Interstate 165 Alabama

Interstate 165 Alabama
Mobile, AL ↔ Prichard, AL•4.90 miles

Overview

Interstate 165 is an urban spur linking I-65 at Chickasaw and Prichard with Downtown Mobile. The freeway serves the Alabama State Docks along the Mobile River while also providing part of a truck bypass for the George Wallace Tunnel along I-10 with U.S. 90 and the Africatown Bridge across the Mobile River. Spanning a number of arterial streets in Prichard and wetlands along Threemile Creek, the nearly five mile long route is elevated.

Mileage by State

Alabama4.90 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

Map of Interstate 165 in Alabama

Interstate 165 was the result of the canceled proposal for I-210, an urban loop connecting I-65 in Prichard with I-10 at Water Street in Downtown Mobile. With origins dating back to 1958, I-210 represented the missing link in the Mobile Urban Interstate system. Original plans outlined a six lane, elevated roadway extending south along Water Street in Downtown Mobile. The northern extent more closely followed U.S. 43 along Telegraph Road to a point near Diaz Street in Prichard, where the loop turned west to join I-65 north of Turner Road. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the 6.25 mile route on November 20, 1980 and assigned it Interstate 210. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) subsequently approved it on June 30, 1981.

The north end of I-210 was revised to parallel Whistler Street southeast by Downtown Prichard. Due to potential negative impacts with a viaduct separating Downtown and the Mobile River waterfront, plans for the southernmost reaches of I-210 were ultimately dropped. Correspondence between the Alabama Highway Department and FHWA no April 19, 1989 revised the route to I-165 due to the court ruling (Civil Action No. 84-1219-C-S) truncating I-210 northward from I-10 to Beauregard Street. AASHTO followed by approving both the elimination of I-210 and establishment of Interstate 165 on June 13, 1989.

Costing $240 million to construct,1 Interstate 165 opened to traffic on October 28, 1994.2

Mobile, AL - 1993
Interstate 165 just prior to opening. U.S. 43 was later dropped from south of Bay Bridge Road – 1993-94 Alabama Official Highway Map. The interchange box displayed at the south end of I-165 on the Alabama state map is erroneous.
US 98 / Government St east - Mobile, AL
Trailblazers for Interstate 165 are posted throughout the Mobile central business district directing traffic onto Water Street northbound. 04/11/12

U.S. 90 and U.S. 98 Truck overlap with Interstate 165 between Beauregard Street and Bay Bridge Road at Exit 2. The two routes bypass Downtown Mobile east from I-165 along the Africatown Bridge and Cochrane Causeway south to U.S. 98 (Battleship Parkway) on Blakeley Island. U.S. 90 was realigned from an overlap with U.S. 43 alongside Telegraph Road by 1999. AASHTO formally approved the relocation of U.S. 90 and the truncation of U.S. 43 south of Bay Bridge Road on December 18, 2002. U.S. 98 Truck is the bypass route for the Bankhead Tunnel (U.S. 98) and Wallace Tunnel (I-10) across the Mobile River for trucks carrying hazardous materials (Hazmats).

North End Interstate 65 ‐ Prichard, AL

Interstate 165 North at Interstate 65

I-165 north at I-65 - Prichard, AL

Interstate 165 concludes at I-65 just south of the Chickasaw city line. Traveling north through Saraland and Satsuma, I-65 heads 160 miles to Montgomery 11/23/14

I-165 north at I-65 - Prichard, AL I-165 north at I-65 - Prichard, AL I-165 north at I-65 - Prichard, AL

Interstate 65 North at Interstate 165

I-65 north at I-165 - Prichard, AL

Interstate 65 northbound enters the directional T interchange (Exit 9) with I-165 south in Prichard. 05/11/22

I-65 north at I-165 - 2016 I-65 north at I-165 - Prichard, AL I-65 north at I-165 - Prichard, AL I-65 north at I-165 - Prichard, AL

Interstate 65 South at Interstate 165

I-65 south at I-165 - Chickasaw, AL

A two lane flyover joins I-165 south to Downtown Prichard, U.S. 90 (Bay Bridge Road) east and Water Street along the Mobile Riverfront. I-165 and U.S. 90 across the Cochrane-Africatown Bridge are part of a bypass route joining Semmes and West Mobile with Baldwin County. 11/20/15

I-65 south at I-165 - Prichard, AL I-65 south at I-165 - Chickasaw, AL I-65 south at I-165 - Chickasaw, AL I-65 south at I-165 - Chickasaw, AL

South End U.S. 90 at Beauregard and Water Streets ‐ Mobile, AL

Interstate 165 South U.S. 90 West at Water Street

I-165/US 90 south at Water St - Mobile, AL

An end sign marks the final mile of Interstate 165 south along the viaduct spanning the Alabama State Docks Railroad line. 05/11/22

I-165/US 90 south at Water St - Mobile, AL I-165/US 90 south at Water St - Mobile, AL I-165/US 90 south at Water St - Mobile, AL I-165/US 90 south at Water St - Mobile, AL

Water Street – North at Interstate 165 U.S. 90

Water St north at I-165/US 90 - Mobile, AL

Part of the Henry Aaron Loop encircling Downtown Mobile, Water Street north intersects U.S. 90 at Beauregard Street. U.S. 90 east overtakes Water Street north to I-165. These assemblies were removed by 2022. 06/05/17

Water St north at I-165/US 90 - Mobile, AL Water St north at I-165/US 90 - Mobile, AL

U.S. 90 East at Water Street Interstate 165

US 90 east at I-165/Water St - Mobile, AL

U.S. 90 (Beauregard Street) turns onto Water Street north ahead of I-165. I-165/U.S. 90 overlap to Africatown Boulevard / Exit 2. 11/25/14

US 90 east at I-165/Water St - Mobile, AL US 90/Water St east at I-165 - Mobile, AL

Beauregard Street - West at Interstate 165 U.S. 90

Beauregard St west at I-165/US 90 - Mobile, AL

Beauregard Street west connects the Alabama State Docks and Dekle Street with U.S. 90 and I-165 north at Water Street. This shield assembly was removed by 2017. 05/15/16

South End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 165 South U.S. 90 West at Water Street

I-165/US 90 south at Water St - 2014

Overheads preceding the south end of I-165 were carbon copied by 2022. 11/25/14

I-165/US 90 south at Water St - 2014 I-165/US 90 south at Water St - 2014

References

  1. "I-165 now open Route connecting downtown with I-65 in Prichard saves motorists 9 minutes in travel time." Mobile Register (AL), October 29, 1994.
  2. "Interstate 165 opens today, completing state's system." Mobile Register (AL), October 28, 1994.
Updated June 2, 2022