State Route 5 (Alabama)
Encyclopedia
State Route 5 is a north–south state highway
is the western part of the State of Alabama. While it once extended—prior to the renumbering of the highways of Alabama in 1957—from Mobile north to Tennessee
, and was one of the major routes between Mobile and Birmingham, it has since been shortened to about half of its former length, and superseded by newer highways such as Interstate 65 and State Route 157.
. For the next 135 miles (217.3 km), proceeds northeasterly towards Birmingham, passing through the rural areas of the Black Belt
. In northern Bibb County, SR-5 joins US-11, I-20
, and I-59
, and these continue their route to the northeast. SR-5 runs on the same pavement with US-11 for 30 miles (48.3 km) between Woodstock
and Birmingham.
The second section of SR-5 begins near the historic Legion Field
stadium in Birmingham, where US-11 and SR-5 intersect with US-78. At that point, the overlapping of SR-5, and US-11 ends, and the 40 miles (64.4 km)-long overlapping of SR-5 and US-78 begins. US-78 and SR-7 head northwest towards Jasper, passing through the Birmingham suburbs of Forestdale
, Adamsville
and Graysville
. At Jasper, SR-5 forks away from US-78, continuing through the rural areas of Walker County
and Winston County. The northern terminus of SR-5 is at its junction with US-278 and SR-13 at Natural Bridge
.
SR-43 also ran southwest from Jasper to SR-33 at the village of Bankston, though the exact route had not been defined by 1927. From there, travelers could continue north on part of SR-5 to Florence, and SR-50 to the State of Tennessee, where the road became Tennessee State Route 6
towards Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and Nashville, Tenn.
By late 1928, a large renumbering of highways had been carried out. The new SR-5 stretched from Mobile to Tennessee via Birmingham and Florence, and included several former routes: most of SR-6, all of SR-35, most of SR-43, part of SR-5, and all of SR-50. The remainders of SR-35 and SR-43 became parts of SR-22 and SR-18. The old SR-5 was split among several routes. The two halves of new SR-5 were linked between somewhaere near Woodstock and Jasper by overlap with SR-7 (US-11) and SR-4 (US-78) via Birmingham. US-43 was added to the route south of Thomasville and north of Phil Campbell in 1933 or 1934. In between those two, SR-5 used a shorter route, mainly SR-13.
Except for minor relocations and widenings, SR-5 remained the same until the 1950s. Around 1950, a new highway, running southeast from SR-5 at Haleyville to local roads at Natural Bridge, was added to the state highway system as SR-195.
Maintenance by the Alabama Highway Department was extended southeast from Natural Bridge to SR-5 near Jasper by 1957. In that year, in the renumbering of the state highways of Alabama, substantial changes were made to the route of SR-5. Both portions of it that had been co-routes with US-43—south of Thomasville and north of Phil Campbell—became SR-13, which essentially became the unsigned partner to US-43 across the state. SR-13 used a shorter highway between Bankston and Haleyville, joining SR-5 at Natural Bridge and making the north end of SR-5 an overlap with SR-13. US-43 has never been moved to this route.
In addition, SR-5 and SR-195 were swapped between Jasper and Haleyville, giving SR-5 a more direct route that had just been paved. This removed almost half of the original Alalama highway 5, leaving it a reflected C-shaped route, with both ends of connecting with US-43, and its eastmost point in Birmingham.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
is the western part of the State of Alabama. While it once extended—prior to the renumbering of the highways of Alabama in 1957—from Mobile north to Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and was one of the major routes between Mobile and Birmingham, it has since been shortened to about half of its former length, and superseded by newer highways such as Interstate 65 and State Route 157.
Route description
In a way, SR-5 is two separate highways. The first leg of its route begins at the present southern terminus of SR-5 at its intersection with US-43 at Thomasville, AlabamaThomasville, Alabama
Thomasville is a city in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 4,209. Founded as a late 19th century railroad town, it has transitioned over the course of more than a century into a 21st century commercial hub...
. For the next 135 miles (217.3 km), proceeds northeasterly towards Birmingham, passing through the rural areas of the Black Belt
Black Belt (region of Alabama)
The Black Belt is a region of the U.S. state of Alabama, and part of the larger Black Belt Region of the Southern United States, which stretches from Texas to Maryland. The term originally referred to the region underlain by a thin layer of rich, black topsoil developed atop the chalk of the Selma...
