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U.S. Route 280

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U.S. Route 280 marker
U.S. Route 280
Map
US 280 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 80
Maintained by ALDOT and GDOT
Length392 mi[citation needed] (631 km)
ExistedJanuary 1954[1]–present
Major junctions
West end I-20 / I-59 / US 31 in Birmingham, AL
Major intersections
East end US 80 / SR 26 / SR 30 in Blitchton, GA
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesAlabama, Georgia
CountiesAL: Jefferson, Shelby, Talladega, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Lee, Russell
GA: Muscogee, Stewart, Webster, Sumter, Crisp, Wilcox, Dodge, Telfair, Wheeler, Montgomery, Toombs, Tattnall, Evans, Bryan
Highway system

U.S. Route 280 (US 280) is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. It currently runs for 392 miles (631 km) from Blitchton, Georgia, at US 80 to Birmingham, Alabama at I-20/I-59. For much of its route, US 280 travels through rural areas and smaller cities in southern Georgia and east central Alabama. Once the highway approaches Birmingham, it is a major suburban route. Numerous shopping centers are located on US 280 throughout northern Shelby County and southern Jefferson County.

US 280 is the main connector between Birmingham, AL and Auburn, AL, and this stretch is sometimes known as the “War Eagle Highway.“[2]

Through Talladega County, Alabama, US 280 is known as the Jim Nabors Highway, in honor of the Sylacauga, Alabama, native known for portraying the television character Gomer Pyle. The historical designation of US-280 and Alabama SR 38 is the Florida Short Route.

For many years, US 280 and SR 38 was considered one of the more dangerous routes in Alabama, due to the number of large stretches of narrow two-lane roadway leading southeastwardly from Birmingham. Work was completed in 2006 making US 280 a four-lane highway throughout the entire state of Alabama. This project began in the 1970s. As a result, US 280 now bypasses numerous small towns in east Alabama, including Goodwater, Jackson's Gap, Camp Hill and Waverly.

In Georgia, US 280 from Columbus to I-16 is also a Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP) corridor known as "Power Alley".[3]

Route description

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Western terminus at Interstates 20 & 59 in Birmingham.

Alabama

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US 280 terminates concurrently with U.S. 31 at I-20/I-59. US 31 continues onward at this point. The route continues through downtown Birmingham with US 31. They junction with US 11 and US 78 and climb over Red Mountain into Mtn. Brook as a section of highway called the Red Mountain Expressway. Here, US 280 splits off of US 31 at a highly complex interchange with elements of a Directional-T and a Parclo.

It continues on somewhat of a freeway through Mtn. Brook, eventually reaching The Summit, a huge outdoor mall. It also junctions with I-459 at this point, at a Parclo-like interchange which is being modified to better suit traffic.[4]

The route continues through one of the more developed areas of east Birmingham and eventually climbs over Double Oak Mountain into Shelby County and Chelsea. It continues east to Harpersville, which is home to its junction with US 231 north and SR 25. US 280 continues with US 231 until it reaches the Coosa River, which it crosses into Talladega County. It eventually reaches Sylacauga, which is home to its junction with US 231 south and SR 21. This specific junction is a diamond interchange, commonly used on freeways.

The route continues south-east through northern Coosa County until it has another diamond interchange with SR 9. It then passes through Kellyton, which is home to its minor junction with SR 115.

It crosses into Tallapoosa County just before entering Alexander City, which is home to Russell Athletic. US 280 junctions with SR 22 and SR 63 in the city. It then proceeds through slightly hilly terrain to Dadeville. It junctions with SR 49, which connects the route to the Talladega National Forest/Cheaha State Park. It leaves Dadeville, promptly enters Camp Hill, junctions with SR 50, and enters the southwestern corner of Chambers County, and then crosses into Lee County.

The route then reaches The Bottle, which is named for the bright orange wooden replica of a Nehi soda bottle which stood in the location from 1924 to 1936.  It crosses into Auburn, which is barely skimmed by US 280 as it then crosses into nearby Opelika. The route junctions with US 29/I-85. It joins the freeway with them and continues through I-85's junction with SR 51. It then splits off of the road with US 431. It continues on a heavily traveled road into Russell County, and eventually to Phenix City, which is actually in the Eastern Time Zone due to its close proximity with Columbus, Georgia across the Chattahoochee River. It junctions with US 80. The route then leaves US 431 behind and crosses the Chattahoochee River, leaving Alabama and entering Georgia in Columbus. US 280 has a length of 141.356 miles (227.490 km) in Alabama.[5]

US 280 has the unsigned designation of State Route 38 (SR 38) throughout its length in Alabama.

