Montgomery Highway: Difference between revisions

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'''Montgomery Highway''' is an older name for what is now called [[U.S. Highway 31]] as it leads south from [[Birmingham]] through [[Homewood]], [[Vestavia Hills]], [[Hoover]], [[Pelham]], [[Alabaster]], and [[Calera]] toward Montgomery.
'''Montgomery Highway''' is an older name for the portion of what is now [[U.S. Highway 31]] as it leads south from [[Birmingham]] through [[Homewood]], [[Vestavia Hills]], [[Hoover]], [[Pelham]], [[Alabaster]], and [[Calera]] and beyond toward Montgomery.  Over the years, some cities along Montgomery Highway have given new names to the highway within their city limits.  These include Homewood ([[Independence Drive]]), Pelham ([[Pelham Parkway]]), and Alabaster ([[1st Street Alabaster|1st Street]]).  The cities of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, and Calera, however, still use the Montgomery Highway name.


Some cities along Montgomery Highway have given new names to the highway within their city limits (see [[U.S. Highway 31#Alternate names|"Alternate names" in the Highway 31]] article), but the cities of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, and Calera still use the Montgomery Highway name.
Prior to the opening of the [[Elton B. Stephens Expressway]], Montgomery Highway crossed [[Red Mountain]] at [[Lone Pine Gap]] as [[18th Street South]]. It then came down the mountain into Homewood, turned east on [[29th Avenue South]], then turned south again to what is now known as Independence Drive, just north of [[Hollywood Boulevard]]/[[Oxmoor Road]].  At the time, both ends of 29th Avenue were curved to make the route easier for highway traffic, although both 18th Street and Independence Drive (then East Avenue) continued straight past 29th.


==Old Montgomery Highway==
In [[1937]], the highway was improved as a so-called "Trailer Route" with gentler curves than the previously existing Montgomery Highway. The improvements created a wider, straighter route up the north side of [[Shades Mountain]]. Portions of the old highway at this point still exist as [[Old Montgomery Highway (Homewood)|Old Montgomery Highway]].
There are discontinuous sections of road named '''Old Montgomery Highway''' that were originally part of Montgomery Highway, but are no longer due to highway improvements and reroutings.  Two sections in the [[Birmingham District]] that go by this name:


* In Homewood, branching off of [[Independence Drive]] to the east across from Saulter Road.  It travels southeast, then turns southwest to cross Independence Drive.  It then goes south, crossing [[Lakeshore Drive]] and winds up [[Shades Mountain]] to the top, rejoining Montgomery Highway.
In Vestavia Hills, the highway's route has remained largely unchanged, although between [[Kentucky Avenue]] and Vesthaven Way, a portion of the original highway exists as something of a service road to the main highway.
* In Hoover, the previous route for Montgomery Highway branches off of Highway 31 as [[Lorna Road]] just south of where [[I-65]] crosses over Highway 31.  It continues south to the east of Highway 31 over [[I-459]] and then curves west, crossing Montgomery Highway at the [[Riverchase Galleria]].  It then winds south, changing names from Lorna Road to Old Montgomery Highway, crossing Helena Road before rejoining Highway 31 at a segment named [[Pelham Parkway]].
 
At the current [[Interstate 65]] interchange, where Montgomery Highway meets [[Columbiana Road]], the former originally followed a route further to the east that is now known as [[Lorna Road]].  Just south of where the [[Riverchase Galleria]] is now, Montgomery Highway was west of its current route, which still exists as Lorna Road and then [[Old Montgomery Highway (Hoover)|Old Montgomery Highway]].  The old and current routes rejoin again just south of [[Helena Road]].
 
== Locations ==
=== Vestavia Hills ===
: ''For a more detailed list of locations, see [[Montgomery Highway (Vestavia Hills)]].''
 
* (continues north as [[Independence Drive]])
** [[Sibyl Temple]]
* [[Shades Crest Road]] intersection
** 513: [[Vestavia Hills City Hall]]
** 600-790: [[Vestavia Hills City Center]]
** 1221: [[Vestavia Hills Public Library]]
** [[Wald Park]]
* [[Patton Creek]] crossing
* [[Columbiana Road]] intersection
* [[Interstate 65]] interchange
 
===Hoover===
: ''For a more detailed list of locations, see [[Montgomery Highway (Hoover)]].''
 
* [[Interstate 65]] interchange
* [[Lorna Road]] intersection
** 1615: [[Hoover Commons]]
* [[Patton Chapel Road]] intersections
* [[Interstate 459]] interchange
** [[Riverchase Galleria]]
* [[John Hawkins Parkway]]/[[Lorna Road]] intersection
* [[Cahaba River]] crossing
* [[Helena Road]]/[[Valleydale Road]] intersection (continues south at [[Pelham Parkway]])
 
{{Montgomery Highway}}


[[Category:U.S. Highway 31]]
[[Category:U.S. Highway 31]]

Latest revision as of 16:02, 1 February 2011

Montgomery Highway is an older name for the portion of what is now U.S. Highway 31 as it leads south from Birmingham through Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Pelham, Alabaster, and Calera and beyond toward Montgomery. Over the years, some cities along Montgomery Highway have given new names to the highway within their city limits. These include Homewood (Independence Drive), Pelham (Pelham Parkway), and Alabaster (1st Street). The cities of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, and Calera, however, still use the Montgomery Highway name.

Prior to the opening of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway, Montgomery Highway crossed Red Mountain at Lone Pine Gap as 18th Street South. It then came down the mountain into Homewood, turned east on 29th Avenue South, then turned south again to what is now known as Independence Drive, just north of Hollywood Boulevard/Oxmoor Road. At the time, both ends of 29th Avenue were curved to make the route easier for highway traffic, although both 18th Street and Independence Drive (then East Avenue) continued straight past 29th.

In 1937, the highway was improved as a so-called "Trailer Route" with gentler curves than the previously existing Montgomery Highway. The improvements created a wider, straighter route up the north side of Shades Mountain. Portions of the old highway at this point still exist as Old Montgomery Highway.

In Vestavia Hills, the highway's route has remained largely unchanged, although between Kentucky Avenue and Vesthaven Way, a portion of the original highway exists as something of a service road to the main highway.

At the current Interstate 65 interchange, where Montgomery Highway meets Columbiana Road, the former originally followed a route further to the east that is now known as Lorna Road. Just south of where the Riverchase Galleria is now, Montgomery Highway was west of its current route, which still exists as Lorna Road and then Old Montgomery Highway. The old and current routes rejoin again just south of Helena Road.

Locations

Vestavia Hills

For a more detailed list of locations, see Montgomery Highway (Vestavia Hills).

Hoover

For a more detailed list of locations, see Montgomery Highway (Hoover).
Montgomery Highway
Homewood Vestavia Hills Hoover Pelham Alabaster
Current U.S. Highway 31 Independence Dr. Montgomery Hwy Montgomery Hwy Pelham Parkway 1st Street
Previous routes 18th St S, 29th Ave S, Old Montgomery Hwy Lorna Road, Old Montgomery Hwy Old Montgomery Hwy Old Highway 31
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