| U.S. Route 331 | |
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| Route information | |
| Length: | 151 mi[1] (243 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| South end: | US 98 / SR 30 / SR 83 at Santa Rosa Beach, FL |
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I-10 in DeFuniak Springs, FL |
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| North end: | US 80 / US 82 / AL 6 / AL 9 / AL 21 at Montgomery, AL |
| Highway system | |
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United States Numbered Highways |
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U.S. Route 331 is a spur of U.S. Route 31. It currently runs for 151 miles (243 km) from Montgomery, Alabama at U.S. Route 80 and U.S. Route 82 to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida east of Fort Walton Beach at U.S. Route 98. Unlike U.S. Route 131, U.S. Route 231 and U.S. Route 431, U.S. 331 never intersects with its "parent" route, U.S. Route 31; the two routes come within four miles (6 km) of each other in Montgomery.
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U.S. 331 begins with an intersection with U.S. 82 (South Boulevard) in Montgomery. It travels due south for 103 miles (166 km) passing through several small towns and communities such as Luverne, Opp, and Florala. Once reaching the Florida/Alabama state line it travels south-southeastward passing through the towns of DeFuniak Springs and Freeport before terminating at an intersection with U.S. Route 98 about 10 miles (16 km) east of Sandestin.
U.S 331 travels south from Paxton passing very near the highest elevation in the state of Florida through rural country until reaching U.S. Route 90 just west of DeFuniak Springs. US 331 is co-signed with US 90 for about 3 miles (4.8 km) eastward before US 331 turns south again. Construction has been completed just north of Freeport that re-routes US 331 around the eastern edge of the town and connecting with the current US 331 again at the intersection of State Road 20 just east of Freeport. From there US 331 continues south for about 10 miles (16 km) to intersect with U.S. Route 98. Several times during the late 20th century, FLDOT considered extending US 331 southward to connect with State Road 30A near the beaches but local opposition effectively killed any plans from being enacted. In the 1980s, the existing drawbridge over the Choctawhatchee Bay was replaced with a concrete span with a higher clearance. The drawbridge was part of the Intracoastal Waterway system and travel delays due to barge traffic were common. The new bridge also enabled speedier access for US 331 as a hurricane evacuation route. In DeFuniak Springs, US 331 was once routed through the downtown area and through local streets until 2007 when the road was relocated to a new four lane route just east of the downtown area that is still used today. Local officials are currently lobbying the state to four-lane the highway from State Road 20 south to U.S. 98, including construction of a second span over Choctawhachee Bay.
U.S. 331 is paired with unsigned Alabama State Route 9 throughout the state. North of Montgomery, State Route 9 is a signed route, leading from Montgomery to the Georgia state line in the northeastern part of the state. State Route 9 passes through Wetumpka, Goodwater, Ashland, Heflin, Piedmont and Centre. Milepost markers along State Route 9 north of Montgomery reflect the mileage of U.S. 331.
U.S. 331 is also a segment of a four lane bypass around eastern portions of Opp. U.S. 84 continues a southwestern segment of the bypass after U.S. 331 continues south towards Florala. It once had an infamous intersection located just south of Brantley that was referred to as the "dead right". U.S. 331 south travelers had to stop and turn right in order to continue southbound on U.S. 331 while the road straight ahead became Alabama State Route 141 south and traveled southeastward to the city of Elba. This intersection was removed in the late 1960's once a new stretch of U.S. 331 was opened slightly to the west of the old highway.
In the 1980's the 10-mile (16 km) stretch of U.S. 331 between Luverne and Brantley was four laned. U.S. 331 is also co-signed with U.S. 29 between the two towns. In Luverne, U.S. 331 is co-signed with Alabama State Route 10 between the center of town and the community of Rutledge just north of Luverne.
U.S. 331 is also co-signed for approximately 1/2 mile in Florala with Alabama State Route 55. Lake Jackson State Park is located near the intersection of U.S. 331 and Alabama 55 south in Florala.
U.S. 331 is co-signed with U.S. 84 along a portion of the bypass around Opp.
From Montgomery's South Boulevard southward to the community of Snowdoun, Alabama, U.S. 331 is now fourlaned. The proposed Montgomery outer loop is projected to cross U.S. 331 in this area connecting I-65 to the west to U.S. 231/U.S.82 and I-85 to the east and northeast.
In Montgomery, U.S. 331 used to occupy Norman Bridge Road south of South Boulevard until it connected to the existing U.S. 331 about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of South Boulevard. However, by 1970 a four lane stretch of U.S. 331 was opened between the connection of Norman Bridge Road/U.S. 331 and South Boulevard and U.S. 331 was re-routed onto this road. At one time, U.S. 331's northern terminus existed in downtown Montgomery with an intersection with U.S. 80 near the state capitol. This routing used Court Street as well as Perry Street.
The routing of all of the U.S. Highways in the Montgomery area has changed throughout the years several times and now no U.S. Highways exist in the downtown area. U.S. 331 was truncated at South Boulevard in the early 1970's and that routing has not changed since. There was also a Business U.S. 331 at one time as well but this route was later dropped as well.
U.S. 331 is still considered a major route for tourists and travelers headed to the NW Florida beaches. However, several alternate routes have been developed over the years which has lessened the amount of traffic on this route. These alternates include U.S. 231, Alabama State Route 167, and recently Alabama State Route 55 from Georgiana through Andalusia to Baker and Crestview. With the advent of these alternate routes which are speedier due to the conditions of the roads as well as passing through or near fewer towns the desire to widen and four lane U.S. 331 from Montgomery southward has waned.
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http://www.newsherald.com/news/bypass-61272-state-traffic.html