Alabama/Alabama Highways
This page describes Alabama-specific determinations for implementing US Highway Classification values.
Motorways
In Alabama, we use the same standard as defined on the US Highway Classification page.
The top category, highway=motorway should only be applied to roadways that are either signed Interstate highways or have ALL of the following characteristics:
- Grade separation
- Limited access via on/off ramps
- No at-grade intersections or traffic signals (although on-ramps may have traffic control devices)
- Divided carriageways
- Designed and maintained to support high speeds over long distances
In particular, roads which briefly exhibit motorway-like characteristics for short distances should not be tagged as a motorway.
Trunks
Trunks are the most important non-motorway highways in an area. In Alabama, Non-motorway routes connecting major settlements are considered trunk roads, or major inner-city roads. these roads will be signed US or state highways.
Important Regional Centers
The following cities in Alabama are considered important regional centers:
Inside Alabama
| City | Notes |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | Includes surrounding Metropolitan area |
| Huntsville | Includes surrounding Metropolitan area |
| Montgomery | Includes Prattville |
| Mobile | |
| Tuscaloosa | |
| Dothan | |
| Auburn/Opelika | |
| Decatur | |
| Phenix City | Alabama section of Columbus, GA |
| Gadsten | |
| Anniston | |
| Cullman | |
| Enterprise | |
| Selma |
Trunk Roads
The following US routes are principal roads between important population centers not serviced by interstates.
| Route | Population Centers Served | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US 431 | Huntsville, Gadsden, Anniston, Opelika, Phenix City, Dothan | |
| US 411 | Gadsden, Rome | Until AL 9 |
| US 280 | Birmingham, Auburn, Phenix City | |
| US 278 | Cullman, Gadsten | |
| US 231 | Dothan, Montgomery | Also connects Huntsville to Murfreesboro |
| US 98 | Mobile | Connects with Mississippi and Florida highway network |
| US 90 | Mobile | East/West US highway |
| US 84 | Dothan, Enterprise | |
| US 82 | Montgomery, Tuscaloosa | Trunk does not continue to Eufaula or Georgia. |
| US 80 | Selma, Montgomery, Auburn, Phenix City | |
| US 72 | Florence, Huntsville | |
| 72 Alt | Florence, Decatur, Huntsville | |
| US 45 | Mobile | Joins with Mississippi trunk system |
| US 43 | Florence, Tuscaloosa, Mobile | Part of US 43 is primary since it was replaced with AL 171 |
The following state routes are principal roads between important population centers not serviced by interstates.
| Route | Population Centers Served | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AL 210 | Dothan | |
| AL 186 | Connects US 80 to the Interstate | |
| AL 171 | Tuscaloosa | Fastest route to Tupelo |
| AL 158 | Mobile | Under Construction |
| AL 157 | Florence, Cullman | |
| AL 152 | Montgomery | |
| AL 133 | Florence | Connects US 72 |
| AL 69 | Tuscaloosa, Cullman | Trunk starts at US 80, ends at I 65 |
| AL 24 | Decatur | Being constructed in Mississippi |
| AL 21 | Anniston, Montgomery | Continues to Pensacola, stops in Piedmont. not a trunk road for the entire distance. |
| AL 9 | Gadsden, Rome | Rome, Georgia |
*This table may not include all major routes between Population Centers.
Primary
Primary routes are routes connecting small incorporated settlements, or linking other primary, trunk, or motorway roads to other roads or places. Use this tag on State or US routes connecting multiple incorporated settlements or other important roads, but not important enough to receive trunk classification. This tag can also be used on very important city roads.
An example of a primary road is: AL 14.
Secondary
Secondary routes are the most important County roads that link to many smaller county roads or small settlements. They may also be minor state routes.
Tertiary
Tertiary routes are County or city roads. A county road that serves as any sort of through route should be considered a tertiary road regardless of paved status.
Unclassified
Use the Unclassified tag for any very small linking road, or for any non-service road that does not serve houses. Ex: Industrial park roads.
Residential
Use the Residential road tag strictly for roads that are not through routes, such as roads in subdivisions, or dead-end county roads that serve houses.
Track
Tracks are roads that are mainly used for forestry and agriculture. Track roads are not maintained by the city or state for traffic to travel on. These would be roads serving: A managed forest used for forestry, A national forest or Wildlife Management Area, or a farmer's field. For graded Forest Service roads, you can opt to use unclassified or tertiary instead.
Communication
This page is discussed on the #local-alabama Channel of the OSMUS Slack.