- Memorial Parkway (Huntsville)
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Memorial Parkway (colloquially The Parkway or Parkway) is a major thoroughfare in Huntsville, Alabama.[1] It, in whole or in part, follows U.S. Route 231, U.S. Route 431, U.S. Route 72, and State Route 53 through the Huntsville city limits.[2] It is a limited access road through most of Huntsville city proper, providing exits to the frontage road which allow access to road intersections, as well as businesses and residences along the route.[3] Both the limited access and frontage roads are referred to as Memorial Parkway. Originally constructed in the 1950s and officially opened on December 1, 1955, the highway is the major commercial thoroughfare through Huntsville, a status it has held since the mid-1960s.[3][4][5]
The so-called "useless" overpass (it crosses over no other roadway) between Drake Avenue and Airport Road was originally constructed to provide a convenient U-turn as well as allow access to businesses alongside the Parkway.[2]
South of the Parkway is Clement C. Clay Bridge, also known as Whitesburg Bridge.
Contents
Expansion
Memorial Parkway's limited access portion is being expanded to include interchanges and frontage roads to the following cross streets. Estimated completion dates for significant current Parkway projects are statused in a quarterly Construction Bulletin[6] from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)'s Bureau of Transportation Planning.
North side
From north to south:
- Sparkman Drive/U.S. Route 72 eastbound (under construction, scheduled to be completed in 2012[7])
- Max Luther Drive (under construction, scheduled to be completed in 2012[7])
- Oakwood Ave
- University Drive
- Governors Drive
- Bob Wallace Ave
- Drake Ave
South side
From north to south:
- Airport Road
- Byrd Spring Road (construction to start in 2016[7])
- Charlotte Drive/Logan Drive/Lily Flagg Road (construction to start in 2016[7])
- Whitesburg Drive/Cameron Road
- Weatherly Road
- Meadowbrook Drive (southbound exit only)
In popular culture
- Professional baseball player Jose Canseco earned the nickname "Jose Parkway" while playing with the Huntsville Stars for his ability to hit home runs over the outfield fence at Joe Davis Stadium.[8]
Exit list
Destinations Notes Meadowbrook Drive West Southbound exit only Whitesburg Drive, Weatherly Road Also exit for Cameron Road but not signed. Martin Road, Vermont Road Golf Road, Jones Valley Drive Airport Road, Jones Valley Drive Drake Avenue Coming from the south, Drake Avenue appears to have two exits because there is a sign that will guide drivers to exit in time for the useless overpass, and another at the appropriate place to exit for Drake Avenue. Both exits lead to the same access road. Bob Wallace Avenue 
US-431 south / SR-53 north (Governors Drive, SR 1 south) to SR-20 westNorth end of SR 53 overlap; south end of US 431/SR 1 overlap Clinton Avenue - Downtown Huntsville Former SR 20 
I-565 (US 72 Alt.)
US-72 west (University Drive, SR 2 west)South end of US 72/SR 2 overlap Oakwood Avenue, Cook Avenue References
- ^ "National Affairs: Rocket City, U.S.A.". Time. February 17, 1958. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,862900,00.html. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ^ a b Marshall, Mike (December 21, 2005). "Parkway: Savior or joke?". Huntsville Times.
- ^ a b Grant, Howard (August 7, 1964). "Redesigning of Parkway is proposed". The Huntsville Times: p. 1.
- ^ "Businessmen Fighting Highway". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press: p. 5A. February 20, 1972. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nAMdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QJwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5447,3368573&dq=memorial-parkway+huntsville&hl=en. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ^ "Study shows Huntsville to need highway". Gadsden Times. Associated Press. August 28, 1985. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yLIfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c9cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5919,5345067&dq=memorial-parkway+huntsville&hl=en. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ^ ALDOT's Construction Bulletin
- ^ a b c d Road projects should outpace traffic growth in the coming decade (Outlook 2011) -- Huntsville Times blog
- ^ "A's Canseco reaches majors with a thump". Miami Herald. September 24, 1985. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB363989CFC1DE5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
See also
Categories:- Limited-access roads in the United States
- Roads in Alabama
- Transportation in Huntsville, Alabama
- 1955 establishments
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