Oporto-Madrid Boulevard: Difference between revisions

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(More history! And apparently the USGS maps from the '60s were wrong about it not already extending to Montevallo.)
(Will the real Oporto Avenue stand up, please?)
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'''Oporto-Madrid Boulevard''' is an approximately 3⅓-mile, major north-south thoroughfare on [[Birmingham]]'s east side, traversing the [[East Lake community|East Lake]], [[Roebuck-South East Lake]], and [[Crestline community|Crestline]] communities.  Between [[1st Avenue North]] and about 77th Way South, it is actually the border between the East Lake and Roebuck-South East Lake communities.
'''Oporto-Madrid Boulevard''' is an approximately 3⅓-mile, major north-south thoroughfare on [[Birmingham]]'s east side, traversing the [[East Lake community|East Lake]], [[Roebuck-South East Lake]], and [[Crestline community|Crestline]] communities.  Between [[1st Avenue North]] and about 77th Way South, it is actually the border between the East Lake and Roebuck-South East Lake communities.


Oporto-Madrid Boulevard was originally three separately-named streets.  The northern portion, heading northwest-southeast, was '''77th Street'''.  At 77th Way the road turns north-south and became '''Madrid Avenue''' down to [[Georgia Road]], which passes through [[Red Gap]].  The southern portion, '''Oporto Road''', originally met Georgia Road to the east of Madrid by means of a wooden bridge spanning the [[Alabama Great Southern Railroad|Alabama Great Southern]], [[Southern Railway|Southern]], and [[Central of Georgia Railway|Central of Georgia]] railroad tracks.  It extended down to [[Montevallo Road]].
Oporto-Madrid Boulevard was originally three separately-named streets.  The northern portion, heading northwest-southeast, was '''77th Street'''.  At 77th Way the road turns north-south and became '''Madrid Avenue''' down to [[Georgia Road]], which passes through [[Red Gap]].  The southern portion, '''Oporto Road''' (sometimes called '''Oporto Avenue''', although there's a [[Oporto Avenue|another street]] by that name), originally met Georgia Road to the east of Madrid by means of a wooden bridge spanning the [[Alabama Great Southern Railroad|Alabama Great Southern]], [[Southern Railway|Southern]], and [[Central of Georgia Railway|Central of Georgia]] railroad tracks.  It extended down to [[Montevallo Road]].


In [[1962]], work was completed widening Oporto to four lanes from Montevallo Road to the [[Crestwood Boulevard|Atlanta Highway]].  As this project was wound up, a new overpass connecting Oporto and Madrid was designated as the top priority of all overpass projects in the city.  The new overpass would span the rail lines and also Georgia Road.  The original proposal included a ramp connecting Georgia with the overpass near where the two roads crossed, but this ramp was ultimately not built.
In [[1962]], work was completed widening Oporto to four lanes from Montevallo Road to the [[Crestwood Boulevard|Atlanta Highway]].  As this project was wound up, a new overpass connecting Oporto and Madrid was designated as the top priority of all overpass projects in the city.  The new overpass would span the rail lines and also Georgia Road.  The original proposal included a ramp connecting Georgia with the overpass near where the two roads crossed, but this ramp was ultimately not built.

Revision as of 16:50, 19 May 2014

Oporto-Madrid Boulevard is an approximately 3⅓-mile, major north-south thoroughfare on Birmingham's east side, traversing the East Lake, Roebuck-South East Lake, and Crestline communities. Between 1st Avenue North and about 77th Way South, it is actually the border between the East Lake and Roebuck-South East Lake communities.

Oporto-Madrid Boulevard was originally three separately-named streets. The northern portion, heading northwest-southeast, was 77th Street. At 77th Way the road turns north-south and became Madrid Avenue down to Georgia Road, which passes through Red Gap. The southern portion, Oporto Road (sometimes called Oporto Avenue, although there's a another street by that name), originally met Georgia Road to the east of Madrid by means of a wooden bridge spanning the Alabama Great Southern, Southern, and Central of Georgia railroad tracks. It extended down to Montevallo Road.

In 1962, work was completed widening Oporto to four lanes from Montevallo Road to the Atlanta Highway. As this project was wound up, a new overpass connecting Oporto and Madrid was designated as the top priority of all overpass projects in the city. The new overpass would span the rail lines and also Georgia Road. The original proposal included a ramp connecting Georgia with the overpass near where the two roads crossed, but this ramp was ultimately not built.

Within a few years, Oporto was rerouted with a new bridge built over the railroad tracks, connecting it directly to Madrid. The road was subsequently renamed Oporto-Madrid Boulevard for its entire length. A short section of the original Madrid Avenue was left between 65th Street South and Georgia Road. The remaining section of Oporto Road's original route was renamed Lawson Field Road and the wooden bridge demolished.

What was later 77th Street was the site of the first homes in the area, erected in the late 1810s. The settlement later became Ruhamah.

Notable locations

For an alphabetical list of locations, see the Oporto-Madrid Boulevard category.
For clarity, not all intersections are included. Odd numbers are on the east side, even on the west.

East Lake community

East Lake/Roebuck-South East Lake

East Lake community

Crestline community

References

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