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Interstate 459 Alabama

Photo taken by Jim K. Georges

Routing

Interstate 459 is Birmingham's half beltway. It functions as a bypass for Interstates 20 and 59 by funneling traffic bound from Atlanta to Dallas, New Orleans, and other points west around Birmingham. Similarly, traffic incoming from Dallas or New Orleans can use Interstate 459 to connect to Chattanooga, Atlanta, or other points north or east. The freeway has tri-level "X" stack interchanges at each end, with a full symmetrical stack with Interstate 65. Overall, the freeway provides six lanes of travel and a 65 to 70 mph speed limit.

Interstate 459 and the metropolitan area of Birmingham. The proposed Northern Beltline will begin at the southern terminus of Interstate 459 and will tie in not at the northern terminus, but a few miles to the northeast. The setup may result in an Interstate 259 or 659, giving the beltway system two different numbers ala Minneapolis/Saint Paul (Interstate 494/Interstate 694).

Future Aspirations: Northern Beltline Project

The Northern Beltline project, which is High Priority Corridor 28, will connect the existing Interstate 459 with Interstate 65 and Future Interstate 22 and High Priority Corridor 10/Corridor X (U.S. 78) to the north. This extension is currently under development.

Highway Guides

Mileage

State Mileage Cities Junctions
Alabama 32.80 Birmingham, Bessemer, Bluff Park, Homewood Interstates 20/59, Interstate 65, Interstate 20, Interstate 59
Source: October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
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Southern Terminus - Interstate 20 and Interstate 59 - Bessemer, Alabama
Perspective from Interstate 459 south
Two mile guide sign for Interstates 20/59 on Interstate 459 southbound. The Exit 1 diamond interchange with Jefferson County 18 for Bessemer and McCalla is in view. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/19/03).
Interstate 459 southbound enters its final mile. This sign bridge prepares motorists for the eventual trumpet interchange at Interstate 20/59. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Second view of the one mile Interstate 20/59 guide signage on Interstate 459 southbound. The city of Tuscaloosa is just 33 miles to the southwest. Downtown Birmingham is a 18 mile return trip to the northeast. Photo taken by Jim K. Georges (02/00).
An end shield is posted for Interstate 459 southbound. Photo taken by Adam Froehlig (02/01).
A second look at the end Interstate 459 shield a year and half later reveals that for some reason or another that that state name has been concealed with a blue sticker. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
A grainy view of the Interstate 20 east/59 northbound ramp as Interstate 459 enters the "Exit 0" trumpet interchange. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Gore point signage for southbound Interstate 459 transition onto northeastbound Interstate 20-59. The ramp straight ahead merges onto southwestbound Interstate 20-59. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Perspective from Interstate 20 west/59 south
Interstate 20 west/59/U.S. 11/Alabama 5 southbound, two miles out from Exit 106/the southern terminus of Interstate 459. Interstate 459 always features the long distance control points of Interstates 20, 59, and 65. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (01/11/03).
Interstate 20/59 only carries four lanes in the southwestern reaches of Birmingham metro. In this photograph is the one-mile guide sign for Interstate 459 north/Exit 106. The control point of Tuscaloosa for the Interstate pair is 33 miles to the west. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (01/11/03).
To Interstate 65 auxiliary guide sign for Interstate 459 northbound. These auxiliary signs are common for the junctions of Interstate 459. Reassurance shields on Interstate 459 itself often carry trailblazers to Interstates 20, 59, and 65 as well. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (01/11/03).
Interstate 20 west/59 south as it draws within one-half mile of Interstate 459. The Birmingham Bypass will reach Interstate 65 in 13 miles and Interstate 20 again in 29 miles. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (01/11/03).
Interstate 459 begins its eastward trek from this cloverleaf ramp on Interstate 20 west/59 south. The bypass sees three interchanges for the Bessemer and Hoover suburbs before reaching Interstate 65. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (01/11/03).
The Exit 106 gore sign includes an Interstate 459 shield and cardinal direction. U.S. 11 and Alabama 5 split with Interstates 20/59 in nine miles at Exit 100. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (01/11/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 20 west/59 south
Interstate 359 35 miles at Tuscaloosa, AL
Interstate 20/59 Overlap end 130 miles near Meridian, MS
I-20 @
Interstate 55 		214 miles at Jackson, MS
I-59 @
Interstate 10/
Interstate 12 		288 miles at Slidell, LA
Perspective from Interstate 20 east/59 north
Moving into the metropolitan area of Birmingham, Alabama's largest city, Interstate 20 and 59 encounter the two mile guide sign for Exit 106/Interstate 459. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/19/03).