Georgia

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This section is about the current U.S. Highway. For the current state highway, see Georgia State Route 280.

US 280 begins in Georgia at the state's border with Alabama in Columbus. There it is paired with State Route 520 and U.S. Route 27. It maintains this designation as it passes through Fort Benning. Upon arriving in Cusseta, US 280/GA 520 diverge from US 27 and continue southeast to Richland, where US 280 splits off from GA 520. From here, US 280 continues on its own east, passing through Plains (the boyhood home of Jimmy Carter) and becomes cosigned with State Route 30 in Americus. US 280/SR 30 then continue east-southeast, crossing I-75 in Cordele, still continuing east through mainly rural areas of the southern portion of the state, passing through smaller towns such as McRae–Helena, Mount Vernon, Vidalia, and Pembroke. The highway then turns to the northeast as it leaves Pembroke, crossing I-16 at exit 143. Still continuing northeast, the highway then terminates in Blichton at U.S. Route 80.

National Highway System

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Except for the easternmost portion between I-16 and the eastern terminus, the entire length of US 280 is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.[6][7][8][9][10]

History

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Prior to the completion of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway in Birmingham, US 31, US 78, and US 280 traveled concurrently until they intersected US 11 at the intersection of 1st Avenue North and 24th Street.

Major intersections

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StateCountyLocationmi[5]kmDestinationsNotes
AlabamaJeffersonBirmingham0.0000.000
 I-20 / I-59 / US 31 north (Carraway Boulevard / SR 3) – Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, Gadsden		Western terminus; western end of US 31/SR 3 concurrency; I-20/I-59 exit 126A
0.7291.1732nd Avenue NorthWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
0.8351.344 US 11 (1st Avenue North / SR 7)Westbound exit only
1.2452.004 US 78 (3rd–4th Avenue South / SR 4)
1.5982.572University Boulevard
Highland Avenue / Arlington AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
21st Avenue SouthEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Homewood3.3315.361
 US 31 south (SR 3 south) / SR 38 east / Rosedale Drive – Montgomery, Homewood		Eastern end of US 31/SR 3 concurrency; western end of SR 38 concurrency; western terminus of SR 38
Birmingham–Homewood lineHollywood Boulevard – Mountain Brook, Birmingham Zoo–GardensEastern end of freeway
Mountain Brook4.7377.623 SR 149 – Homewood, Mountain Brook, Samford UniversityInterchange
Mountain BrookPump House Road – Cahaba HeightsInterchange
Birmingham7.89912.712 I-459 – Atlanta, Gadsden, Montgomery, TuscaloosaI-459 exit 19
Colonnade DriveInterchange
ShelbyHoover11.81919.021 SR 119 (Cahaba Valley Road) – Leeds, Oak Mountain State Park, Lake Purdy
Harpersville29.43147.365
 US 231 north (SR 53 north) / SR 25 – Vincent, Wilsonville, Pell City		Western end of US 231/SR 53 concurrency
Harpersville34.43755.421
 SR 76 west (Klein Road) – Columbiana, Montevallo		Western end of SR 76 concurrency
TalladegaChildersburg35.52357.169
 SR 235 north (Coosa Pines Road)		Southern terminus of SR 235
36.10958.112

 SR 76 east (1st Street) / CR 008 west – Childersburg, Fayetteville, Kymulga Covered Bridge and Grist Mill, Talladega College Historic District, DeSoto Caverns		Eastern end of SR 76 concurrency; eastern terminus of CR 008
Sylacauga47.31076.138
 US 231 south (SR 53) / SR 21 – Sylacauga, Montgomery		Eastern end of US 231/SR 53 concurrency; interchange
CoosaSocapatoy63.362101.971 SR 9 – Wetumpka, GoodwaterInterchange
Kellyton65.221104.963
 SR 115 south / Firehouse Road – Kellyton		Northern terminus of SR 115
TallapoosaAlexander City70.096112.809
 SR 22 west (Rockford Highway) – Rockford, Historic Downtown Alexander City, Charles E. Bailey Sportplex		Western end of SR 22 concurrency
71.788115.532
 SR 22 east / SR 63 (Cherokee Road) – Alex City, Eclectic, Central Alabama Community College, Wind Creek State Park, Historic Downtown Alexander City		Eastern end of SR 22 concurrency
Dadeville83.501134.382
 SR 49 north (Horseshoe Bend Road) – New Site, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park		Western end of SR 49 concurrency
84.821136.506
 SR 49 south (North Broadnax Street) – Dadeville Business District, StillWaters, Tallapoosa County Historical Museum		Eastern end of SR 49 concurrency
Camp Hill

