Interstate 165 Alabama

History

Southern Terminus

Northern Terminus

Routing

Opened to traffic on October 28, 1994¹, Interstate 165 provides access from Interstate 65 to the downtown areas of Mobile and Prichard. The $240 million freeway² also serves the Alabama State Docks along the Mobile River. Overall the highway is six lanes wide and is elevated for approximately four miles. The 4.90-mile freeway is lined with overhead lighting assemblies for its entire duration.

History

The concept of Interstate 165 was born out of the demise of the Interstate 210 proposal. Interstate 210, with origins dating back to 1958, was the missing link in the Mobile Urban Interstate system between Interstate 65 and Interstate 10. Due to the impact on the downtown area and access to the Mobile River waterfront, it was decided to curtail the southernmost reaches of Interstate 210 in favor of a spur routing of the freeway between Interstate 65 and Beauregard Street in Mobile. Since Interstate 210 no longer connected two Interstates, the number became invalid and thus the spur designation Interstate 165 was born. See the Interstate 210 Alabama guide for more of the history of this route. AASHTO approved the elimination of Interstate 210 and the designation of Interstate 165 from an application by the state of Alabama on June 7, 1989.

Much of Interstate 165 is cosigned with U.S. 90 and Truck U.S. 98. This U.S. route used to travel through downtown Mobile in conjunction with U.S. 98, but was rerouted onto Truck U.S. 90-98 over the Cochrane-Africatown Bridge and Bay Bridge Road by 1999. Interstate 165 and Truck U.S. 98 provide a mandatory bypass of the Bankhead Tunnel (U.S. 98) and Wallace Tunnels (Interstate 10) for hazardous material based cargo. The connection also provides an alternate for Interstate 10 to Interstate 65 bound traffic away from downtown Mobile.

Highway Guides

• Interstate 165 Alabama

	Southern Terminus - U.S. 90/Truck U.S. 98 at Broad and Water Street - downtown Mobile, Alabama Perspective from Interstate 165 south See the Interstate 165 highway guide for photos from this perspective. Perspective from Water Street north See the Mobile City Guide for photos from this perspective. Perspective from Beauregard Street (U.S. 90/Truck U.S. 98 east) east See the U.S. 90 eastbound highway guide for photos from this perspective. Perspective from Beauregard Street west See the Mobile City Guide for photos from this perspective. Northern Terminus - Interstate 65 - Prichard, Alabama Perspective from Interstate 165 north See the Interstate 165 highway guide for photos from this perspective. Perspective from Interstate 65 north See the Interstate 65 northbound highway guide for photos from this perspective. Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 65 north Interstate 85 162 miles at Montgomery, AL Interstate 459 241 miles at Hoover, AL Interstate 20/59 252 miles at Birmingham, AL Perspective from Interstate 65 south See the Interstate 65 southbound highway guide for photos from this perspective. Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 65 south Interstate 10 9 miles at Mobile, AL -- -- -- --

Sources:

1. "Interstate 165 opens today, completing state's system." Mobile Register, October 28, 1994.
2. "I-165 now open Route connecting downtown with I-65 in Prichard saves motorists 9 minutes in travel time." Mobile Register, October 29, 1994.

Page Updated January 20, 2010.