Interstate 359
Interstate 359 is a 2.30 mile long spur from I-20/59 into Downtown Tuscaloosa near the University of Alabama campus. U.S. 11 and SR 69 run concurrently with I-359, connecting with the freeway from both end points. Spanning the Black Warrior River, a high level bridge (U.S. 43 / SR 69) extends north from I-359 to Northport.
Estimated to cost $60.2 million, planned upgrades along SR 69 south of I-359 include constructing an interchange in place of the intersection with U.S. 11 (Skyland Boulevard) and adding separate ramps for I-20/59. An impasse between the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) regarding funding placed the project on hold in November 2018.1
Interstate 359 fully opened to traffic on September 13, 1983 upon completion of the viaduct from the Norfolk Southern Railroad north of 31st Street to 12th Street near Downtown Tuscaloosa. The highway cost $41 million to construct.2
North 
South 
North
U.S. 11 south turns north from Skyland Boulevard and combines with SR 69 at the freeway beginning of Interstate 359. The directional cloverleaf interchange with I-20/59 follows.
10/21/12
The unnumbered ramp for I-20/59 north to Birmingham departs Interstate 359 north. I-20/59 run across the south side of Tuscaloosa to Vance and turn northeast to Bessemer and the greater Birmingham area.
10/21/12
I-20 west / I-59 south continue southwest from the Tuscaloosa Western Bypass to Eutaw and Livingston through rural Greene and Sumter Counties. Once beyond Meridian, Mississippi, the routes split on respective paths to Jackson and Laurel.
10/21/12
The succeeding exit along the 2.79 mile long freeway is the folded diamond interchange with 35th Street. Exit 1 joins Interstate 359 with an industrial area along 35th Street, east of parallel Kauloosa Avenue.
10/21/12
The first confirming shield for Interstate 359 north stands ahead of Cribbs Mill Creek.
11/28/09
Running alongside I-359 north to the Tuscaloosa business district, 35th Street provides a connection to parallel Greensboro Avenue (SR 215). Greensboro Avenue was the original alignment for U.S. 11, U.S. 82 and SR 69 before the completion of both I-359 and McFarland Boulevard.
10/21/12
I-359 north, U.S. 11 south / SR 69 north reach the loop ramp (Exit 1) to 35th Street. 35th Street comprises a multi-lane arterial west from SR 215 (Greensboro Avenue) at 10th Avenue to Kauloosa Avenue west of I-359. The street continues west to CR 44 and Shelton State Community College.
10/21/12
The succeeding exit along I-359 north is the diamond interchange with 15th Street (U.S. 11/U.S. 43 south) for Stillman College.
10/21/12
Interstate 359, U.S. 11 and SR 69 travel a viaduct over a Norfolk Southern Railroad line and the Tuscaloosa street grid from 21st to 17th Streets.
10/21/12
Exit 2 departs from the north end of Interstate 359 to 15th Street. U.S. 11 south departs I-359 and SR 69 for an overlap with U.S. 43 to Fosters, Knoxville and Eutaw. U.S. 43 north joins SR 69 northbound toward Downtown and the city of Northport.
10/21/12
SR 69 combines with U.S. 43 north from the end of I-359 at 15th Street along Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard. The one way couplet along Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard extends north to University Boulevard west of Downtown Tuscaloosa.
10/21/12
U.S. 43 south leaves Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard for 15th Street west to Stillman College at the beginning of Interstate 359. U.S. 43 combines with U.S. 11 south from Tuscaloosa 33.33 miles west to the Greene County seat of Eutaw.
10/21/12
I-359 commences along a lengthy viaduct south from 15th Street to a Norfolk Southern Railroad line. Exit 2 connects the freeway with 35th Street in one mile.
10/21/12
A folded diamond interchange connects I-359-U.S. 11/SR 69 with 35th Street in one half mile. The ramps to I-20/59 follow in 1.25 miles for Birmingham and Meridian, Mississippi.
10/21/12
Kauloosa Avenue travels south from 31st Street through the industrial area by 35th Street to SR 69 south of I-20/59.
10/21/12
31st Street spans Interstate 359 southbound at the ramp departure (Exit 1) for 35th Street. 35th Street heads west to County Road 44 and Shelton State Community College and east to become 10th Avenue north at SR 215 (Greensboro Avenue). This overhead assembly was not present in 2012.
11/28/09
Passing under 35th Street, Interstate 359 southbound partitions with three lanes continuing to U.S. 11 north / SR 69 south to Skyland Boulevard and two lanes joining I-20/59.
10/21/12
An end sign precedes the unnumbered off-ramp to I-20/59. I-20/59 northbound travel 49 miles to the city of Birmingham. Meridian, Mississippi lies 85 miles to the southwest.
10/21/12
Three lanes of Interstate 359 south, U.S. 11 north / SR 69 south quickly reduce to two beyond the gore point sign for I-20/59.
10/21/12
A two lane flyover winds eastward onto I-20/59 through south Tuscaloosa and Cottondale. Traffic heading west leaves the urban area over wetlands ahead of the Black Warrior River.
10/21/12
U.S. 11 north and SR 69 split at the freeway end of I-359. A $60.3 million project previously estimated to start in Summer 2019 will replace this congested intersection with a grade separated interchange.
10/21/12
U.S. 11 joins Skyland Boulevard, a busy commercial arterial east through southern reaches of Tuscaloosa, while SR 69 extends south through growing suburban areas to Moundville and Greensboro in Hale County.
10/21/12
scenes
Mill Creek Avenue leads north from 39th Street to 35th Street opposite the southbound loop ramp to Interstate 359 at Exit 1.
09/28/03
References:
- "No funding agreement reached between ALDOT, road commission." Tuscaloosa News (AL), November 27, 2018.
- "Interstate link speeding traffic flow." The Tuscaloosa News (AL), October 27, 1983.
Photo Credits:
- ABRoads: 10/21/12
- Brent Ivy: 11/28/09
- Alex Nitzman: 09/28/03
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Page Updated Tuesday January 08, 2019.