U.S. Route 280

U.S. Route 280
US 280 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 80
Maintained by ALDOT and GDOT
Length	392 mi (631 km)
Existed	January 1954–present
Major junctions
West end	I-20 / I-59 / US 31 in Birmingham, AL
Major intersections	I-459 in Hoover, AL US 231 from Harpersville to Sylacauga, AL I-85 / US 29 / US 431 in Opelika, AL I-185 in Columbus, GA US 19 in Americus, GA I-75 in Cordele, GA US 23 / US 319 / US 341 / US 441 in McRae-Helena, GA US 1 in Lyons, GA US 25 / US 301 in Claxton, GA I-16 near Black Creek, GA
East end	US 80 / SR 26 / SR 30 in Blitchton, GA
Location
Country	United States
States	Alabama, Georgia
Counties	AL: Jefferson, Shelby, Talladega, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Lee, Russell GA: Muscogee, Stewart, Webster, Sumter, Crisp, Wilcox, Dodge, Telfair, Wheeler, Montgomery, Toombs, Tattnall, Evans, Bryan
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided

U.S. Route 280 (US 280) is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. It currently runs for 392 miles (631 km) from Blitchton, Georgia, at US 80 to Birmingham, Alabama at I-20/I-59. For much of its route, US 280 travels through rural areas and smaller cities in southern Georgia and east central Alabama. Once the highway approaches Birmingham, it is a major suburban route. Numerous shopping centers are located on US 280 throughout northern Shelby County and southern Jefferson County.

US 280 is the main connector between Birmingham, AL and Auburn, AL.

Through Talladega County, Alabama, US 280 is known as the Jim Nabors Highway, in honor of the Sylacauga, Alabama, native known for portraying the television character Gomer Pyle. The historical designation of US-280 and Alabama SR 38 is the Florida Short Route.

For many years, US 280 and SR 38 was considered one of the more dangerous routes in Alabama, due to the number of large stretches of narrow two-lane roadway leading southeastwardly from Birmingham. Work was completed in 2006 making US 280 a four-lane highway throughout the entire state of Alabama. This project began in the 1970s. As a result, US 280 now bypasses numerous small towns in east Alabama, including Goodwater, Jackson's Gap, Camp Hill and Waverly.

In Georgia, US 280 from Columbus to I-16 is also a Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP) corridor known as "Power Alley".

Route description

Western terminus at Interstates 20 & 59 in Birmingham.

Alabama

US 280 terminates concurrently with U.S. 31 at I-20/I-59. US 31 continues onward at this point. The route continues through downtown Birmingham with US 31. They junction with US 11 and US 78 and climb over Red Mountain into Mtn. Brook as a section of highway called the Red Mountain Expressway. Here, US 280 splits off of US 31 at a highly complex interchange with elements of a Directional-T and a Parclo.

It continues on somewhat of a freeway through Mtn. Brook, eventually reaching The Summit, a huge outdoor mall. It also junctions with I-459 at this point, at a Parclo-like interchange which is being modified to better suit traffic.

The route continues through one of the more developed areas of east Birmingham and eventually climbs over Double Oak Mountain into Shelby County and Chelsea. It continues east to Harpersville, which is home to its junction with US 231 north and SR 25. US 280 continues with US 231 until it reaches the Coosa River, which it crosses into Talladega County. It eventually reaches Sylacauga, which is home to its junction with US 231 south and SR 21. This specific junction is a diamond interchange, commonly used on freeways.

The route continues south-east through northern Coosa County until it has another diamond interchange with SR 9. It then passes through Kellyton, which is home to its minor junction with SR 115.

It crosses into Tallapoosa County just before entering Alexander City, which is home to Russell Athletic. US 280 junctions with SR 22 and SR 63 in the city. It then proceeds through slightly hilly terrain to Dadeville. It junctions with SR 49, which connects the route to the Talladega National Forest/Cheaha State Park. It leaves Dadeville, promptly enters Camp Hill, junctions with SR 50, and enters the southwestern corner of Chambers County, and then crosses into Lee County.

