Interstate 422 Alabama

Interstate 422 Alabama

Overview

Interstate 422 is the Northern Beltline, a 51 mile long corridor encircling the Birmingham, Alabama metropolitan area. As defined in the NHS/ISTEA/TEA-21 legislation, the route will begin at the interchange joining I-59/20 with I-459 southwest of Bessemer. The proposed route will then arc northeasterly, crossing I-22/U.S. 78, Interstate 65, U.S. 31, SR 79, and SR 75 before curving back southeast toward Interstate 59 in the vicinity of Trussville near Exit 143. The entire Northern Beltline is designated internally by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) as Alabama State Route 959.

High Priority Corridor

Interstate 422 is a part of High Priority Corridor 28 – Birmingham Northern Beltline (ARC Corridor X-1) from Bessemer to Trussville via Graysville and Gardendale.

Route Information

  • East End – Trussville, AL

  • West End – Bessemer, AL

  • Mileage – 51.04

  • Cities – Bessemer, Graysville, Gardendale, Trussville

  • JunctionsI-20 I-59 I-65

Source: AASHTO USRN Application Future I-422, September 21, 2011

History

On May 26 2009, the Birmingham News reported that the start of construction of the interchange connecting I-65 with I-22 could begin as early as that Fall, if additional federal stimulus money became available. The same article referenced the future Northern Beltline, as advocated by U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills:

The beltline will carry the I-422 designation because it is a part of the interstate system.

Beltline funding is in great shape

The I-22 designation (for Corridor X) strengthened our hand. Now the northern beltline is a part of the interstate highway system.

Bachus also indicated that additional funding would be allocated toward the Northern Beltline project starting in 2011, with Bachus pushing for a completion date by 2025.1 A subsequent feasibility study focused on a potential extension of the Northern Beltline south from Trussville to Interstate 20 near Moody.

ALDOT simultaneously petitioned the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for designating the Birmingham Northern Beltline as I-422 and the “I-22 Connector” as Interstate 222 on September 27, 2011. The AASHTO Special Committee on US Route Numbering (SCOH) approved both applications on May 18, 2012. I-222 is proposed as a 2.26 mile long link between I-422 at Brookside and I-22 in east Graysville.

Work was scheduled to begin in late 2011 on a 3.4 mile long stretch of roadway for I-422 between SR 75 and SR 79 north of Pinson. Spearheaded by the environmental group Black Warrior Riverkeeper, construction was postponed due to environmental concerns. However a federal judge cleared the way for work to finally commence on January 17, 2014 by denying a request for a preliminary injunction to block construction of the North Beltline.2

Construction broke ground on a 1.34 mile segment of the North Beltline on February 24, 2014. The $46 million project, scheduled to run through Fall 2016, completed grading and other preliminary work on the link between SR 75 and SR 79 near Pinson.2 A potential time table for additional right of way acquisition for the 51.04 mile long route in 2013 suggested completion by 2031.3 As of 2022, no additional work for the Northern Beltline has advanced beyond the initial grading near Pinson.

Sources

  1. “Corridor X/ I-65 interchange construction could begin this year.” Birmingham News (AL), May 26, 2009.
  2. “Northern Beltline construction scheduled to begin Monday.” The Birmingham News (AL), February 19, 2014.
  3. “Re: Birmingham Northern Beltline (I-422, I-222).” Online posting, AARoads Forum, May 8, 2012.

Page updated June 27, 2022.