interstate interstate state alabama spur route runs miles entirely city limits termini south interchange south town highway downtown entire length concurrent highway continuing grade north south shorter interstate route description begins south interchange western terminus boulevard point route travels northerly direction meets interstate partial cloverleaf interchange route reaches exit 35th street half cloverleaf configuration provides access continues northerly direction paralleling avenue northern terminus north 15th street limited access freeway transitions grade enters downtown crossing alabama great southern railroad northern terminus highway entirety elevated continuous bridge span features wrong way concurrency entire duration travel downtown signed south north travel south signed north south history early 1960s local planners elected officials stated need direct access interstate city annexation brought city limits corridor interstate originally access provided directly route originally envisioned exits duration route southern terminus northern terminus 15th street downtown actual planning commenced announced federal funding sought construction planning corridor continued 1970s stall briefly complications required environmental impact assessment associated project announced exit 35th street 15th street improve access publicly unveiled final routing route presented series public meetings august selected route resulted slight relocation 35th street construction bridge 31st street freeway construction continuous final leg freeway 15th street junction plans unveiled add additional travel lane direction junction boulevard following acquisition necessary right way project released june phase included completion interchange lane expansion second phase included segment railroad crossing phase included elevated segment northern terminus downtown construction commence phase bid second phase setting record cost road project construction wrapping phase phase project set record cost million january phase included completion section freeway constructed average elevation feet grade segment opened traffic october exit costing million completion officially dedicated opened traffic september exit list entire route
Interstate 359