State Route 163 - Dauphin Island Parkway
Alabama State Route 163 is Dauphin Island Parkway (known as the DIP by Mobilians) in Mobile County. Generally a five lane boulevard, the state route serves areas of south Mobile including Brookley Field and Dog River. The northern end connects Interstate 10 with with Government Boulevard (U.S. 90) and Airport Boulevard near Midtown Mobile. SR 163 ends to the south at SR 193 east of Theodore.
SR 163 originally continued south of the Fowl River all the way to Dauphin Island. This alignment preceded the establishment of SR 193 south from Tillman's Corner to the barrier island. SR 163 was relocated due to the closure and removal of the Dauphin Island Parkway bridge across Theodore Ship Channel.
North
SR 163 Dog River Bridge, as seen from a nearby frontage road. The Dog River is the home to marinas and industry, as it snakes its way through south Mobile. This span is visible from the Interstate 10 Bayway at night.
03/28/02
SR 163 (Dauphin Island Parkway) northbound at the multi level interchange (Exit 22) with Interstate 10. SR 163 rises quickly to cross over the six lane freeway due to the proximity of the adjacent CSX Railroad line.
11/03/03
The eastbound entrance ramp to I-10 departs SR 163 north. A left side ramp connect I-10 east with DIP north.
11/03/03
A loop ramp joins SR 163 north with I-10 west ahead of McVay Drive. McVay is a collector connecting Dauphin Island Parkway with U.S. 90 (Government Boulevard) to the northwest. Hank Aaron Stadium is located off McVay Drive via Satchel Paige Drive.
01/29/10
SR 163 advances north onto the final section of Dauphin Island Parkway (DIP) at the Loop.
11/13/03
Approaching U.S. 90 west to Midtown Mobile and east to Downtown Mobile. DIP crosses a Norfolk Southern Railroad line leading into the intersection. The final block extends north to Airport Boulevard.
11/13/03
SR 163 concludes at a five point intersection with Government Street, and Williams Street, which links Airport Boulevard east with both U.S. 90 and SR 163.
11/13/03
An end shield for SR 163 is posted at U.S. 90, one block from the end of DIP.
11/13/03
Dauphin Island Parkway extends north from U.S. 90 (Government Street) as a one way street to Airport Boulevard.
07/16/07
South
The first southbound shield for SR 163 appears just south of Government Street. DIP is a three lane boulevard south to the intersection with Duval Street and Halls Mill Road.
11/13/03
Dauphin Island Parkway kinks southwest over Halls Mill Road beyond this reassurance marker. Including a diagonal arrow, the previous shield assembly was posted slightly further south.
02/06/09
Halls Mill Road splits southwestward to Holcombe Avenue (historic U.S. 90). Gosson Street leads northwest to Holcombe Avenue while Duval Street extends east to Michigan Avenue and Interstate 10 (Exit 24).
02/06/09
Continuing south from the five point intersection with Halls mill Road, Gosson and Duval Streets on SR 163.
02/06/09
Zula Lane stems west from SR 163 (Dauphin Island Parkway) as part of a residential loop with Bucker Road.
02/06/09
Frontage roads accompany Dauphin Island Parkway periodically between Zula Lane and McVay Drive near Interstate 10.
02/06/09
Traffic bound for Interstate 10 departs in unison from SR 163 from the McVay Drive intersection with Dauphin Island Parkway.
02/06/09
SR 163 and I-10 meet at a multi level interchange with a left side entrance ramp joining DIP south with the freeway eastbound.
02/06/09
Advancing south from I-10, SR 163 (Dauphin Island Parkway) enters the Neshota and Forest Park communities in south Mobile.
06/15/09
Old Military Road west and Gatot Koco Drive east leave SR 163 (Dauphin Island Parkway) southbound at the next traffic light. Gatot Koco Drive links with Military Road near Mobile Downtown Airport (Brookley Field).
06/15/09
Reassurance shield posted after Old Military Road. SR 163 curves southeastward around the periphery of Dog River.
06/15/09
A signalized shopping center entrance is located on SR 163 between Yorkshire and Cedar Point Roads. The ensuing signal is with Cedar Crescent east and Gulf Dale Drive west. Cedar Crescent radiates eastward from Dauphin Island parkway to a grid of streets and mobile home parks.
06/15/09
Traffic lights operate at Brill Road west and Club House Road southwest from SR 163 (Dauphin Island Parkway) south. Club House Road heads west to Trimmier Park and the Dog River.
06/15/09
SR 163 reassurance marker posted ahead of Gill Road west and Cedar Crescent east.
06/15/09
Stewart Road spurs east from SR 163 to Dog River Point north of this shield assembly.
06/15/09
Boykin Boulevard ventures west from Dauphin Island Parkway at this traffic light to Alba Club Road near Trimmier Park.
06/15/09
SR 163 continues with five lanes southward toward the Dog River Bridge.
06/15/09
Spanning Dog River along SR 163 southbound between the city of Mobile and Hollingers Island. The four lane bridge opened to traffic in 1995.
06/15/09
SR 163 makes a western turn from Dauphin Island Parkway onto Hamilton Boulevard on Hollingers Island. SR 163 historically continued southward to Bellefontaine, but the bridge over the Middle Fork of the Deer River was removed.
06/15/09
SR 163 connects west to SR 193 south to Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island Parkway spurs south to the Mobile Middle Bay Port of the Alabama State Docks.
06/15/09
SR 163 south at the four-way stop between Dauphin Island Parkway, Hamilton Boulevard, and Island Road east to Bay Road.
06/15/09
Traveling west along Hamilton Boulevard after SR 163 Dauphin Island Parkway.
06/15/09
Approaching SR 193 (Rangeline Road) and Mobile County Road 26 (Hamilton Boulevard) west on SR 163 southbound.
06/15/09
SR 193 replaced SR 163 as the main route southward to Dauphin Island. Rangeline Road and the interchange (Exit 17) with Interstate 10 were built between 1979 and 1983.
06/15/09
End shield assembly posted for SR 163 at SR 193 and CR 26 west. CR 26 extends Hamilton Boulevard into Theodore. SR 193 follows Rangeline Road south to Laurendine Road (CR 24) and Bellefontaine, where it overtakes what was SR 163.
06/15/09
scenes
Dauphin Island Parkway north where SR 163 joins the arterial from Hamilton Boulevard on Hollingers Island.
06/15/09
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman: 03/28/02, 11/03/03, 11/13/03, 07/16/07, 06/15/09
- ABRoads: 02/06/09, 01/29/10
Connect with:
Page Updated Wednesday February 09, 2011.