Interstate 165
Encyclopedia
Interstate 165 is a spur from Interstate 65 that provides access to Mobile, Alabama
. It runs for 4.9 miles (7.9 km) from Beauregard Street in downtown Mobile north to Interstate 65 in Prichard
. As it is, I-165 terminates into Water Street which itself terminates into an I-10 on-ramp less than two miles (3 km) further. The route is elevated for its entire length.
Construction of the freeway would commence in early 1991 and was originally slated for opening in April 1995. Costing $240 million to complete, the route was officially opened to the public at 5:00 in the evening on October 28, 1994. In attendance at the ceremony were former governor Jim Folsom
U.S. Representative Sonny Callahan
and Federal Highway Administration head Rodney Slate. Upon its completion, it saved commuters traveling between downtown Mobile and the northern suburbs along Interstate 65 an average of nine minutes. While still under construction in 1993, efforts to name the freeway in honor of Mobile baseball great Satchel Paige
never materialized.
Its construction resulted in the demolition of many structures within downtown Prichard, including such landmarks as the main public library and fire station.
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. It runs for 4.9 miles (7.9 km) from Beauregard Street in downtown Mobile north to Interstate 65 in Prichard
Prichard, Alabama
Prichard is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, in the United States.Prichard borders the north side of Mobile, as well as the Mobile suburbs of Chickasaw, Alabama, Saraland, Alabama, and the unincorporated sections of Eight Mile, Alabama. As of 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the...
. As it is, I-165 terminates into Water Street which itself terminates into an I-10 on-ramp less than two miles (3 km) further. The route is elevated for its entire length.
History
Interstate 165 began life as a planned Interstate 210. Many problems, including community opposition and access to the Mobile waterfront, prevented the freeway from reaching its intended southern terminus at Interstate 10; I-165 ends about 1 mile short of I-10 and becomes Water Street. Since the road had no connection to Interstate 10, the number 210 was no longer applicable to the freeway, so 165 was chosen instead.Construction of the freeway would commence in early 1991 and was originally slated for opening in April 1995. Costing $240 million to complete, the route was officially opened to the public at 5:00 in the evening on October 28, 1994. In attendance at the ceremony were former governor Jim Folsom
Jim Folsom
James Elisha Folsom, Sr. , commonly known as Jim Folsom or "Big Jim", was the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1947 to 1951, and again from 1955 to 1959. Born in Coffee County, Alabama, Folsom is perhaps best remembered as being among the first Southern governors to embrace...
U.S. Representative Sonny Callahan
Sonny Callahan
Herbert Leon "Sonny" Callahan is a politician from Alabama.Callahan was born in Mobile, Alabama he had eight brothers and sisters and he attended classes at a branch of the University of Alabama that was located in Mobile. He did not graduate. Callahan served in the United States Navy from 1952 to...
and Federal Highway Administration head Rodney Slate. Upon its completion, it saved commuters traveling between downtown Mobile and the northern suburbs along Interstate 65 an average of nine minutes. While still under construction in 1993, efforts to name the freeway in honor of Mobile baseball great Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
never materialized.
Its construction resulted in the demolition of many structures within downtown Prichard, including such landmarks as the main public library and fire station.
Exit list
The entire route is in Mobile County.| Location | Mile | # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prichard Prichard, Alabama Prichard is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, in the United States.Prichard borders the north side of Mobile, as well as the Mobile suburbs of Chickasaw, Alabama, Saraland, Alabama, and the unincorporated sections of Eight Mile, Alabama. As of 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the... |
0A | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||
| 0B | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
| 1A | Whistler Street | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||
| 1B | Price Avenue, Wilson Avenue, Dr. M.L. King Jr. Drive | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||
| 1C | Wilson Avenue, Price Avenue, Whistler Street | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||
| 2 | North end of US-90/US-98 Truck/SR-16 overlap | |||
| Mobile Mobile, Alabama Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest... |
3 | To Conception Street Road | Northbound exit and southbound entrance; former US-43 north/SR-13 north | |
| 4 | To State Docks |
I-165 ends at an at-grade intersection |