 SR 50 east / CR 34 west – Camp Hill, Lyman Ward, StillWaters, Camp Hill Business District		Western end of SR 50 concurrency; eastern terminus of CR 34
91.488147.236
 SR 50 west – Lyman Ward, Girls Ranch		Eastern end of SR 50 concurrency
Chambers
 No major junctions
LeeAuburn104.511168.194
 SR 147 north (Heath Road) – LaFayette		Western end of SR 147 concurrency
The Bottle104.911168.838
 SR 147 south (North College Street) – Auburn		Eastern end of SR 147 concurrency
Opelika110.241177.416Pepperell ParkwayFormer US 29
111.851180.007

 I-85 south / US 29 south (SR 15) – Montgomery		Western end of I-85/US 29/SR 15 concurrency; US 280 west follows exit 58.
113.871183.258
 SR 51 to SR 169 – Opelika, Hurtsboro		I-85 exit 60
115.294185.548


 I-85 north / US 29 north (SR 15) / US 431 north (Columbus Parkway / SR 1) – Atlanta, Opelika, Southern Union State Community College		Eastern end of I-85/US 29/SR 15 concurrency; western end of US 431/SR 1 concurrency; US 280 east follows exit 62.
RussellPhenix City137.659221.541

 US 80 east (SR 8) to I-185 – Columbus		Western end of US 80/SR 8 concurrency
138.598223.052
 US 80 west (Crawford Road / SR 8) – Montgomery		Eastern end of US 80/SR 8 concurrency
140.466226.058
 US 431 south (SR 1) – Eufaula, Dothan		Eastern end of US 431/SR 1 concurrency; interchange
Colin L. Powell Parkway / Seale RoadInterchange
Chattahoochee River141.356
0.0		227.490
0.0		Oglethorpe Bridge; Alabama–Georgia state line
GeorgiaMuscogeeColumbus

 US 27 north / SR 1 north (Veterans Parkway) – Hamilton, Waverly Hall, Airport		Western end of US 27/SR 1 concurrency
See SR 520 (mile 0.0-35.1)
StewartRichland

 SR 520 east / SR 27 west – Dawson, Lumpkin		Eastern end of SR 520 concurrency; western end of SR 27 concurrency
WebsterPreston
 SR 41 south (Washington Street) – Weston, Dawson		Western end of SR 41 concurrency

 SR 41 north (Cass Street) – Buena Vista, Ellaville		Eastern end of SR 41 concurrency
SumterPlains

 SR 45 south (Bond Street) to SR 308 – Dawson, Jimmy Carter National Historic Site		Northern terminus of SR 45
​
 SR 49 south – Dawson		Western end of SR 49 concurrency
​

 US 19 south / SR 3 south / Spring Street – Albany		Western end of US 19/SR 3 concurrency
Americus


 US 19 north / SR 3 north / SR 30 west (South MLK Boulevard) – Ellaville, Buena Vista		Eastern end of US 19/SR 3 concurrency; western end of SR 30 concurrency

 SR 377 south (Lee Street)		Northern terminus of SR 377

 SR 49 north (Tripp Street / Crawford Street) – Oglethorpe, Andersonville, Andersonville National Historic Site, Airport, South Georgia Technical College, Georgia Southwestern State University		Eastern end of SR 49 concurrency

 SR 27 east (Vienna Road) – Vienna		Eastern end of SR 27 concurrency
Leslie

 SR 118 south / SR 195 south (Bailey Avenue) – Leesburg, Smithville, Georgia Rural Telephone Museum		Western end of SR 195 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 118
De Soto
 SR 195 north – Andersonville		Eastern end of SR 195 concurrency
Crisp​
 SR 300 Conn. south – Albany, Camilla		Northern terminus of SR 300 Conn.
Cordele
 I-75 BL / US 41 / SR 7 north (7th Street) / SR 90 – Vienna, Ashburn, Historic Downtown Cordele		Western end of SR 90 concurrency

 I-75 (SR 401) to SR 300 – Macon, Valdosta, Albany		I-75 exit 101

 SR 90 south – Rebecca		Eastern end of SR 90 concurrency
WilcoxPitts
 SR 159 south (10th Street) – Rebecca, Ashburn		Northern terminus of SR 159

