Alabama State Route 255

Infobox road
state=AL
type=AL
route=255
alternate_name=
length_mi=10
length_round=
length_ref= [ [http://colepages.com/routes251275.html#ala255 Highway Route Info Routes 251 - 275 ] ]
established=
direction_a=North
starting_terminus=
junction=
direction_b=South
ending_terminus=
counties=Madison
previous_type=AL
previous_route=253
next_type=AL
next_route=257

State Route 255 or SR-255 runs from I-565 to State Route 53/ Toyota Engine Plant on the west side of Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama. Most of the route is a limited access highway, with then entire route planned to be limited access. The road serves as Huntsville's western bypass.

Communities along the route

* Huntsville

History

State Route 255 was created around 1969 as part of a proposed north bypass of Huntsville. The original route ran from Redstone Arsenal Gate 9 to US-72 as limited access highway with exits for U.S. Highway 72 Alternate/State Route 20 (now I-565), Old Madison Pike, and ending at US-72, with plans to extend north. SR-255 only appeared on maps and was unsigned, and simple know as the Rideout Road Extension, or just simply Rideout Road.

During the construnction of I-565 in 1990, a truck towing a crane disloged the southbound bridge over SR-20 forcing an earlier replacement of the bridge. SR-255 was first signed as an exit off of I-565.

State Route 255 was extended north in 1996 to State Route 53. In 2001 the road was named Research Park Boulevard after Cummings Research Park which the road passes.

In 2005 an extension of the current road known as the Northern Bypass was constructed east several miles to just past Pulaski Pike on the north side of Huntsville. This road was named after Martin Luther King, Jr. and built to the same road standands as the present at grade portion of SR-255, allowing for future upgrade to limited access. The road was built as part of a deal with the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Plant to allow faster access to I-565.

Future

In 2007, work will begin on an interchange at State Route 53, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.

In 2008 or 2009, construction will begin on the $500 million Southern Bypass through Redstone Arsenal, which will extend 255 south from its current terminus at 565 to US-231 in south Huntsville. It will become part of the proposed Memphis-Huntsville-Atlanta highway.

The city of Huntsville has begun studies to extend the road to US-231/US-431 North towards Meridianville parallel to Bob Wade Lane. Eventually 255 will be built east and south to US-72 east of Huntsville. [http://www.ci.huntsville.al.us/Planning/majorstreetplan0405.pdf]

Major intersections

*State Route 53 in Huntsville
*U.S. Highway 72 in Huntsville
*Interstate 565 in Huntsville

Exit list

State Route 255 has the following interchanges:

*I-565 / Exit 14
*Old Madison Pike
*Bradford Drive
*US-72 - University Drive
*Oakwood Road
*Plummer Road (last exit)
*Nick Fitcheard Road (at grade)
*State Route 53 - Ardmore Highway (at grade- proposed interchange)
*Pulaski Pike (at grade)
*Bob Wade Lane (at grade)

SR-255 continues south as Rideout Road, entering Redstone Arsenal at Gate 9 and continues north and east as Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

References

External links

*Alabama Department of Transportation county road maps for [http://www.dot.state.al.us/NR/rdonlyres/EB3F1724-5D67-46AF-878B-24029BBFD5A2/0/co45.pdf Madison] (Adobe Acrobat reader required for maps; enlargement of maps necessary for legibility)