One mile south of the Interstate 20/59 and 459 split. Long distance travelers to Gadsden and Atlanta are advised to take Interstate 459 around Birmingham. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/19/03).
Interstate 20 east/59 north, one fourth of a mile south of Exit 106/Interstate 459 north. Due to construction, two of the four arrows on these guide signs are greened out. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Interstate 459 northbound begins its jaunt around the city of Birmingham. Initially the highway is four lanes in width. However north of Exit 6 the highway widens to six lanes. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
As is standard Alabama practice, this freeway-to-freeway connection sees a gore point sign with an Interstate shield, exit number, and arrow. U.S. 11 and Alabama 5, both of which overlap with Interstate 20/59 through the southern terminus of Interstate 459, depart the Interstate tandem in two miles. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 20 west/59 south
Interstate 65 18 miles at Birmingham, AL
Interstate 20/59
overlap end 		24 miles at Birmingham, AL
I-20 @
Interstate 459 		30 miles at Irondale, AL
I-59 @
Interstate 459 		31 miles at Trussville, AL
Northern Terminus - Interstate 59 - Trussville, Alabama
Perspective from Interstate 459 north
The first sign of the pending terminus of Interstate 459 is at Exit 31/Derby Parkway in the form of this two-mile guide sign. Note that the north control city of Interstate 59 is Gadsden in lieu of Chattanooga. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (01/03/03).
Interstate 459 reduces to four lanes overall between Exits 32 and 33, the northern terminus. This northbound scene reveals vintage button copy signage at the U.S. 11 off-ramp to Trussville. Guide signs already begin to advise motorist of the Interstate 59 lane allocation. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (01/03/03).
The Interstate 459 mainline is naturally diverted onto Interstate 59 north to the suburb of Trussville and city of Chattanooga. This photograph looks at the Exit 33A/B sign bridge as the bypass comes to an end. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/19/03).
The Exit 33A/B gore point sign includes Interstate 59 shields and cardinal directions. This practice of more detailed gore point signs is common for Interstate to Interstate junctions within the state of Alabama. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/19/03).
Perspective from Interstate 59 south
One mile north of the Interstate 59/459 southbound split is this set of guide signs. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (08/08/99).
The Interstate 459 southbound beginning departs Interstate 59 from the left in one-half mile. This interchange is 12 miles to the east of downtown Birmingham. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Within one-half mile of Exit 137 on Interstate 59 south. Interstate 459 features the Interstate 65 control city of Montgomery and Interstate 20/59 overlap control city of Tuscaloosa. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Interstate 59/459 split at Exit 137. Just around the bend is an Exit 32 overhead for U.S. 11 on Interstate 459. The first interchange of the Birmingham bypass is within one-half mile. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 20 west/59 south
Interstate 20
overlap begin 		7 miles at Birmingham, AL
Interstate 459 13 miles at Birmingham, AL
Interstate 459 31 miles at Bessemer, AL
Perspective from Interstate 59 north
Upcoming exits sign on Interstate 59 northbound for the final three Birmingham area interchanges, four miles south of Interstate 459. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/26/03).
Original button copy signage with replaced shields posted one mile south of Exit 137/Interstate 459 south. Interstate 459 utilizes control cities for routes in which it connects a lot like Interstate 285 does at Atlanta. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
If the control cities were not enough, this auxiliary guide sign indicates the connection to Interstate 20 and 65 on Interstate 459 south. The auxiliary function of the sign includes pointing out that Trussville is accessible via Interstate 459 Exit 32 with U.S. 11. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
More original signage can be found one half mile south of Exit 137 on Interstate 59 north. Beyond Interstate 459, Interstate 59 travels to Gadsden in 46 miles before concluding near Chattanooga at Interstate 24. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Fully reflectorized guide signs are posted at Interstate 459 ramp. In the background can be seen the tri-level stack interchange that facilitates movements between the two freeways. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Northbound Interstate 59 passing under the tri-level Interstate 59/459 stack interchange. Photo taken by AARoads (08/10/02).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 20 west/59 south
Interstate 759 44 miles at Tuscaloosa, AL
Interstate 24 124 miles at near Wildwood, GA
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Page Updated June 16, 2003.