Alabama State Route 69 Explained

State:AL
Type:AL
Route:69
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:SR 69 highlighted in red
Length Mi:280.599
Length Ref:[1]
Length Round:3
Direction A:South
Direction B:North
Terminus A: in Jackson
Junction: in Prairieville
in Tuscaloosa
in Jasper
in Dodge City
in Cullman
in Arab
Terminus B: in Guntersville
Counties:Clarke, Marengo, Hale, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Cullman, Marshall
Previous Type:SR
Previous Route:68
Next Type:SR
Next Route:70

State Route 69 (SR 69) is a 280adj=midNaNadj=mid state highway that extends from the southwestern to the northeastern parts of the U.S. state of Alabama. The southern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with SR 177 at Jackson. The northern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with US 431/SR 79 at Guntersville.

Route description

SR 69 has a rather irregular trajectory for much of its length. From its southern terminus at Jackson, the highway heads to the northwest as it travels through Clarke County. In the northern part of the county, the highway turns northeastward as it approaches Linden.

North of Linden, SR 69 assumes a general northward trajectory, traveling through Greensboro as it heads towards Tuscaloosa, the largest city through which the highway travels. At Tuscaloosa, SR 69 travels concurrently with Interstate 359 (I-359) north of the interchange of I-359 and I-20/I-59. I-359/SR 69 shares a wrong-way concurrency with US 11 as they head into downtown Tuscaloosa.

Interestingly, SR 69 intersects US 43 four times.

North of Tuscaloosa and Northport, SR 69 continues northward as it heads towards Jasper. At Jasper, SR 69 and SR 5 share a wrong-way concurrency along the former route of US 78.

North of Jasper, SR 69 resumes its northeastward trajectory as it heads towards Cullman. South of Cullman, the highway has an interchange with I-65 and shares a 5adj=midNaNadj=mid concurrency with the interstate highway. SR 69 is one of only tHree signed state highways that is concurrent with a stretch of interstate highway in Alabama. (SR 5, along with US 11, are concurrent with I-20/I-59 between West Blocton and Bessemer, and SR 14 is concurrent with I-65 between Prattville and Millbrook).

As SR 69 heads northward from Cullman, it continues its northeastward orientation. It passes through Arab before turning eastward as it approaches its terminus at Guntersville.

Future

In 2024, ALDOT will began work to convert the US 11 (Skyland Boulevard)/SR 69 intersection into a single-point urban interchange (SPUI) in order to improve traffic flow. The project, which is a joint effort between the Tuscaloosa Road Improvement Commission and ALDOT, is expected to cost $89 million and take about three years to complete.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Milepost Map - Marshall County, Alabama . August 1999 . . January 20, 2013 .
  2. News: Henry . Bryan . ALDOT prepares for ‘flyover bridge’ construction in Tuscaloosa . April 11, 2024 . WBRC. January 3, 2024 . en.