U.S. Route 72 Alternate
Encyclopedia
Alternate US-72 exists in Alabama
on the mostly south side of the Tennessee River
between Muscle Shoals
and Decatur
, while US-72 follows on the north side of the river between Florence
and Athens
. Alternate 72 crosses the Tennessee River
at Decatur, Alabama along with U.S. Highway 31 and follows the entire route of Interstate 565. SR-20
was co-signed with Alt US-72 from Muscle Shoals to Huntsville. SR-20 has since been truncated to the junction of I-65 just east of Decatur.
Originally, Alt US-72 turned off SR-20 on to SR-53
/ Jordan Lane in Huntsville and followed it north 1 miles (1.6 km) to rejoin with US-72. With the completion of I-565 in the early 1990s, Alt US-72 was routed along with I-565 to the termination of I-565 at US-72.
, carrying Alabama 20
, and serves as the northern terminus for The Beltline(Alabama 67
) and continues eastward towards the town center. After traveling by the Old State Bank, and the Dancy Polk House in the downtown area, ALT 72 intersects with US-31 and continues over the "Steamboat Bill" Hudson Memorial Bridge as it and Alabama 20 continue east towards the interchange with I-65 and I-565, while US-31 continues north towards Athens, Alabama
and Calhoun Community College
.
|rowspan=6| Madison
|rowspan=4| Huntsville
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|Sparkman Drive, Tranquility Base
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|Madison Boulevard
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|rowspan=3| Madison
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|Wall-Triana Highway
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|Glenn Hearn Boulevard – Huntsville International Airport
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|rowspan=5| Limestone
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|Madison Boulevard
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| Mooresville
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|rowspan=4| Decatur
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|rowspan=2| Morgan
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|rowspan=3| Lawrence
|rowspan=1| Courtland
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|rowspan=1| Town Creek
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|rowspan=1| Leighton
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|rowspan=3| Colbert
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|rowspan=1| Muscle Shoals
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Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
on the mostly south side of the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
between Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
and Decatur
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
, while US-72 follows on the north side of the river between Florence
Florence, Alabama
Florence is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state.According to the 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 36,721....
and Athens
Athens, Alabama
Athens is a city in Limestone County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 18,967. According to the 2009 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 24,234...
. Alternate 72 crosses the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
at Decatur, Alabama along with U.S. Highway 31 and follows the entire route of Interstate 565. SR-20
State Route 20 (Alabama)
State Route 20 ' runs from the Tennessee state line northwest of Florence, Alabama, east to I-65 east of Decatur in the northwestern Alabama...
was co-signed with Alt US-72 from Muscle Shoals to Huntsville. SR-20 has since been truncated to the junction of I-65 just east of Decatur.
Originally, Alt US-72 turned off SR-20 on to SR-53
State Route 53 (Alabama)
State Route 53 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Alabama. The majority, between Dothan and Huntsville, is signed as U.S. Highway 231 , but the two ends - south to Florida and north to I-65/US-31 near Tennessee - are independent...
/ Jordan Lane in Huntsville and followed it north 1 miles (1.6 km) to rejoin with US-72. With the completion of I-565 in the early 1990s, Alt US-72 was routed along with I-565 to the termination of I-565 at US-72.
Route description
ALT 72 enters Decatur, Alabama after leaving TrinityTrinity, Alabama
Trinity is a town in Morgan County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 1,841.-Geography:...
, carrying Alabama 20
State Route 20 (Alabama)
State Route 20 ' runs from the Tennessee state line northwest of Florence, Alabama, east to I-65 east of Decatur in the northwestern Alabama...
, and serves as the northern terminus for The Beltline(Alabama 67
State Route 67 (Alabama)
State Route 67 is a state highway in Alabama that connects the city of Decatur to U.S. Highway 231 at Rainbow Crossing in Blount County. This road serves as a link between Decatur and Gadsden.-Route description:...
) and continues eastward towards the town center. After traveling by the Old State Bank, and the Dancy Polk House in the downtown area, ALT 72 intersects with US-31 and continues over the "Steamboat Bill" Hudson Memorial Bridge as it and Alabama 20 continue east towards the interchange with I-65 and I-565, while US-31 continues north towards Athens, Alabama
Athens, Alabama
Athens is a city in Limestone County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 18,967. According to the 2009 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 24,234...
and Calhoun Community College
Calhoun Community College
Calhoun Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning, located in Decatur, Alabama, United States.The largest of the 27 two-year institutions comprising the Alabama Community College System, Calhoun is an open-admission, coeducational, comprehensive community college dedicated to...
.
Major intersections
|-|rowspan=6| Madison
Madison County, Alabama
Madison County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is a major part of the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The county is named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America, and the...
|rowspan=4| Huntsville
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|Sparkman Drive, Tranquility Base
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|Madison Boulevard
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|rowspan=3| Madison
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|Wall-Triana Highway
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|Glenn Hearn Boulevard – Huntsville International Airport
Huntsville International Airport
Huntsville International Airport , also known as Carl T. Jones Field, is an airport located 9 miles southwest of the central business district of Huntsville, a city in Madison County, Alabama, United States...
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|rowspan=5| Limestone
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|Madison Boulevard
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| Mooresville
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|rowspan=4| Decatur
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|rowspan=2| Morgan
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|rowspan=3| Lawrence
Lawrence County, Alabama
Lawrence County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It was named after James Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from New Jersey. As of the 2010 census, the population was...
|rowspan=1| Courtland
Courtland, Alabama
Courtland is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 769.-Geography:...
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|rowspan=1| Town Creek
Town Creek, Alabama
Town Creek is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
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|rowspan=1| Leighton
Leighton, Alabama
Leighton is a town in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Florence - Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals". At the 2000 census the population was 849...
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|rowspan=3| Colbert
Colbert County, Alabama
Colbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present day Cherokee....
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|rowspan=1| Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
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See also
- List of bannered U.S. Routes
- "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridge
- Interstate 565