3rd Avenue North

Third Avenue North is an east-west street running through downtown Birmingham. The westernmost section by that name ends at Center Street, although the road continues further west through as 3rd Avenue West. The easternmost section ends at 88th Street, just west of Roebuck Municipal Golf Course.

Third Avenue is continuous from Center Street to 26th Street North. At that point, it is interrupted by the 2nd Avenue North off-ramp of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway and railroad tracks. The road is one way eastbound from 9th to 26th Street North. There is a short segment of 3rd on the west side of 28th Street North. The next segment curves from 29th Street northward to line up with 31st Street North across Messer Airport Highway.

The avenue does not appear again eastward until Forest Hills Cemetary next to the I-20/I-59 interchange. At this point, Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard North (formerly 10th Avenue North), becomes 3rd Avenue. Third the continues northeast with some gaps, notably at Trotwood Park, I-59, and East Lake Park, to 88th Street.

Throughout the 1970s and most of the 1980s, the 3rd Avenue on-ramp to the Elton B. Stephens Expressway was the northernmost point to get on the expressway as it did not connect to I-20/I-59 at that time.

Notable locations

• 1229: Birmingham Urban League
• 1301: Jim Burke Nissan
• 1400: Edwards Chevrolet
• 1501: Firehouse Shelter
• 1601: Etheridge Brothers Barber & Style No. 1
• 1800 block: Alabama Walk of Fame
• 1800: Lyric Theatre
• 1817: Alabama Theatre
• 1818: The Playhouse
• 1910: Atrium Building
• 1914: Crittenden Building
• 2008: Watts Building
• 2120: St. Paul's Catholic Church
• 2201: Magic City Grill
• 2208: M.A.C. Uniforms
• 2403: Jimmie Hale Mission