / Hand Avenue	Southern terminus of SR 287
Escambia	Atmore	41.212	66.324	SR 21 (Main Street) to I-65 – Pensacola, Monroeville, Coastal Alabama Community College	Cities signed southbound only
	Flomaton	55.460	89.254	US 29 south / SR 113 south (Sidney E. Manning Boulevard) – Pensacola	Southern end of US 29 / SR 113 overlap
		56.601	91.090	SR 113 north to I-65	Northern end of SR 113 overlap
	Brewton	69.320	111.560	US 29 north (SR 15 north / Mildred Street) / SR 41 (South Nicholas Avenue) to I-65 – Andalusia, Repton	Northern end of US 29 overlap; southern terminus of SR 15; destinations signed southbound only
Conecuh	​	93.004	149.675	US 84 west (SR 12 west) to I-65	Southern end of US 84 / SR 12 overlap
	Evergreen	95.670	153.966	SR 83 north (Cooper Street) to I-65 – Midway	Southern terminus of SR 83
	​	101.861	163.929	US 84 east (SR 12 east) – Andalusia	Northern end of US 84 / SR 12 overlap
Butler	McKenzie	115.515	185.903	SR 55 south / South Garland Road – Andalusia, McKenzie	Southern end of SR 55 overlap
	​	119.5[2]	192.3	SR 65 north / Kokomo Road	Northern end of SR 55 overlap
	Georgiana	122.910	197.804	SR 106 – Brantley, Georgiana
	​	134.128	215.858	SR 185 north (Aztec Road) – Greenville	Southern end of SR 185 Truck overlap; southern terminus of SR 185; southern terminus of SR 185 Truck
	Greenville	138.942	223.605	SR 10 / SR 185 Truck north (Luverne Highway / East Commerce Street) to I-10 – Luverne, Greenville	Northern end of SR 185 Truck overlap
Lowndes	​	151.213	243.354	SR 185 south / CR 4	Northern terminus of SR 185
	​	157.593	253.621	SR 97 north – Hayneville	Southern end of SR 97 overlap
	Davenport	159.063	255.987	SR 97 south to US 331	Northern end of SR 97 overlap
Montgomery	Hope Hull	174.046	280.100	I-65 – Montgomery, Mobile	I-65 exit 164
	Montgomery	177.262	285.276	US 80 (SR 8 / Selma Highway) / SR 21 south to I-65 – Selma	Southern end of SR 21 overlap; interchange on US 80
		178.494	287.258	SR 21 north (West South Boulevard) to I-65 / I-85 / US 82 / US 231 / US 331 / Mobile Highway – Union Springs	Northern end of SR 21 overlap; destination signed southbound only
Montgomery–Elmore county line	​	186.018– 186.304	299.367– 299.827	Bridge over the Alabama River
Elmore	No major junctions
Autauga	Prattville	188.271	302.993	US 82 (SR 6) to SR 14 / I-65
	​	196.581	316.366	I-65 – Montgomery, Birmingham	I-65 exit 186
Chilton	Mountain Creek	208.882	336.163	SR 143 south – Marbury	Northern terminus of SR 143
	​	213.408	343.447	SR 22 east – Alexander City	Southern end of SR 22 overlap
	Clanton	217.466	349.978	I-65 – Birmingham, Montgomery	I-65 exit 208
		221.710	356.808	SR 22 west / SR 145 north (Fourth Avenue North) – Selma	Northern end of SR 22 overlap; southern terminus of SR 145
	Jemison	232.684	374.469	SR 191 south / CR 42 (Church Street) / Church Street – Maplesville	Northern terminus of SR 191
	​	234.790	377.858	SR 155 north – Montevallo	Southern terminus of SR 155
Shelby	Calera	242.795	390.741	SR 25 south / 18th Avenue	Southern end of SR 25 overlap
		242.955	390.998	SR 25 north (Main Street) to I-65	Northern end of SR 25 overlap
		245.674	395.374	I-65 – Montgomery, Birmingham	I-65 exit 231
	Calera	246.670	396.977	SR 70 east / CR 22 west – Columbiana	Southern terminus of SR 70
	Alabaster	252.935	407.059	I-65 – Birmingham, Montgomery	I-65 exit 238
		253.652	408.213	SR 119 south (Montevallo Road) / CR 11 north (Simmsville Road) – Montevallo, Brierfield State Park	Southern end of SR 119 overlap
	Pelham	260.473	419.191	SR 119 north (Cahaba Valley Road) to I-65 / Commerce Parkway	Northern end of SR 119 overlap
		261.493	420.832	SR 261 south (Helena Road) / CR 17 north (Valleydale Road) to I-65 – Helena	Northern terminus of SR 261
Jefferson	Hoover	263.732	424.436	SR 150 west (John Hawkins Parkway) / Lorna Road	Eastern terminus of SR 150
	​	264.277	425.313	I-459 – Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa	I-459 exit 13
	Hoover–Vestavia Hills line	266.187	428.386	I-65 / Lorna Road / Columbiana Road – Montgomery, Birmingham	I-65 exit 252
	Homewood	270.698	435.646	SR 149
		270[3]	430	Brookwood Medical Center Drive	Interchange
		270.698	435.646	SR 149 (Shades Creek Parkway / Lakeshore Drive)	Interchange
		271.7[4]	437.3	Southern end of Red Mountain Expressway
		272.076	437.864	US 280 east (SR 38 East) / Rosedale Drive – Sylacauga, Homewood	Southern end of US 280 overlap; interchange; destinations signed southbound only; western terminus of unsigned SR 38