. In northern Bibb County, SR-5 joins US-11, I-20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
, and I-59
Interstate 59
Interstate 59 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is near Slidell, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, at an intersection with Interstate 10 and Interstate 12, its northern terminus is at Wildwood, Georgia, at an intersection with Interstate 24.The road's...
, and these continue their route to the northeast. SR-5 runs on the same pavement with US-11 for 30 miles (48.3 km) between Woodstock
Woodstock, Alabama
Woodstock is a town in Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. Formerly known as North Bibb, by referendum in August 2000, the town adopted the name of a long-established local unincorporated community and as of October 1, 2000 is now known officially as "Woodstock"...
and Birmingham.
The second section of SR-5 begins near the historic Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
stadium in Birmingham, where US-11 and SR-5 intersect with US-78. At that point, the overlapping of SR-5, and US-11 ends, and the 40 miles (64.4 km)-long overlapping of SR-5 and US-78 begins. US-78 and SR-7 head northwest towards Jasper, passing through the Birmingham suburbs of Forestdale
Forestdale, Alabama
Forestdale is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Birmingham, Alabama, United States north of Ensley. At the 2000 census the population was 10,509.-Geography:Forestdale is located at .According to the U.S...
, Adamsville
Adamsville, Alabama
Adamsville is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. According to the 2010 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 4,522.-Geography:...
and Graysville
Graysville, Alabama
Graysville is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 2,344.-Geography:Graysville is located at ....
. At Jasper, SR-5 forks away from US-78, continuing through the rural areas of Walker County
Walker County, Alabama
Walker County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.Its name is in honor of John Williams Walker, a member of the United States Senate. As of 2010 the population was 67,023...
and Winston County. The northern terminus of SR-5 is at its junction with US-278 and SR-13 at Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge, Alabama
Natural Bridge is a town at the southwest edge of Winston County, Alabama, United States, located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 278 and Alabama Highway 13. The population was 28 at the 2000 census...
.
History
In the original numbering of state roads in the mid-1920s, the highway that would become SR-5 had several numbers. SR-6 was the highway from Mobile north via Thomasville to Selma. SR-35 split from SR-6 at Safford and ran northeast near Woodstock, where traffic could continue to Birmingham on SR-2 (US-11). SR-43 split from SR-8 (US-78) at Jasper, taking traffic from Montgomery via US-78 to Phil Campbell.SR-43 also ran southwest from Jasper to SR-33 at the village of Bankston, though the exact route had not been defined by 1927. From there, travelers could continue north on part of SR-5 to Florence, and SR-50 to the State of Tennessee, where the road became Tennessee State Route 6
Tennessee State Route 6
State Route 6 is an unsigned south–north route from Lawrence County, Tennessee to Sumner County, Tennessee. The designation can be found on mileposts, however.- Route description :...
towards Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and Nashville, Tenn.
By late 1928, a large renumbering of highways had been carried out. The new SR-5 stretched from Mobile to Tennessee via Birmingham and Florence, and included several former routes: most of SR-6, all of SR-35, most of SR-43, part of SR-5, and all of SR-50. The remainders of SR-35 and SR-43 became parts of SR-22 and SR-18. The old SR-5 was split among several routes. The two halves of new SR-5 were linked between somewhaere near Woodstock and Jasper by overlap with SR-7 (US-11) and SR-4 (US-78) via Birmingham. US-43 was added to the route south of Thomasville and north of Phil Campbell in 1933 or 1934. In between those two, SR-5 used a shorter route, mainly SR-13.
Except for minor relocations and widenings, SR-5 remained the same until the 1950s. Around 1950, a new highway, running southeast from SR-5 at Haleyville to local roads at Natural Bridge, was added to the state highway system as SR-195.
Maintenance by the Alabama Highway Department was extended southeast from Natural Bridge to SR-5 near Jasper by 1957. In that year, in the renumbering of the state highways of Alabama, substantial changes were made to the route of SR-5. Both portions of it that had been co-routes with US-43—south of Thomasville and north of Phil Campbell—became SR-13, which essentially became the unsigned partner to US-43 across the state. SR-13 used a shorter highway between Bankston and Haleyville, joining SR-5 at Natural Bridge and making the north end of SR-5 an overlap with SR-13. US-43 has never been moved to this route.
In addition, SR-5 and SR-195 were swapped between Jasper and Haleyville, giving SR-5 a more direct route that had just been paved. This removed almost half of the original Alalama highway 5, leaving it a reflected C-shaped route, with both ends of connecting with US-43, and its eastmost point in Birmingham.