Interstate 565 Alabama

Interstate 565 Alabama
Decatur, AL ↔ Huntsville, AL•21.40 miles

Overview

Interstate 565 constitutes a freeway leading east from I-65 and U.S. 72 Alternate at the city of Decatur to Madison, Huntsville and U.S. 72 across Chapman Mountain. I-565 directly replaced portions of U.S. 72 Alternate and Alabama State Route 20. Completion of the freeway fueled growth in the Huntsville area in conjunction with research at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the Redstone Arsenal.

A directional T interchange was proposed along Interstate 565 around a half mile west of the Zierdt Road underpass for the Town Madison project. Located on the south side of I-565 at Zierdt Road, Town Madison was envisioned as a big box power center with 1.5 million square feet of retail and commercial space. Approved by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on August 28, 2015, work was scheduled to begin in 2016 and run through June 2017.11 The interchange was previously proposed in 2007, but traffic numbers at the time did not support it.10

The eastbound exit from I-565 to Town Madison eventually opened to traffic on April 29, 2021 following months of dispute between ALDOT and the developers of Town Madison. The developer had not met outlined obligations regarding the westbound section of the exchange. Town Madison is a 500 acre plus mixed-use development where Toyota Field, home of Huntsville's Minor League Baseball team, is located. Estimated to cost $28 million with funds from Town Madison, the flyover linking I-565 west from Town Madison Boulevard will take two years to complete.12

Mileage by State

Alabama21.40 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

High Priority Corridor

Interstate 565 is part of High Priority Corridor 7: U.S. 72 and High Priority Corridor 11: ADHS Corridor V.

History

19.2 miles of I-565 were added to the Interstate system in 1969 and approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on June 23, 1969.5 Construction would take over two decades, with the route fully open by December 1991.6 Further work extended the freeway slightly east with the May 17, 2004 opening of the interchange at U.S. 72 (Lee Highway), Maysville Road and I-565 at Chapman Mountain (Exit 21).2

Huntsville, AL area - 1974
Proposed Interstate 565 on the 1974 Alabama Official Highway Map. I-565 directly overlaid or replaced U.S. 72 Alternate between Decatur and Huntsville.
Huntsville, AL - 1980
Huntsville inset on the 1980 Alabama Official Highway Map. The North Huntsville bypass (SR 255) would have provided traffic relief to U.S. 72 across Chapman Mountain. Only the west leg of SR 255, between I-565 and SR 53, was constructed as a full freeway.

A westward extension of the limited access highway from I-65/565 to the U.S. 31 bridges over the Tennessee River was previously considered. The Fiscal Year 2005 Federal Transportation Department appropriations bill passed by Congress on November 20, 2004, included $3 million to begin efforts to extend Interstate 565 west to Decatur.3 Further funds were identified in the SAFETEA-LU legislation that was signed by President Bush in August 2005.

Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) officials planned a three mile extension of Interstate 565 eastward over Chapman Mountain to a new split diamond interchange at Moores Mill and Shields Roads. Construction of the $21.5 million project was slated to start in 2007.1 However work was shelved and subsequently reevaluated.

A public meeting held December 15, 2011 outlined a $30 million interchange design eliminating the intersection at High Mountain Road. This change would have extended the limited access highway portion of U.S. 72 to Shields Road.7 Instead work through February 2016 expanded the existing at-grade alignment of U.S. 72 to six lanes and made improvements at the intersection with Moore Mill Road.8

$9.4 million in construction from December 2013 to April 10, 2015 added two ramps at Interstate 565 and County Line Road.9 These movements complimented the adjacent wye interchange with Madison Boulevard.

East End U.S. 72 U.S. 72 Alternate ‐ Huntsville, AL

Interstate 565 U.S. 72 Alternate East at U.S. 72

I-565 east at US 72 - Huntsville, AL

Leaving Oakwood Avenue, Interstate 565 continues another mile to a folded diamond interchange (Exit 21) with U.S. 72 (Lee Highway) west and Maysville Road south. 06/10/17

I-565 east at US 72 - Huntsville, AL I-565 east at US 72 - Huntsville, AL I-565 east at US 72 - Huntsville, AL

U.S. 72 West at Interstate 565 U.S. 72 Alternate

US 72 west at I-565/US 72 ALT - Huntsville, AL

U.S. 72 ascends over Chapman Mountain through Certain Gap ahead of the separation with Interstate 565 at Exit 21. 06/10/17

US 72 west at I-565/US 72 ALT - Huntsville, AL US 72 west at I-565/US 72 ALT - Huntsville, AL US 72 west at I-565/US 72 ALT - Huntsville, AL

East End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 565 East

I-565 east at Oakwood Av - 2003

I-565 eastbound originally concluded beyond Exit 20 with Oakwood Avenue. A series of end signs preceded the wye interchange along the elevated viaduct leaving Downtown Huntsville. The “end” and distances were eventually covered with overlays.4 Photo by Chris Patriarca (01/26/03).

