State Route 181
SR 181 constitutes a suburban route from Spanish Fort south to eastern reaches of Daphne and Fairhope and other Eastern Shore communities in Baldwin County. Prior to 2006, SR 181 was just a 1.5 mile long connector (Malbis Plantation Parkway) linking U.S. 90 and Baldwin County Road 27 (Belforest Road) at Malbis with Interstate 10 and U.S. 31 (Spanish Fort Boulevard) at Spanish Fort.
Initial road work expanded a portion of Baldwin County Road 27 (Belforest Road) south from two to four lanes to serve growing suburban areas in east Daphne and Fairhope. This construction coincided with a mileage swap between Baldwin County and the state, where Belforest Road was incorporated into a 17 mile extension of SR 181 south to U.S. 98. The county accepted maintenance of SR 112 between Bay Minette and Muscogee, Florida in return.
CR 27 previously extended south from SR 181 and U.S. 90 at Malbis through rural areas east of the Baldwin County Eastern Shore communities to Barnwell. Beyond SR 104, CR 27 ran through agricultural areas and a handful of subdivisions to U.S. 98 by Weeks Bay.
South
The first southbound shield for SR 181, posted along Malbis Plantation Parkway south of U.S. 31 and the County Road 27 extension.
05/16/04
Southbound reassurance shield posted on Malbis Plantation Parkway between Interstate 10 (Exit 38) and U.S. 90 at Malbis.
05/07/04
Approaching U.S. 90 on SR 181 south at Malbis. The state route replaced CR 27 (Belforest Road) south from the upcoming intersection to Belforest, SR 104, and U.S. 98 near Weeks Bay.
05/07/04
The original southern terminus of SR 181 (Malbis Plantation Parkway) at U.S. 90 in Malbis. U.S. 90 heads three miles west to Daphne and Spanish Fort and six miles east to Loxley.
05/07/04
08/24/03
South
The community of Belforest lies at the crossroads of SR 181 and CR 64. CR 64 follows Daphne Roads east from the city of Daphne to Belforest and Loxley. The county road eventually turns north to meet I-10 at Exit 53.
08/24/03
SR 181 (Belforest Road) southbound after CR 64 (Daphne Road). Belforest Road intersects CR 13 two miles ahead.
05/15/04
Forthcoming SR 104 runs west from U.S. 98 and the city of Fairhope to U.S. 90 at the town of Robertsdale.
08/24/03
SR 104 travels six miles east from SR 181 to the town of Silverhill. SR 181 continues another five miles south to U.S. 98 near Weeks Bay.
08/24/03
Belforest Road southbound at CR 48. CR 48 (Fairhope Avenue) leads two miles east from U.S. 98 and the city of Fairhope to SR 181. Eastward CR 48 extends another 6.5 miles to CR 55 south of Silverhill.
05/15/04
SR 181 continues another 1.5 miles southward to Baldwin County Road 44 (Twin Beech Road). There were no additional traffic lights along the state route south of CR 48 as of 2004.
05/15/04
CR 27 reassurance marker posted south of CR 44 (Twin Beech Road).
05/15/04
Southbound SR 181 at Baldwin County Road 32 (Dixie Road). CR 32 travels 24.6 miles through central Baldwin County, from Point Clear and U.S. 98 Alternate eastward to Fairhope Municipal Airport and Summerdale.
05/15/04
SR 181 jogs east than south to U.S. 98 at Turkey Branch.
05/15/04
U.S. 98 turns east from U.S. 98 Alternate on the 13 miles between the Eastern Shore and Foley. CR 27 ends at U.S. 98 but resumes again one half mile to the west along Mary Ann Beach Road south.
05/15/04
North
Baldwin County Road 27 widened to four lanes at the Malbis Plantation Parkway intersection with U.S. 90 and SR 181.
08/26/01
The previous end shield for CR 27 north at U.S. 90 and SR 181. Prior to the extension south to Weeks Bay, SR 181 was an extremely short route connecting U.S. 90 with I-10 and U.S. 31.
08/26/01
References:
- "Officials applaud road-widening projects for Baldwin 27 and U.S. 31." The Mobile Register (AL), May 11, 2004.
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman: 08/26/01, 05/07/04, 05/15/04, 05/16/04
- Alex Nitzman, Justin Cozart: 08/24/03
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Page Updated Tuesday July 06, 2004.