.gif)
State Route 261 (Alabama)
Encyclopedia
State Route 261 or SR-261 is a 6 miles (9.7 km) state highway
that connects Helena
with Pelham
in northern Shelby County
, as part of the Birmingham/Hoover metropolitan area. SR-261 is two lanes wide for the entirety of its route. It serves as a feeder route to numerous subdivisions in Helena and Pelham.
. Mileage is measured from Helena; miles are marked by roadside green metal mile markers. Throughout its length Route 261 is also known as and commonly appears on maps and street signs as Helena Road. The majority of the route is relatively level through suburban housing and commercial businesses, the steepest grades occur approaching and departing the Buck Creek
floodplain.
It is expected that as work will begin to widen the highway to five lanes between US-31 and Shelby County Road 105 (Bearden Road) as soon as 2012. Long range plans call for routing SR-261 around historic Old Town Helena
via a new bypass that will intersect with Shelby County Road 52 west of the current terminus.
Route 261 crosses the Vulcan Materials Helena quarry on a concrete deck bridge (MP 2.2) east of Old Town Helena. The route crosses Buck Creek on a concrete pier supported steel W-shape girder bridge with a concrete deck (MP 1.3). Steel railings provide vehicle protection, a narrow sidewalk is present on the downstream side of the bridge. Route 261 crosses three railroad tracks at grade consisting of the CSX Transportation Lineville Subdivision east of Buck Creek (MP 1.4) and the CSX Transportation S&NA Subdivision (and connected siding) west of Buck Creek (MP 1.2). The Lineville Subdivision crossing is equipped with flashing lights, the S&NA South Subdivision crossing is equipped with flashing lights and crossing arms.
A historic marker for the Central Iron Works rolling mill, built in 1865 and since destroyed, is at the intersection of Lake Davidson Road and Route 261 in Helena at milepost 1.2.
On March 27, 1994 a F2 tornado touched down on the northern edge of Helena at the Bearden Farm on the west side of the route, then moved across the road near Pelham High School
and continued into Pelham and other communities to the east causing damage to many business buildings.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
that connects Helena
Helena, Alabama
Helena is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. Helena is considered a suburb of Birmingham and part of the Greater Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan area. It is also one of three cities, along with Alabaster and Pelham, that make up the area known as "North Shelby" or...
with Pelham
Pelham, Alabama
Pelham is a city and suburb of Birmingham in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 14,369, but has grown to 21,352 recorded by the 2010 census. It was named for famed Confederate American Civil War officer John Pelham...
in northern Shelby County
Shelby County, Alabama
Shelby County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama and a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. It is named in honor of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. The county seat of Shelby County is Columbiana. As of 2010 U.S. Census the population was 195,085. Shelby...
, as part of the Birmingham/Hoover metropolitan area. SR-261 is two lanes wide for the entirety of its route. It serves as a feeder route to numerous subdivisions in Helena and Pelham.
Route description
The southern terminus of the route is at the intersection with Shelby County Roads 17, 52 and 91 in Helena. The northern terminus is at the intersection with U.S. Highway 31 in Pelham. North of US-31, the route is designated as Shelby County Road 17 and continues to U.S. Highway 280 in the Inverness area of HooverHoover, Alabama
Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in north central Alabama, in the United States. The largest suburb of Birmingham, the population of the city was 62,742 as of the 2000 census and 81,619 in the 2010 census. Hoover is part of the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA and is also included in the...
. Mileage is measured from Helena; miles are marked by roadside green metal mile markers. Throughout its length Route 261 is also known as and commonly appears on maps and street signs as Helena Road. The majority of the route is relatively level through suburban housing and commercial businesses, the steepest grades occur approaching and departing the Buck Creek
Buck Creek (Cahaba River tributary)
Buck Creek is a tributary of the Cahaba River that was used to supply water power for manufacturing and industry during the 19th century. Its current use is primarily recreational and as a discharge point for municipal water treatment facilities.-Route:...
floodplain.
It is expected that as work will begin to widen the highway to five lanes between US-31 and Shelby County Road 105 (Bearden Road) as soon as 2012. Long range plans call for routing SR-261 around historic Old Town Helena
Helena, Alabama
Helena is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. Helena is considered a suburb of Birmingham and part of the Greater Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan area. It is also one of three cities, along with Alabaster and Pelham, that make up the area known as "North Shelby" or...
via a new bypass that will intersect with Shelby County Road 52 west of the current terminus.
Route 261 crosses the Vulcan Materials Helena quarry on a concrete deck bridge (MP 2.2) east of Old Town Helena. The route crosses Buck Creek on a concrete pier supported steel W-shape girder bridge with a concrete deck (MP 1.3). Steel railings provide vehicle protection, a narrow sidewalk is present on the downstream side of the bridge. Route 261 crosses three railroad tracks at grade consisting of the CSX Transportation Lineville Subdivision east of Buck Creek (MP 1.4) and the CSX Transportation S&NA Subdivision (and connected siding) west of Buck Creek (MP 1.2). The Lineville Subdivision crossing is equipped with flashing lights, the S&NA South Subdivision crossing is equipped with flashing lights and crossing arms.
A historic marker for the Central Iron Works rolling mill, built in 1865 and since destroyed, is at the intersection of Lake Davidson Road and Route 261 in Helena at milepost 1.2.
On March 27, 1994 a F2 tornado touched down on the northern edge of Helena at the Bearden Farm on the west side of the route, then moved across the road near Pelham High School
Pelham High School
Pelham High School is a public high school located in Pelham, Alabama. Part of the , Pelham was built in 1973 and opened in 1974. The school's mascot is "Paws" the Panther, and its colors are Forrest Green and Vegas Gold.- History :...
and continued into Pelham and other communities to the east causing damage to many business buildings.
External links
- Alabama Department of Transportation county road maps for Shelby County (Adobe AcrobatAdobe AcrobatAdobe Acrobat is a family of application software developed by Adobe Systems to view, create, manipulate, print and manage files in Portable Document Format . All members of the family, except Adobe Reader , are commercial software, while the latter is available as freeware and can be downloaded...
reader required for maps; enlargement of maps necessary for legibility)