I-565 east at Oakwood Av - 2003 I-565 east at Oakwood Av - 2003 I-565 east at US 72 - 2003

U.S. 72 West at Interstate 565

US 72 west at I-565 - 2003

Button copy overhead for U.S. 72 west posted at the turn lane for Lee Highway ahead of the signalized intersection with Maysville Road. U.S. 72 leads northwest from Huntsville and Madison to Athens. Photo by Chris Patriarca (01/26/03).

US 72 west at I-565 - 2003 I-565 westbound begin - 2003

West End Interstate 65 U.S. 72 Alternate Alabama State Route 20 ‐ Decatur, AL

Interstate 565 U.S. 72 Alternate West at Interstate 65

I-565/US 72 ALT west at I-65 - Huntsville, AL

Interstate 565 crosses Limestone Creek two miles ahead of I-65. The freeway spur concludes five miles to the east of the Decatur city center. Photo by David Prince (03/21/16).

I-565/US 72 ALT west at I-65 - Huntsville, AL I-565/US 72 ALT west at I-65 - Huntsville, AL I-565/US 72 ALT west at I-65 - Huntsville, AL I-565/US 72 ALT west at I-65 - Huntsville, AL I-565/US 72 ALT/SR 20 west at I-65 - Huntsville, AL

U.S. 72 Alternate Alabama State Route 20 East at Interstate 65 Interstate 565

US 72 ALT/SR 20 east at I-65/565 - Decatur, AL

Interstate 565 east begins as U.S. 72 ALT/SR 20 enter the directional cloverleaf interchange (Exit 1) with I-65. 06/10/17

US 72 ALT/SR 20 east at I-65/565 - Decatur, AL US 72 ALT/SR 20 east at I-65/565 - Decatur, AL US 72 ALT/SR 20 east at I-65/565 - Decatur, AL

Interstate 65 North at Interstate 565 U.S. 72 Alternate Alabama State Route 20

I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Decatur, AL

Interstate 65 traverses Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge beyond the Tennessee River and Limestone County line. I-565, U.S. 72 Alternate and SR 20 lie one mile to the north. 06/10/17

I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Decatur, AL I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Decatur, AL I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Decatur, AL I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Decatur, AL

Interstate 65 South at Interstate 565 U.S. 72 Alternate Alabama State Route 20

I-65 south at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Tanner, AL

Interstate 65 parallels Piney Creek southward from Tanner to the exchange with I-565 east, U.S. 72 ALT and SR 20 west. Photo by David Prince (03/20/16).

I-65 south at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Tanner, AL I-65 south at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Decatur, AL I-65 south at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Decatur, AL I-65 south at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - Decatur, AL

West End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 65 North at Interstate 565 U.S. 72 Alternate Alabama State Route 20

I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - 2013

All guide signs for Exit 340 were replaced with Clearview font based assemblies by 2015. 04/04/13

I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - 2013 I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - 2013 I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - 2013 I-65 north at I-565/US 72 ALT-SR 20 - 2013

References

  1. "I-565 could go beyond Shields Road." Huntsville Times (AL), August 15, 2004.
  2. Lamb, Daniel. "I-565 Exit 21 Now Open." Online posting, Yahoo Groups - Southeast Roads and Transport, May 17, 2004.
  3. Appropriations bill includes $3 million for I-565 extension: Money to be used to stretch road west toward Decatur. (2004, November 23). Huntsville Times. Retrieved from http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1101204900271040.xml
  4. Philip R. "I-269 broken link / I-565 info and question / I-69 MS info." Personal Email, 1/18/08.
  5. "Confusing signs to be changed." Gadsden Times (AL), December 18, 1991.
  6. "The Interstate System." Tuscaloosa News (AL), September 21, 1969.
  7. "Change of plans for U.S. 72 project at Moores Mill, Shields roads." The Huntsville Times (AL), December 13, 2011.
  8. Driving You Crazy: Hwy. 72 & Chapman Mountain. (2015, October 21). WHNT. Retrieved from https://whnt.com/taking-action/driving-you-crazy/driving-you-crazy-hwy-72-chapman-mountain/
  9. "County Line Road, I-565 interchange to open Friday." Decatur Daily (AL), April 9, 2015.
  10. "New I-565 interchange is big win for Town Madison shopping complex." The Huntsville Times (AL), September 4, 2015.
  11. Bryan, S. (2015, August 28). New I-565 interchange approved for Madison. Retrieved from https://whnt.com/news/new-i-565-interchange-approved-for-madison/
  12. Gattis, P. (2021, April 29). As Town Madison celebrates I-565 ramp opening, interchange looks toward conclusion. AL.com. Retrieved from https://www.al.com/news/2021/04/as-town-madison-celebrates-i-565-ramp-opening-interchange-looks-toward-conclusion.html
Updated June 2, 2022