 SR 215 north (8th Street) – Vienna		Western end of SR 215 concurrency
Rochelle SR 112 / SR 233 (Ashley Street) – Hawkinsville, Rebecca

 SR 215 south (Gordon Street) – Fitzgerald		Eastern end of SR 215 concurrency
Abbeville US 129 / SR 11 (Broad Street) – Hawkinsville, Fitzgerald, Wilcox State Prison
Dodge​
 SR 87 north (Abbeville Highway) – Eastman, Hawkinsville		Southern terminus of SR 87
Rhine
 SR 117 / SR 165 north (Central Street) – Eastman, Jacksonville		Western end of SR 165 concurrency
TelfairMilan
 SR 165 south (Mt. Zion Street)		Eastern end of SR 165 concurrency
McRae-Helena


 US 319 south / US 441 south / SR 31 south – Fitzgerald, Douglas		Western end of US 319/US 441/SR 31 concurrency



 US 23 south / US 341 south / SR 27 south (Oak Street) – Hazlehurst		Southbound lanes of US 23/US 341/SR 27 on one-way pair



 US 23 north / US 341 north / SR 27 north – Eastman		Northbound lanes of US 23/US 341/SR 27 on one-way pair
Wheeler​


 US 319 north / US 441 north / SR 31 north – Dublin, Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge		Eastern end of US 319/US 441/SR 31 concurrency
​
 SR 149 south – Scotland		Northern terminus of SR 149
Alamo SR 126 (Commerce Street) – Cadwell, Lumber City
Glenwood SR 19 (2nd Street) – Dublin, Lumber City
MontgomeryMount Vernon
 US 221 / SR 56 (Railroad Avenue) to I-16 – Soperton, Uvalda
AileyBroad StreetFormer SR 227 north
Higgston



 SR 15 north / SR 29 north / SR 135 south (James Street) to I-16 – Tarrytown, Soperton, Uvalda		Western end of SR 15/SR 29 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 135
ToombsVidalia SR 130 (Adams Street) – Uvalda


 SR 15 south / SR 29 south (Jackson Street) – Baxley		Eastern end of SR 15/SR 29 concurrency
Lyons
 US 1 / SR 4 (South State Street) to I-16 – Swainsboro, Baxley
​
 SR 86 west – Oak Park		Eastern terminus of SR 86
TattnallReidsville
 SR 56 west (Shepards Bridge Road) – Uvalda		Eastern terminus of SR 56

 SR 147 west (Tattnall Street) – State Prison		Eastern terminus of SR 147

 SR 23 / SR 57 / SR 121 (Main Street) to I-16 – Metter, Glennville
EvansBellville
 SR 169 (Smith Street) to I-16 – Bellville, Jesup
​
 SR 292 west – Manassas		Eastern terminus of SR 292
Claxton
 SR 129 north (Ralph Street) – Metter		Western end of SR 129 concurrency
US 25 / US 301 (Duval Street / SR 73) – Statesboro, Glennville

 SR 129 south (River Street)		Eastern end of SR 129 concurrency
BryanPembroke


 SR 67 north / SR 119 south (Main Street) to I-16		Western end of SR 67/SR 119 concurrency



 SR 67 south / SR 119 north (College Street) to I-16 – Springfield		Eastern end of SR 67/SR 119 concurrency
Lanier

 SR 204 east to I-95 – Ellabell		Western terminus of SR 204
​ I-16 (SR 404) – Macon, SavannahI-16 exit 143
Blitchton
 US 80 / SR 26 / SR 30 east – Statesboro, Savannah		Eastern terminus; eastern end of SR 30 concurrency; former US 280 east
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. 431, U.S. 280 Markers Now Up". The Opelika Daily News. Opelika, Alabama. January 26, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved December 21, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "Art department has new head". Auburn Plainsman. October 2, 1970. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP)". Georgia Department of Transportation. 2012. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  4. ^ Paepcke, Jon (January 24, 2019). "Improved I-459 ramp to U.S. 280 set to open in Birmingham" – via www.wvtm13.com.
  5. ^ a b Alabama Department of Transportation. "Milepost Maps". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  6. ^ National Highway System: Alabama (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 8, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  7. ^ National Highway System: Birmingham, AL (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  8. ^ National Highway System: Auburn, AL (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  9. ^ National Highway System: Georgia (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 8, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  10. ^ National Highway System: Columbus, GA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
[edit]
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