U.S. Route 72 Alternate

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Alternate US 72 exists in Alabama on the 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. AL 20 was co-signed with Alt US 72 from Muscle Shoals to Huntsville. AL 20 has since been truncated to the junction of I-65 just east of Decatur.

Originally, Alt US 72 turned off of AL 20 on to AL 53 / Jordan Lane in Huntsville and followed it north 1 mile 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.

[edit] ALT 72 in Decatur

ALT 72 enters Decatur, Alabama after leaving Trinity, 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.