Interstate 22
The completed systems interchange joining Interstate 22 and I-65 at North Birmingham. - 10/08/2016
Interstate 22 overlays U.S. 78 from Tremont, Mississippi to Graysville across northwestern Alabama. Following a rural route, I-22 connects the cities of Hamilton, Guin, Winfield, Carbon Hill and Jasper with the north Birmingham suburbs and Interstate 65 at Fultondale. The scenic freeway is a part of a regional link between Birmingham and Memphis, Tennessee.
Interstate 22 Alabama Guides
I-22/U.S. 78 East - Marion County - 57 photos
I-22/U.S. 78 East - Walker County - 53 photos
I-22/U.S. 78 East - Jefferson County - 31 photos
I-22/U.S. 78 West - 39 photos
U.S. 78 between Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama is Appalachian Regional Development Corridor X. Planning for Corridor X started in 1978, with the first funding in place by 1983.3 Signs recognizing the route a Future Interstate highway were approved in April 2005.4
26 miles of Interstate 22 opened to traffic on November 14, 2007. Included were sections between Industrial Parkway (Exit 65) in Jasper and U.S. 78 at Graysville (Exit 85), and from Exit 85 to Cherry Avenue (Exit 91)1. The portion to Cherry Avenue previously opened to local traffic in early June 2007.2 Those stretches were preceded by the completion of 20 miles of freeway, between SR 129 (Exit 30) and SR 118 west of Jasper, on November 22, 2005.3
A 2.5 mile extension of I-22 east from Cherry Avenue to Coalburg Road opened to traffic on December 9, 2009. Construction on the final link with Interstate 65 was underway in August 2010, and the $168.6 million contract was scheduled to run four years.5
This view looked south from the 47th Avenue overpass during construction of the directional T interchange joining I-22 and I-65. - 10/20/2012
Initially planned for completion on October 15, 2014, several delays hampered construction on the easternmost 2.5 miles of I-22. The project was pushed back to August 2015, and again into the following year. The interchange with Interstate 65 finally debuted to motorists on June 20, 2016.
scenes construction
Interstate 22 ended temporarily at SR 129 until November 22, 2005.
09/25/03
The one half mile guide sign for U.S. 78 and SR 129 at Exit 30 and the temporary end of Interstate 22 near Winfield. Note that Birmingham, the U.S. 78 eastbound control city, was the only featured. The freeway resumed 25 miles to the east via U.S. 78 east and SR 129 south.
09/25/03
A side profile of the Exit 30 guide sign at the temporary east end of the first Corridor X freeway segment in Alabama.
09/25/03
Looking eastward at the temporary end of Interstate 22 east at Exit 30. The freeway opened to traffic between SR 129 and SR 118, west of Jasper, on November 22, 2005.
09/25/03
Westward perspective from the eventual westbound lanes of Interstate 22 at the Exit 30 stub interchange. The Hamilton area segment of Corridor X consists of four overall travel lanes.
09/25/03
Construction was well underway at the diamond interchange joining SR 13 with I-22 north of Eldridge. This ramp opened in November 2005.
09/25/03
The overpasses that now shuttle Interstate 22 over SR 13 were essentially done at the time of this photo, but were not open to traffic for another two years.
09/25/03
The Jasper segment of Interstate 22 concluded at Exit 52, four miles to the east of Carbon Hill. Temporary U.S. 78 ends signs were posted at half mile intervals.
09/25/03
View of the unopened westbound travel lanes at the temporary beginning of Interstate 22 west within the diamond interchange at Exit 65.
09/25/03
Westward view of Interstate 22 from when the freeway ended at Industrial Parkway.
09/25/03
A historical look at the temporary end of freeway at the Industrial Parkway interchange south of Jasper. Note that the freeway was constructed with six overall lanes westward to Exit 63.
09/25/03
The eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 22 from Industrial Parkway Road (Exit 65) under construction. This ramp opened on November 14, 2007.
09/25/03
Looking to the west at the Industrial Parkway interchange (Exit 65) from a perch high above the eastbound lanes.
09/25/03
Whitehouse Road travels east from Industrial Parkway parallel to Interstate 22. This view looks from just north of the adjacent road at Corridor X during its construction. The freeway overtook a portion of the original Whitehouse Road alignment, resulting in an adjustment of the road north across I-22 to East Lake Road.
09/25/03
A generous rock cut, representative of the rocky nature of the Appalachian Piedmont, is evident along Interstate 22 between Whitehouse and Walker County Lake Roads, east of Exit 65.
09/25/03
Industrial Parkway northbound at the full diamond interchange with Interstate 22 during construction.
09/25/03
This eastward scene looks at what is now the westbound off-ramp of Interstate 22 onto Industrial Parkway.
09/25/03
Westward view of the Interstate 22 travel lanes from the U.S. 78 and SR 5 overpass within the six-ramp parclo interchange at Exit 85.
09/25/03
References:
- "Two more portions of Corridor X opening." Mobile Press-Register, November 1, 2007.
- "DOT set to open more of Corridor X." Mobile Press-Register, June 3, 2007.
- "Corridor X open from Jasper to Memphis." Mobile Press-Register, November 23, 2005.
- "Interstate signs set to go up on Corridor X." Mobile Press-Register, April 17, 2005.
- "Birmingham I-65/Corridor X project set to launch Aug. 1." The Birmingham News, July 26, 2010.
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman: 09/25/03
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Page Updated Monday May 15, 2017.