Interstate 459
Interstate 459 or I-459, formerly also called the Hoover Bypass, is the 32.8 mile southern by-pass route of Birmingham. During its 33 mile journey, it serves the southern and eastern suburbs including Bessemer, McCalla, Helena, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Irondale, and Trussville. A proposed "Northern Beltline", dubbed Interstate 422, will continue the loop around Birmingham in northern and western Jefferson County.
History
First envisioned in the late 1960s as I-59A, construction began in the late 1970s and was completed in 1985. I-459 is one of only three spur/loop routes with I-59 serving as its parent. Additionally, this is the only interstate by-pass to be constructed within the state of Alabama.
Of note is Exit 15 at the I-65 interchange. This stack interchange holds the record for the costliest interchange ever constructed within the state of Alabama. It will retain this title until the I-22 I-65 interchange is completed in Birmingham during the mid-2010s.
Expansion
Aside from the continued development of Interstate 422, and the occasional repaving projects carried out through the years, there have been some improvements and expansions to the highway since its completion to alleviate congestion.
- Exit 19
To alleviate congestion at the Highway 280 interchange, a flyover ramp was constructed from the southbound lanes to eastbound 280 in the direction of Childersburg during the early 1990s.
In 2004 additional lanes were added to eastbound Highway 280 over I-459 to alleviate heavy congestion at the interchange due to a bottleneck created from a faulty configuration.
- Exit 13A
To alleviate congestion at the Highway 31 interchange in Hoover, a flyover ramp was constructed from the southbound lanes to provide for a direct connection to the Riverchase Galleria and Alabama 150. Completed in 2002, the Galleria Boulevard exit became necessary as a result of traffic consistently backing up to the I-65 interchange with both local and mall traffic. Additional lanes between the I-65 interchange and Galleria Boulevard were also constructed as part of the project.
- Exit 9
Approval of a $120 million project to construct an interchange at South Shades Crest Road and Alabama State Highway 150 in Hoover with funds from the Rebuild Alabama gasoline tax was announced in August 2023.
Development
Since its completion, I-459 has served as a catalyst for the rapid growth and expansion into eastern and southern Jefferson County. Significant development, both commercial and residential, has occurred at all of its exits from Trussville to Bessemer. Some of the more notable developments include:
- Birmingham Race Course at Derby Parkway
- Liberty Park at Liberty Parkway
- The Summit and The Colonnade at U.S. Highway 280
- Riverchase Galleria at U.S. Highway 31
- Hoover Metropolitan Stadium south of the Galleria on Alabama State Highway 150
- The Grove at Alabama State Highway 150
Control cities
Along the northbound lanes, both Atlanta and Gadsden are used as control cities between Exits 1 & 29. Between Exits 29 & 33 only Gadsden is used. Along the southbound lanes, both Montgomery and Tuscaloosa are used between Exits 33 & 15. Between Exits 15 & 0 only Tuscaloosa is used.
Exit listing
| Exit Number | Route Served | Municipality | Direction | Number of Lanes | Miles to the Next Exit Moving Northbound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | I-20/I-59 | Bessemer | S | 2 | 1.87 |
| 1 | Jefferson County 18 | Bessemer | N & S | 2 | 4.56 |
| 6 | Jefferson County 52 | Bessemer | N & S | 2 | 4.32 |
| 9 (proposed) | South Shades Crest Road | Hoover | N & S | x | xx |
| 10 | Alabama State Route 150 | Hoover | N & S | 3 | 3.21 |
| 13A | Galleria Boulevard | Hoover | S | 3 | |
| 13B | Highway 31 | Hoover | N & S | 3 | 1.41 |
| 15 | I-65 | Hoover | N & S | 3 | 2.01 |
| 17 | Acton Road | Hoover/Vestavia Hills | N & S | 3 | 2.64 |
| 19 | Highway 280 | Mountain Brook | N & S | 3 | 3.96 |
| 23 | Liberty Parkway | Mountain Brook | N & S | 3 | 3.36 |
| 27 | Grants Mill Road | Irondale | N & S | 3 | 1.95 |
| 29 | I-20 | Irondale | N & S | 3 | 1.60 |
| 31 | Derby Parkway | Birmingham | N & S | 3 | 1.96 |
| 32 | Highway 11 | Trussville | N & S | 3 | 0.49 |
| 33 | I-59 | Trussville | N | 3 | End |
References
- "Nashville firm low bidder." (January 24, 1981) Gadsden Times
- "Section of I-459 may be open soon." (November 28, 1984) The Tuscaloosa News
- State of Alabama Official 2005-2006 Highway Map
- "Interstate 459 Alabama" (June 1, 2022) Interstatate-Guide.com - accessed January 5, 2023
- Thornton, William (January 5, 2023) "Hoover approves $120 million plan for new I-459 interchange." AL.com