Alabama State Route 160
Encyclopedia
State Route 160 is an 18 miles (29 km) long state highway
in Blount County
, Alabama
. The western terminus of the route is at the junction with Interstate 65 and U.S. Highway 31 at Exit 284 north of Warrior
. The eastern terminus of the route is at the junction with U.S. Highway 231 in Cleveland
. SR-160 is the only state highway that is exclusively located in Blount County, Alabama
.
. The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River
runs parallel to the roadway for several miles and eventually crosses beneath SR-160 near the community of Nectar, Alabama
. A CSX Transportation
(formerly Louisville and Nashville Railroad
) main rail line connecting Birmingham, Alabama
and Nashville, Tennessee
crosses over SR-160 at Hayden
. A rare Alabama rail tunnel carries this rail line beneath a mountain just north of SR-160 near Hayden
.
Road 8. The western terminus of SR-160 is approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) north of downtown Birmingham
. Until the late in the 1990s, the route of SR-160 between Hayden and Cleveland passed through a largely rural area of the county. As urban sprawl from Birmingham has begun to spread into Blount County, numerous new subdivisions have begun to develop along the route. Much of the growth in northern Jefferson County
and Blount County is in expectation of the long-anticipated construction of the Northern Beltline which has been given the designation Interstate 422. The expected date for the completion of this route is 2020.
As a result of the residential and commercial development along this route, there are plans to widen the road to four lanes. However, such plans are still being developed and as of June 2009 are still several years away from becoming reality. Due to increased traffic,and the fact that the road is still a narrow two lane through winding, hilly country, there has been an increase in deadly auto accidents along this roadway including an accident on November 29, 2007 which took the lives of three Hayden High School cheerleaders—senior, Courtney Nicely, and sophomores, Whitney Bradford and Sarah Casey. Two years later, on September 19, 2009, Kimberly "Kimmi" Jones Colley was hit head-on, and died two weeks later. That death spurred the formation of an organization for the purpose of holding Governor Bob Riley
and the State Of Alabama accountable for a campaign promise made by Riley in April, 2006 to fast-track construction work to make State Highway 160.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Blount County
Blount County, Alabama
Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 57,322. Its county seat is Oneonta.Blount County is a dry county.-History:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The western terminus of the route is at the junction with Interstate 65 and U.S. Highway 31 at Exit 284 north of Warrior
Warrior, Alabama
Warrior is a city in Jefferson and Blount County in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census the population was 3,169.-History:The city takes its name from the Warrior coal fields, which J. T. Pierce opened in 1872 in the vicinity. The coal fields were named, in turn, after the Black Warrior...
. The eastern terminus of the route is at the junction with U.S. Highway 231 in Cleveland
Cleveland, Alabama
Cleveland is a town in Blount County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,241.-Geography:Cleveland is located at 33°59'31.326" North, 86°34'33.823" West .According to the U.S...
. SR-160 is the only state highway that is exclusively located in Blount County, Alabama
Blount County, Alabama
Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 57,322. Its county seat is Oneonta.Blount County is a dry county.-History:...
.
Route description
Just west of the western terminus of SR-160 at Interstate 65 is Rickwood Caverns State ParkRickwood Caverns State Park
Rickwood Caverns State Park is a state park located in Warrior, Alabama, near Birmingham, Alabama. Featuring 260 million-year-old limestone formations, blind cave fish, and an underground pool, Rickwood Caverns is a recognized member of the National Caves Association, and offers more than a mile of...
. The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River
Black Warrior River
The Black Warrior River is a waterway in west central Alabama in the southeastern United States. The river rises in the extreme southern edges of the Appalachian Highlands and flows 178 miles to the Tombigbee River, of which the Black Warrior is the primary tributary...
runs parallel to the roadway for several miles and eventually crosses beneath SR-160 near the community of Nectar, Alabama
Nectar, Alabama
Nectar is a town in Blount County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 372.-Geography:Nectar is located at 33°58'8.846" North, 86°38'10.522" West .According to the U.S...
. A CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
(formerly Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
) main rail line connecting Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
and Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
crosses over SR-160 at Hayden
Hayden, Alabama
Hayden is a town in Blount County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 470.-Geography:Hayden is located at 33°53'36.236" North, 86°45'25.139" West .According to the U.S...
. A rare Alabama rail tunnel carries this rail line beneath a mountain just north of SR-160 near Hayden
Hayden, Alabama
Hayden is a town in Blount County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 470.-Geography:Hayden is located at 33°53'36.236" North, 86°45'25.139" West .According to the U.S...
.
History
Prior to 1971, the route was designated as Blount CountyBlount County, Alabama
Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 57,322. Its county seat is Oneonta.Blount County is a dry county.-History:...
Road 8. The western terminus of SR-160 is approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) north of downtown Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. Until the late in the 1990s, the route of SR-160 between Hayden and Cleveland passed through a largely rural area of the county. As urban sprawl from Birmingham has begun to spread into Blount County, numerous new subdivisions have begun to develop along the route. Much of the growth in northern Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
and Blount County is in expectation of the long-anticipated construction of the Northern Beltline which has been given the designation Interstate 422. The expected date for the completion of this route is 2020.
As a result of the residential and commercial development along this route, there are plans to widen the road to four lanes. However, such plans are still being developed and as of June 2009 are still several years away from becoming reality. Due to increased traffic,and the fact that the road is still a narrow two lane through winding, hilly country, there has been an increase in deadly auto accidents along this roadway including an accident on November 29, 2007 which took the lives of three Hayden High School cheerleaders—senior, Courtney Nicely, and sophomores, Whitney Bradford and Sarah Casey. Two years later, on September 19, 2009, Kimberly "Kimmi" Jones Colley was hit head-on, and died two weeks later. That death spurred the formation of an organization for the purpose of holding Governor Bob Riley
Bob Riley
Bob Riley may refer to:* Bob Riley, 52nd Governor of Alabama* Bob C. Riley, acting Governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975* Bob Riley , sports car designer and founder of Riley Technologies...
and the State Of Alabama accountable for a campaign promise made by Riley in April, 2006 to fast-track construction work to make State Highway 160.