Corridor X-1
Encyclopedia
Corridor X-1 or the Birmingham Northern Beltline is the proposed 50.8 miles (81.8 km) by-pass route around Birmingham, Alabama
through northern and western Jefferson County
to be completed by 2025. Along with the existing I-459, the Northern Beltline would complete the bypass loop of central Birmingham for all interstate traffic.
Current plans for the route have it connecting at I-459's current southern terminus in Bessemer
with I-59 at approximately mile marker 147 to the northeast of Trussville
near Argo. Additional studies are underway to determine the economic feasibility to continue the route from its proposed northern terminus to I-20 in the Leeds
/Moody
area.
The route has been designated as the Appalachian Regional Commission, High Priority Corridor X-1, State Route 959 and Interstate 422.
In September 1993 the Birmingham Metropolitan Planning Organization made a $500,000 request from the Alabama Department of Transportation
for preliminary engineering of the beltline. Through the continued efforts of representative Spencer Bachus
, in June 1995, the project was designated by the Federal Highway Administration
as part of the National Highway System
. As a result of this designation, the beltline would be eligible for federal transportation dollars.
In 2000, the Northern Beltline was added to the area’s Transportation Plan, and in 2001, Senator Richard Shelby
and Congressman Spencer Bachus
secured $60 million to buy right-of-way and do preliminary engineering for the route. In 2003, Shelby secured an additional $2 million for the continued purchasing of right-of-way. Progress continues with the purchasing of additional right-of way through the county as of 2006. Right of Way for the short segment near Pinson between Alabama 75 and Alabama 79 has been completed but construction has yet to commence.
In May 2009, Bachus announced in the Birmingham News that the Northern Beltline had been designated as Interstate 422.
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...
through northern and western 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...
to be completed by 2025. Along with the existing I-459, the Northern Beltline would complete the bypass loop of central Birmingham for all interstate traffic.
Current plans for the route have it connecting at I-459's current southern terminus in Bessemer
Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer is a city outside of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States eight miles west of Hoover. The population was 29,672 at the 2000 Census, but by the 2009 U.S...
with I-59 at approximately mile marker 147 to the northeast of Trussville
Trussville, Alabama
Trussville is a city in Jefferson and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 19,933 at the 2010 census. Trussville was ranked as number 56 out of 100 in Money Magazines Best Places to Live 2005.-Geography:...
near Argo. Additional studies are underway to determine the economic feasibility to continue the route from its proposed northern terminus to I-20 in the Leeds
Leeds, Alabama
Leeds is a tri-county municipality located in Jefferson, St. Clair, and Shelby Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a suburb of Birmingham. As of the 2009 population estimate, the population of the city is about 11,474.-History:...
/Moody
Moody, Alabama
Moody is a city in St. Clair County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,053.-Geography:Moody is located at .According to the U.S...
area.
The route has been designated as the Appalachian Regional Commission, High Priority Corridor X-1, State Route 959 and Interstate 422.
History
As early as the 1960s, the prospect of a complete beltway encircling Birmingham was envisioned. Although the proposal was initially dropped from the original Interstate Highway System, the completion of Birmingham's outer beltway has been speculated since the completion of I-459 in 1985. By 1989, the first federal and local funds were earmarked for a project to study the feasibility of constructing the route.Alabama Department of Transportation
The Alabama Department of Transportation is the government agency responsible for transportation infrastructure in Alabama. The department is divided into nine geographical divisions, with a central office located in Montgomery.-External links:...
for preliminary engineering of the beltline. Through the continued efforts of representative Spencer Bachus
Spencer Bachus
Spencer Thomas Bachus III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party and the senior member of the Alabama U. S. House delegation...
, in June 1995, the project was designated by the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
as part of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
. As a result of this designation, the beltline would be eligible for federal transportation dollars.
In 2000, the Northern Beltline was added to the area’s Transportation Plan, and in 2001, Senator Richard Shelby
Richard Shelby
Richard Craig Shelby is the senior U.S. Senator from Alabama. First elected to the Senate in 1986, he is the ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and was its chairman from 2003 to 2007....
and Congressman Spencer Bachus
Spencer Bachus
Spencer Thomas Bachus III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party and the senior member of the Alabama U. S. House delegation...
secured $60 million to buy right-of-way and do preliminary engineering for the route. In 2003, Shelby secured an additional $2 million for the continued purchasing of right-of-way. Progress continues with the purchasing of additional right-of way through the county as of 2006. Right of Way for the short segment near Pinson between Alabama 75 and Alabama 79 has been completed but construction has yet to commence.
In May 2009, Bachus announced in the Birmingham News that the Northern Beltline had been designated as Interstate 422.
