I65 thru birmingham
Does anyone know how to get thru Birmingham Al. not on I65. I 65 is very, very, very, rough in Birmingham.
Forum Discussion
I've tried to similarly find ways around Memphis and Chattanooga for different reasons, but just like Birmingham when you get within 100 miles of a big town all roads lead into town, not around it.
I live 80 miles north of B'ham and my wife is from Tuscaloosa, so I've been down that road a few times since 1968. Not sure which part of I-65 you want to avoid, but here are two possibilities, both described as Southbound:
SHORT VERSION: Exit I65 on to I-/20-59 west (at the intersection known around the state as Malfunction Junction). Follow I-59 thru Bessemer out to I459 and turn back east. This will dump you back on to I-65 just south of Hoover and avoids the section of I-65 that I consider to be a PITA. This would be about 40 miles around to avoid a 15 mile trip straight thru, but all of this loop is controlled access interstate and fairly decent road.
LOOOONG VERSION: Exit I-65 just south of Cullman at exit 299 on to hiway 69 south. this is 2 lane to Jasper and then a very nice 2-3 lane from jasper to Tuscaloosa. At Tuscaloosa get hiway 82 to Centerville and then 25 east back over to I-65 (or stay on 82 down to 22 east over to I-65 at Clanton. This is all good 2 lane road and smaller towns (except Tuscaloosa), but considerably further out of your way.
There are similar versions of this on the east side of Birmingham, but I think generally the west side is more congested than the south side, certainly for the short version.
Now, if anyone can similarly get me around Memphis or Chattanooga, both in the east/west direction and favoring their southern sides, I'll call it even.
I live 80 miles north of B'ham and my wife is from Tuscaloosa, so I've been down that road a few times since 1968. Not sure which part of I-65 you want to avoid, but here are two possibilities, both described as Southbound:
SHORT VERSION: Exit I65 on to I-/20-59 west (at the intersection known around the state as Malfunction Junction). Follow I-59 thru Bessemer out to I459 and turn back east. This will dump you back on to I-65 just south of Hoover and avoids the section of I-65 that I consider to be a PITA. This would be about 40 miles around to avoid a 15 mile trip straight thru, but all of this loop is controlled access interstate and fairly decent road.
LOOOONG VERSION: Exit I-65 just south of Cullman at exit 299 on to hiway 69 south. this is 2 lane to Jasper and then a very nice 2-3 lane from jasper to Tuscaloosa. At Tuscaloosa get hiway 82 to Centerville and then 25 east back over to I-65 (or stay on 82 down to 22 east over to I-65 at Clanton. This is all good 2 lane road and smaller towns (except Tuscaloosa), but considerably further out of your way.
There are similar versions of this on the east side of Birmingham, but I think generally the west side is more congested than the south side, certainly for the short version.
Now, if anyone can similarly get me around Memphis or Chattanooga, both in the east/west direction and favoring their southern sides, I'll call it even.