The route then reaches The Bottle, which is named for the bright orange wooden replica of a Nehi soda bottle which stood in the location from 1924 to 1936.  It crosses into Auburn, which is barely skimmed by US 280 as it then crosses into nearby Opelika. The route junctions with US 29/I-85. It joins the freeway with them and continues through I-85's junction with SR 51. It then splits off of the road with US 431. It continues on a heavily traveled road into Russell County, and eventually to Phenix City, which is actually in the Eastern Time Zone due to its close proximity with Columbus, Georgia across the Chattahoochee River. It junctions with US 80. The route then leaves US 431 behind and crosses the Chattahoochee River, leaving Alabama and entering Georgia in Columbus. US 280 has a length of 141.356 miles (227.490 km) in Alabama.

US 280 has the unsigned designation of State Route 38 (SR 38) throughout its length in Alabama.

Georgia

This section is about the current U.S. Highway. For the current state highway, see Georgia State Route 280.

US 280 begins in Georgia at the state's border with Alabama in Columbus. There it is paired with State Route 520 and U.S. Route 27. It maintains this designation as it passes through Fort Moore. Upon arriving in Cusseta, US 280/GA 520 diverge from US 27 and continue southeast to Richland, where US 280 splits off from GA 520. From here, US 280 continues on its own east, passing through Plains (the boyhood home of Jimmy Carter) and becomes cosigned with State Route 30 in Americus. US 280/SR 30 then continue east-southeast, crossing I-75 in Cordele, still continuing east through mainly rural areas of the southern portion of the state, passing through smaller towns such as McRae–Helena, Mount Vernon, Vidalia, and Pembroke. The highway then turns to the northeast as it leaves Pembroke, crossing I-16 at exit 143. Still continuing northeast, the highway then terminates in Blichton at U.S. Route 80.

National Highway System

Except for the easternmost portion between I-16 and the eastern terminus, the entire length of US 280 is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.

History

Prior to the completion of the Elton B. Stephens Expressway in Birmingham, US 31, US 78, and US 280 traveled concurrently until they intersected US 11 at the intersection of 1st Avenue North and 24th Street.

