University Drive

University Drive
Length 7.1 mi[1] (11.4 km)
Location Huntsville, Alabama
East end Church Street
(continues as Pratt Ave)
Major
junctions		 Research Park Blvd
Jordan Lane
Memorial Parkway
West end Jeff Road (continues as US 72)

University Drive is a major east–west thoroughfare in Huntsville, Alabama,[1][2] following US Route 72 into the city from the west. The highway carries on average approximately 56,000 vehicles a day[3] at 45 mph (72 km/h).

Route Description

From the west, US 72 enters Madison County inside the city limits of Huntsville and runs east eventually running through the north tip of the city of Madison, where it splits Huntsville and Madison's city limits, with Huntsville to the north, Madison to the south.[4] At Jeff Road, the four lane US 72 takes on the name of University Drive and passes to the south of Huntsville Memorial Gardens and over Indian Creek, where it meets Providence Main Street, where it widens to seven lanes.

Continuing east, University Drive passes through multiple shopping centers and car dealerships. University Drive meets Research Park Blvd / Alabama 255 with a six-ramp partial cloverleaf and passes just to the north of Madison Square Mall. University Drive then passes to the south of Huntsville West Shopping Center. An overpass over Sparkman Drive with on- and off-ramps provides access to the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Following the interchange, the road runs under a pedestrian and bicycle bridge and then meets Alabama 53 / Jordan Lane.

University Drive eventually connects to Memorial Parkway, where US-72 splits off and heads north with US 231/431. Going through the intersection, University Drive narrows to five lanes and intersects Church Street, where it becomes Pratt Ave. Pratt Ave continues east, directly connecting to Five Points and then runs up Monte Sano Mountain.

Major intersections

University Drive overview
Road Notes
Jeff Road
Providence Main Street
Enterprise Way Accesses Cummings Research Park
Research Park Blvd Limited access highway connecting to Interstate 565
Old Monrovia Road Accesses Madison Square Mall
Wynn Drive
Sparkman Drive Accesses University of Alabama in Huntsville
Jordan Lane
Pulaski Pike
Memorial Parkway Accesses Interstate 565
US 72 splits off and heads north
Church Street Accesses Downtown Huntsville

Retail

University Drive is a major commercial thoroughfare through west Huntsville that includes a number of shopping centers, hotels, fast food locations, and other various businesses including two movie theaters, Carmike Huntsville 10 and Madison Square 12.

Shopping Centers:[5]

Major retail stores includes:

Transportation

Access to shuttle buses provided by the city of Huntsville are available along University Drive.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Overview Map of University Drive (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  2. ↑ City of Huntsville Interactive Maps (Map). Huntsville City. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  3. ↑ City of Huntsville Traffic Engineering
  4. ↑ Huntsville City Limits
  5. ↑ Major Retail Stores in Huntsville/Madison County
  6. ↑ City of Huntsville Public Transit
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