Road Greater Birmingham is at the convergence of four major interstate highways:
Interstate 65 (which connects with
Mobile and
Chicago);
Interstate 20 (which connects with
Dallas and
Atlanta);
Interstate 59 (which connects with
New Orleans and
Chattanooga); and
Interstate 22 (which connects with
Memphis).
Interstate 459, completed in 1984, forms a southern bypass around Birmingham. It runs through portions of
Bessemer,
Vestavia Hills, and
Trussville, and forms a main route through the primary city of
Hoover.
Interstate 422, the Birmingham Northern Bypass is planned to run from the current I-20/59/459 interchange near Bessemer to Interstate 59 and
US Route 11 near
Argo. It is planned to be completed by 2048. Four U.S. highways,
US-31,
US-11,
US-78, and
US-280, run through Greater Birmingham. US-31 parallels
Interstate 65 for its entire route, including Greater Birmingham. US-280 runs southeast of the city, connecting it with
Auburn and
Auburn University. The corridor through suburban Birmingham is notorious for its severe congestion as it carries about 200% of its traffic capacity. US-31 and 280 merge in
Homewood to form the Elton B. Stephens Expressway known locally as the
Red Mountain Expressway. This expressway goes through a
geologic cut through Red Mountain, connecting downtown Birmingham to its southern suburbs. US-78 parallels
Interstate 22 to the northwest of Birmingham, and
Interstate 20 to the east. US-11 parallels
Interstate 59 for its entire route. All four of these highways meet in downtown Birmingham.
Major highways •
Interstate 20 •
Interstate 22 •
Interstate 59 •
Interstate 459 •
Interstate 65 •
U.S. Highway 11 •
U.S. Highway 31 •
U.S. Highway 78 •
U.S. Highway 231 •
U.S. Highway 280 •
U.S. Highway 411 Mass transit Birmingham received $87 million from the US Congress to help fund a regional transportation system. The city's new $30 million, three-block intermodal station brings Amtrak, Greyhound, the
Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority and automotive transportation together in one place.
Air Greater Birmingham is served by
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport with
American Airlines,
American Eagle,
Southwest,
United, and
Delta providing service to more than 40 cities. Established in 1931, BHM has been governed by the Birmingham Airport Authority since its establishment in 1986. In 2008, the airport was renamed Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in honor of late Birmingham civil rights activist
Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. == Education ==