Major intersections

State	County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Alabama	Jefferson	Birmingham	0.000	0.000	I-20 / I-59 / US 31 north (Carraway Boulevard / SR 3) – Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, Gadsden	Western terminus; western end of US 31/SR 3 concurrency; I-20/I-59 exit 126A
			0.729	1.173	2nd Avenue North	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
			0.835	1.344	US 11 (1st Avenue North / SR 7)	Westbound exit only
			1.245	2.004	US 78 (3rd–4th Avenue South / SR 4)
			1.598	2.572	University Boulevard
					Highland Avenue / Arlington Avenue	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
					21st Avenue South	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		Homewood	3.331	5.361	US 31 south (SR 3 south) / SR 38 east / Rosedale Drive – Montgomery, Homewood	Eastern end of US 31/SR 3 concurrency; western end of SR 38 concurrency; western terminus of SR 38
		Birmingham–Homewood line			Hollywood Boulevard – Mountain Brook, Birmingham Zoo–Gardens	Eastern end of freeway
		Mountain Brook	4.737	7.623	SR 149 – Homewood, Mountain Brook, Samford University	Interchange
		Mountain Brook			Pump House Road – Cahaba Heights	Interchange
		Birmingham	7.899	12.712	I-459 – Atlanta, Gadsden, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa	I-459 exit 19
					Colonnade Drive	Interchange
	Shelby	Hoover	11.819	19.021	SR 119 (Cahaba Valley Road) – Leeds, Oak Mountain State Park, Lake Purdy
		Harpersville	29.431	47.365	US 231 north (SR 53 north) / SR 25 – Vincent, Wilsonville, Pell City	Western end of US 231/SR 53 concurrency
		Harpersville	34.437	55.421	SR 76 west (Klein Road) – Columbiana, Montevallo	Western end of SR 76 concurrency
	Talladega	Childersburg	35.523	57.169	SR 235 north (Coosa Pines Road)	Southern terminus of SR 235
			36.109	58.112	SR 76 east (1st Street) / CR 008 west – Childersburg, Fayetteville, Kymulga Covered Bridge and Grist Mill, Talladega College Historic District, DeSoto Caverns	Eastern end of SR 76 concurrency; eastern terminus of CR 008
		Sylacauga	47.310	76.138	US 231 south (SR 53) / SR 21 – Sylacauga, Montgomery	Eastern end of US 231/SR 53 concurrency; interchange
	Coosa	Socapatoy	63.362	101.971	SR 9 – Wetumpka, Goodwater	Interchange
		Kellyton	65.221	104.963	SR 115 south / Firehouse Road – Kellyton	Northern terminus of SR 115
	Tallapoosa	Alexander City	70.096	112.809	SR 22 west (Rockford Highway) – Rockford, Historic Downtown Alexander City, Charles E. Bailey Sportplex	Western end of SR 22 concurrency
			71.788	115.532	SR 22 east / SR 63 (Cherokee Road) – Alex City, Eclectic, Central Alabama Community College, Wind Creek State Park, Historic Downtown Alexander City	Eastern end of SR 22 concurrency
		Dadeville	83.501	134.382	SR 49 north (Horseshoe Bend Road) – New Site, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park	Western end of SR 49 concurrency
			84.821	136.506	SR 49 south (North Broadnax Street) – Dadeville Business District, StillWaters, Tallapoosa County Historical Museum	Eastern end of SR 49 concurrency
		Camp Hill			SR 50 east / CR 34 west – Camp Hill, Lyman Ward, StillWaters, Camp Hill Business District	Western end of SR 50 concurrency; eastern terminus of CR 34
			91.488	147.236	SR 50 west – Lyman Ward, Girls Ranch	Eastern end of SR 50 concurrency
	Chambers	No major intersections
	Lee	Auburn	104.511	168.194	SR 147 north (Heath Road) – LaFayette	Western end of SR 147 concurrency
		The Bottle	104.911	168.838	SR 147 south (North College Street) – Auburn	Eastern end of SR 147 concurrency
		Opelika	110.241	177.416	Pepperell Parkway	Former US 29
			111.851	180.007	I-85 south / US 29 south (SR 15) – Montgomery	Western end of I-85/US 29/SR 15 concurrency; US 280 west follows exit 58.
			113.871	183.258	SR 51 to SR 169 – Opelika, Hurtsboro	I-85 exit 60
			115.294	185.548	I-85 north / US 29 north (SR 15) / US 431 north (Columbus Parkway / SR 1) – Atlanta, Opelika, Southern Union State Community College	Eastern end of I-85/US 29/SR 15 concurrency; western end of US 431/SR 1 concurrency; US 280 east follows exit 62.
	Russell	Phenix City	137.659	221.541	US 80 east (SR 8) to I-185 – Columbus	Western end of US 80/SR 8 concurrency
			138.598	223.052	US 80 west (Crawford Road / SR 8) – Montgomery	Eastern end of US 80/SR 8 concurrency
			140.466	226.058	US 431 south (SR 1) – Eufaula, Dothan	Eastern end of US 431/SR 1 concurrency; interchange
					Colin L. Powell Parkway / Seale Road	Interchange
Chattahoochee River			141.356 0.0	227.490 0.0	Oglethorpe Bridge; Alabama–Georgia state line
Georgia	Muscogee	Columbus			US 27 north / SR 1 north (Veterans Parkway) – Hamilton, Waverly Hall, Airport	Western end of US 27/SR 1 concurrency
	See SR 520 (mile 0.0-35.1)
	Stewart	Richland			SR 520 east / SR 27 west – Dawson, Lumpkin	Eastern end of SR 520 concurrency; western end of SR 27 concurrency