Proposed routing
According to the Birmingham Metropolitan Planning Organization the Northern Beltline would be divided into five separate segments for construction. ALDOT has been purchasing right of way for the first to be built segment between Alabama 79 and Alabama 75 north of Pinson.| Segment | Southern/Western End | Northern/Eastern End | Mileage | Communities traversed | Exits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment 1 | I-459 | Jefferson County 46 | 9.02 | Bessemer Bessemer, Alabama Bessemer is a city outside of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States eight miles west of Hoover. The population was 29,672 at the 2000 Census, but by the 2009 U.S... Hueytown Hueytown, Alabama Hueytown is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 16,105.It was the home of the legendary NASCAR Alabama Gang... |
 I-459Jefferson County 29 Jefferson County 46 |
| Segment 2 | Jefferson County 46 |  U.S. Highway 78 |
9.58 | Pleasant Grove Pleasant Grove, Alabama Pleasant Grove is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama and suburb of Birmingham. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area. Its nickname is "The Good Neighbor City". At the 2010 census the population was 10,110.-History:... Sylvan Springs Sylvan Springs, Alabama Sylvan Springs is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,465... Mulga Mulga, Alabama Mulga is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At its 2000 census the population was 973. This town includes the community of Bayview. Its communities were damaged by an F5 tornado on April 8,... Maytown Maytown, Alabama Maytown is a town in Jefferson, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 435. This area was damaged by an F5 tornado on April 8, 1998.-Geography:... Adamsville Adamsville, Alabama Adamsville is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. According to the 2010 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 4,522.-Geography:... |
 State Route 269State Route 269 (Alabama) State Route 269 is a long route that extends northwestward from Birmingham to Jasper. The route runs west of U.S. Highway 78 and roughly parallels that route. Other towns along the route include Maytown, Sylvan Springs, and Parrish.... U.S. Highway 78 |
| Segment 3 | U.S. Highway 78 |
Jefferson County 77 (New Found Road) |
8.28 | Adamsville Adamsville, Alabama Adamsville is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. According to the 2010 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 4,522.-Geography:... Graysville Graysville, Alabama Graysville is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 2,344.-Geography:Graysville is located at .... Cardiff Cardiff, Alabama Cardiff is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States west of Gardendale. At the 2000 census the population was 82. It is named after the capital of Wales. It is one of four Jefferson County cities named after cities in Great Britain, the others being Birmingham, Leeds and... Brookside Brookside, Alabama Brookside is a former mining town, predominantly settled by Eastern European immigrants, located in north-central Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 1,393. The mayor is Roger McCondiche.- History :... |
U.S. Highway 78 I-22 |
| Segment 4 | Jefferson County 77 (New Found Road) |
Jefferson County 121 (New Castle Road) |
10.20 | Brookside Brookside, Alabama Brookside is a former mining town, predominantly settled by Eastern European immigrants, located in north-central Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 1,393. The mayor is Roger McCondiche.- History :... Gardendale Gardendale, Alabama Gardendale is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, and a northern suburb of Birmingham. The population was 11,626 at the 2000 census. 2009 Census estimates propose a population of 13,720.-History:... Morris Morris, Alabama Morris is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area.-Geography:Morris is located at .According to the U.S... |
Jefferson County 112 I-65 U.S. Highway 31Jefferson County 129 |
| Segment 5 | Jefferson County 121 (New Castle Road) |
 I-59 |
13.00 | Pinson Pinson, Alabama Pinson is a city in Birmingham, Alabama, United States northwest from Center Point. At the 2000 census, the population was 5,033.-Geography:This city is located at .According to the U.S... Clay Clay, Alabama Clay is a city in northeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Local government is run by a mayor and city council. Before incorporation on June 6, 2000, it was a census-designated place... Trussville Trussville, Alabama Trussville is a city in Jefferson and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 19,933 at the 2010 census. Trussville was ranked as number 56 out of 100 in Money Magazines Best Places to Live 2005.-Geography:... |
 State Route 79State Route 79 (Alabama) State Route 79 is a route that extends northeastward from Birmingham to the Tennessee state line. Prior to the completion of Interstate 65, SR-79 was the southern part of the route that connected Birmingham and Huntsville....  State Route 75State Route 75 (Alabama) State Route 75 is a state highway in Alabama that extends northeastward from Birmingham to the Georgia state line. The route runs west of U.S. Highway 11 and roughly parallels that route as well as Interstate 59... Jefferson County 30 (Old Springville Road) I-59 |
External links
- Corridor X-1 at AARoads.com
- Map of the Corridor X-1 from the Birmingham MPO
- Corridor X-1 at BhamWiki.com - accessed December 13, 2006