	Birmingham	272.5[5]	438.5	21st Avenue South	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		272.9[6]	439.2	Highland Avenue / Arlington Avenue	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		273.6[7]	440.3	University Boulevard
		274.162	441.221	To US 78 (SR 4 / 3rd-4th Avenue South)
		274.234	441.337	US 11 (SR 7 / First Avenue North)	Northbound exit only
		274.4[8]	441.6	2nd Avenue North	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; entrance ramp from 3rd Avenue North
		275.407	443.225	I-20 / I-59 to I-65 – Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa	No access from US 31 south to I-20 / 59 or from I-20 east / I-59 north to US 31 north; northern end of US 280 overlap; western terminus of US 280; I-20 / 59 exit 126A
		275.1[9]	442.7	Northern end of Red Mountain Expressway
		276.762	445.405	SR 378 west (Finley Boulevard) to I-65 / Finley Boulevard	Eastern terminus of SR 378
				I-22 west – Memphis	Future interchange (under construction); future eastern terminus of I-22
		279.5	449.8	I-65 – Huntsville, Birmingham	I-65 southbound exit 265B
Blount	​	299.707	482.332	SR 160 east – Hayden	Western terminus of SR 160
	​	299.823 284.361	482.518 457.635	I-65 south / Lester Doss Road / White Oak Trail – Birmingham	Southern end of I-65 overlap; I-65 exit 284; mileposts switch from SR 3 to I-65
	​	287.370 302.832	462.477 487.361	I-65 north – Cullman, Decatur	Northern end of I-65 overlap; I-65 exit 287; mileposts switch from I-65 to SR 3
Cullman	Hanceville	317.460	510.902	SR 91 (Arkadelphia Road) to I-65 / US 278 (SR 74) – Holly Pond, Colony	Destinations signed southbound only
	Cullman	325.356	523.610	SR 69 south (Cherokee Avenue SW) to I-65 / King Edward Street NW	Southern end of SR 69 overlap
		326.569	525.562	US 278 (SR 74) / SR 69 north (Third Street SW)	Northern end of SR 69 overlap
		328.918	529.342	SR 157 to I-65 / US 278 north (SR 74) – Gadsden, Moulton
Morgan	​	337.073	542.466	I-65 – Nashville, Birmingham	I-65 exit 318; Nashville signed southbound only
	Hartselle	346.313	557.337	SR 36 (Main Street West) to I-65 – Danville
	Decatur	354.958	571.250	SR 67 (Point Mallard Parkway / Beltline Road SW) to I-65 – Priceville, Tuscumbia
		358.394	576.779	US 72 Alt. west (Corridor V / Wilson Street NE) / SR 20 / Wilson Street NE	Southern end of US 72 Alt. / SR 20 overlap; no access from US 31 north to US 72 Alt./SR 20 west
Morgan–Limestone county line		358.731	577.322	Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges over Tennessee River
Limestone		360.377	579.971	US 72 Alt. east (Corridor V) / SR 20 east to I-65 / I-565	Northern end of US 72 Alt. / SR 20 overlap
	Athens	371.264	597.491	US 72 (SR 2) – Athens, Huntsville	Interchange
		372.793	599.952	SR 251 north (Pryor Street) / Pryor Street – Ardmore	Southern terminus of SR 251
		373.647	601.327	SR 99 north (East Elm Street) to SR 127 / Sportsplex Loop	Southern terminus of SR 99
		374.377 354.157	602.501 569.960	I-65 south – Birmingham	Southern end of I-65 overlap; northern end of SR 3 overlap; northern terminus of SR 3; I-65 exit 354; mileposts switch from SR 3 to I-65
	​	360.918	580.841	Elkmont	I-65 exit 361
	​	364.826	587.131	SR 53 south – Ardmore	Northern terminus of SR 53; I-65 exit 365
	​	366.229	589.388	I-65 north / US 31 north – Nashville	Continuation into Tennessee
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References

1. "Alabama Department of Transportation Milepost/General Highway Maps". Alabama Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
2. Google (July 3, 2020). "U.S. Route 31 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
3. Google (July 4, 2020). "U.S. Route 31 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
4. Google (July 4, 2020). "U.S. Route 31 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
5. Google (July 4, 2020). "U.S. Route 31 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
6. Google (July 4, 2020). "U.S. Route 31 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
7. Google (July 4, 2020). "U.S. Route 31 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
8. Google (July 4, 2020). "U.S. Route 31 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
9. Google (July 4, 2020). "U.S. Route 31 in Alabama" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 4, 2020.