	Webster	Preston			SR 41 south (Washington Street) – Weston, Dawson	Western end of SR 41 concurrency
					SR 41 north (Cass Street) – Buena Vista, Ellaville	Eastern end of SR 41 concurrency
	Sumter	Plains			SR 45 south (Bond Street) to SR 308 – Dawson, Jimmy Carter National Historic Site	Northern terminus of SR 45
		​			SR 49 south – Dawson	Western end of SR 49 concurrency
		​			US 19 south / SR 3 south / Spring Street – Albany	Western end of US 19/SR 3 concurrency
		Americus			US 19 north / SR 3 north / SR 30 west (South MLK Boulevard) – Ellaville, Buena Vista	Eastern end of US 19/SR 3 concurrency; western end of SR 30 concurrency
					SR 377 south (Lee Street)	Northern terminus of SR 377
					SR 49 north (Tripp Street / Crawford Street) – Oglethorpe, Andersonville, Andersonville National Historic Site, Airport, South Georgia Technical College, Georgia Southwestern State University	Eastern end of SR 49 concurrency
					SR 27 east (Vienna Road) – Vienna	Eastern end of SR 27 concurrency
		Leslie			SR 118 south / SR 195 south (Bailey Avenue) – Leesburg, Smithville, Georgia Rural Telephone Museum	Western end of SR 195 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 118
		De Soto			SR 195 north – Andersonville	Eastern end of SR 195 concurrency
	Crisp	​			SR 300 Conn. south – Albany, Camilla	Northern terminus of SR 300 Conn.
		Cordele			I-75 BL / US 41 / SR 7 north (7th Street) / SR 90 – Vienna, Ashburn, Historic Downtown Cordele	Western end of SR 90 concurrency
					I-75 (SR 401) to SR 300 – Macon, Valdosta, Albany	I-75 exit 101
					SR 90 south – Rebecca	Eastern end of SR 90 concurrency
	Wilcox	Pitts			SR 159 south (10th Street) – Rebecca, Ashburn	Northern terminus of SR 159
					SR 215 north (8th Street) – Vienna	Western end of SR 215 concurrency
		Rochelle			SR 112 / SR 233 (Ashley Street) – Hawkinsville, Rebecca
					SR 215 south (Gordon Street) – Fitzgerald	Eastern end of SR 215 concurrency
		Abbeville			US 129 / SR 11 (Broad Street) – Hawkinsville, Fitzgerald, Wilcox State Prison
	Dodge	​			SR 87 north (Abbeville Highway) – Eastman, Hawkinsville	Southern terminus of SR 87
		Rhine			SR 117 / SR 165 north (Central Street) – Eastman, Jacksonville	Western end of SR 165 concurrency
	Telfair	Milan			SR 165 south (Mt. Zion Street)	Eastern end of SR 165 concurrency
		McRae-Helena			US 319 south / US 441 south / SR 31 south – Fitzgerald, Douglas	Western end of US 319/US 441/SR 31 concurrency
					US 23 south / US 341 south / SR 27 south (Oak Street) – Hazlehurst	Southbound lanes of US 23/US 341/SR 27 on one-way pair
					US 23 north / US 341 north / SR 27 north – Eastman	Northbound lanes of US 23/US 341/SR 27 on one-way pair
	Wheeler	​			US 319 north / US 441 north / SR 31 north – Dublin, Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge	Eastern end of US 319/US 441/SR 31 concurrency
		​			SR 149 south – Scotland	Northern terminus of SR 149
		Alamo			SR 126 (Commerce Street) – Cadwell, Lumber City
		Glenwood			SR 19 (2nd Street) – Dublin, Lumber City
	Montgomery	Mount Vernon			US 221 / SR 56 (Railroad Avenue) to I-16 – Soperton, Uvalda
		Ailey			Broad Street	Former SR 227 north
		Higgston			SR 15 north / SR 29 north / SR 135 south (James Street) to I-16 – Tarrytown, Soperton, Uvalda	Western end of SR 15/SR 29 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 135
	Toombs	Vidalia			SR 130 (Adams Street) – Uvalda
					SR 15 south / SR 29 south (Jackson Street) – Baxley	Eastern end of SR 15/SR 29 concurrency
		Lyons			US 1 / SR 4 (South State Street) to I-16 – Swainsboro, Baxley
		​			SR 86 west – Oak Park	Eastern terminus of SR 86
	Tattnall	Reidsville			SR 56 west (Shepards Bridge Road) – Uvalda	Eastern terminus of SR 56
					SR 147 west (Tattnall Street) – State Prison	Eastern terminus of SR 147
					SR 23 / SR 57 / SR 121 (Main Street) to I-16 – Metter, Glennville
	Evans	Bellville			SR 169 (Smith Street) to I-16 – Bellville, Jesup
		​			SR 292 west – Manassas	Eastern terminus of SR 292
		Claxton			SR 129 north (Ralph Street) – Metter	Western end of SR 129 concurrency
					US 25 / US 301 / SR 73 (Duval Street) – Statesboro, Glennville
					SR 129 south (River Street)	Eastern end of SR 129 concurrency
	Bryan	Pembroke			SR 67 north / SR 119 south (Main Street) to I-16	Western end of SR 67/SR 119 concurrency
					SR 67 south / SR 119 north (College Street) to I-16 – Springfield	Eastern end of SR 67/SR 119 concurrency
		Lanier			SR 204 east to I-95 – Ellabell	Western terminus of SR 204
		​			I-16 (SR 404) – Macon, Savannah	I-16 exit 143
		Blitchton			US 80 / SR 26 / SR 30 east – Statesboro, Savannah	Eastern terminus; eastern end of SR 30 concurrency; former US 280 east
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

External links

• Endpoints of U.S. Highway 280