Independence Drive: Difference between revisions

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{{Locate street | street=Independence+Drive}}
{{Locate street | street=Independence+Drive}}
'''Independence Drive''' is the name given to the approximately 1-3/4 mile stretch of [[U.S. Highway 31]] in the [[Homewood]] city limits.  It extends from the end of the [[Elton B. Stephens Expressway]] in the north to almost the top of [[Shades Mountain]] to the south.
'''Independence Drive''' is the name given to the approximately 1-3/4 mile stretch of [[U.S. Highway 31]] in the [[Homewood]] city limits that is not part of the [[Elton B. Stephens Expressway]].  It extends from the end of the expressway in the north to almost the top of [[Shades Mountain]] to the south.


== History ==
== History ==
Originally, the section of road north of [[29th Avenue South]] to the Homewood city limits was known as '''East Avenue'''.  South of there, it was [[Montgomery Highway]].  Prior to the creation of the [[Red Mountain cut]], going north the highway followed what is now 29th Avenue and crossed the mountain on what is now [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]].
Originally, the section of road north of [[29th Avenue South]] to the Homewood city limits was known as '''East Avenue'''.  South of that point, it was [[Montgomery Highway]].  Prior to the creation of the [[Red Mountain cut]], going north the highway followed what is now 29th Avenue and crossed the mountain on what is now [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]].


In the early 1940s, Montgomery Highway was designated U.S. Route 31 and improved.  This included a new, wider, straighter route up the north side of Shades Mountain, which is the current path of Independence Drive.  The [[R. H. "Bob" Wharton Bridge]], part of the cloverleaf intersection at [[Lakeshore Drive]], was also built at this time.  It was in [[1976]] that Homewood officials renamed the road in honor of "all Homewood citizens, past or future, who sacrifice their lives for freedom" (Summe, p. 233).
In the early 1940s, Montgomery Highway was designated U.S. Route 31 and improved.  This included a new, wider, straighter route up the north side of Shades Mountain, which is the current path of Independence Drive.  The [[R. H. "Bob" Wharton Bridge]], part of the cloverleaf intersection at [[Lakeshore Drive]], was also built at this time.  It was in [[1976]], the American Bicentennial, that Homewood officials renamed the road in honor of "all Homewood citizens, past or future, who sacrifice their lives for freedom" (Summe, p. 233).


== Notable locations ==
== Notable locations ==
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* [[28th Avenue South]]/Bonita Drive intersection (south end of [[Elton B. Stephens Expressway]])
* [[28th Avenue South]]/Bonita Drive intersection (south end of [[Elton B. Stephens Expressway]])
** 1:  [[Independence Plaza]] (formerly [[AmSouth]])
** 1:  [[Independence Plaza]] (formerly an [[AmSouth]] building)
* [[29th Avenue South]] intersection
* [[29th Avenue South]] intersection
* [[Oxmoor Road]]/[[Hollywood Boulevard]] intersection
* [[Oxmoor Road]]/[[Hollywood Boulevard]] intersection
** 3000:  Piggly Wiggly (formerly [[Hill's Food Stores|Hill's Food Store]])
** 3000:  Piggly Wiggly (formerly a [[Hill's Food Stores|Hill's Food Store]])
** 3001:  [[Shades Cahaba Elementary School]]
** 3001:  [[Shades Cahaba Elementary School]]
** 3030:  CVS/pharmacy (formerly [[Big B Drugs]])
** 3030:  CVS/pharmacy (formerly a [[Big B Drugs]])
** 3054:  Alabama Outdoors <!-- Did they start in Birmingham? -->
<!-- ** 3054:  Alabama Outdoors; Did they start in Birmingham? -->
** 3310:  [[The Alabama Baptist]]
** 3310:  [[The Alabama Baptist]]
** 3349:  [[The Compounding Shoppe]]
** 3349:  [[The Compounding Shoppe]]
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** [[Brookwood Medical Center]]
** [[Brookwood Medical Center]]
* [[Brookwood Medical Center Drive]] intersection ([[Jim Bennett Bridge]])
* [[Brookwood Medical Center Drive]] intersection ([[Jim Bennett Bridge]])
* Homewood city limits (becomes [[Montgomery Highway]] and enters [[Vestavia Hills]])
* Homewood city limits (north end of [[Montgomery Highway]] in [[Vestavia Hills]])


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 10:33, 26 March 2008

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Independence Drive is the name given to the approximately 1-3/4 mile stretch of U.S. Highway 31 in the Homewood city limits that is not part of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. It extends from the end of the expressway in the north to almost the top of Shades Mountain to the south.

History

Originally, the section of road north of 29th Avenue South to the Homewood city limits was known as East Avenue. South of that point, it was Montgomery Highway. Prior to the creation of the Red Mountain cut, going north the highway followed what is now 29th Avenue and crossed the mountain on what is now 18th Street South.

In the early 1940s, Montgomery Highway was designated U.S. Route 31 and improved. This included a new, wider, straighter route up the north side of Shades Mountain, which is the current path of Independence Drive. The R. H. "Bob" Wharton Bridge, part of the cloverleaf intersection at Lakeshore Drive, was also built at this time. It was in 1976, the American Bicentennial, that Homewood officials renamed the road in honor of "all Homewood citizens, past or future, who sacrifice their lives for freedom" (Summe, p. 233).

Notable locations

Only major intersections are included.

References

  • Summe, Sheryl Spradling. (2001). Homewood: The Life of a City. Homewood, AL: Friends of the Homewood Public Library.
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