U.S. Route 82 (US 82) is a major east–west United States Numbered Highway that traverses the central portion of Alabama. It enters the state at the Mississippi state line in Pickens County and exits at the Georgia state line in Barbour County. Within Alabama, the route serves as a primary transportation corridor connecting the cities of Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, and Eufaula.
Route Description
US 82 enters Alabama from Mississippi near Pickensville. It proceeds southeast through Pickens County, passing through the town of Reform before entering Tuscaloosa County. In the city of Tuscaloosa, US 82 is locally known as McFarland Boulevard. It serves as a significant commercial artery and a perimeter route for the University of Alabama, crossing the Black Warrior River via the Woolsey Finnell Bridge.
Continuing southeast from Tuscaloosa, the highway passes through Bibb County and the town of Centreville. It then enters Autauga County, reaching the city of Prattville, where it intersects with Interstate 65. The route continues into Montgomery County and the city of Montgomery, the state capital. Within Montgomery, US 82 follows several surface streets and overlaps with other U.S. highways, including US 80 and US 231, as it moves through the northern and eastern sections of the city.
East of Montgomery, the highway travels through Bullock County, passing through Union Springs, the "Field Trial Capital of the World." It then proceeds into Barbour County, terminating its Alabama segment at the city of Eufaula. The route crosses the Chattahoochee River into Georgetown, Georgia, via the South Eufaula Avenue Bridge.
State Route Designation
In accordance with the numbering system used by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), US 82 is internally designated as State Route 6 (SR 6) for its entire length across the state. While the SR 6 designation exists for administrative and inventory purposes, the highway is almost exclusively signed and referred to by its federal designation, US 82.
Major Intersections
The route facilitates several major connections with the regional and national highway systems:
- Interstate 20 / Interstate 59: Intersected in Tuscaloosa, providing access to Birmingham and Meridian, Mississippi.
- Interstate 65: Intersected in the Prattville/Montgomery area, providing a north-south link between Mobile and Huntsville.
- U.S. Route 31: Intersected in Montgomery.
- U.S. Route 231: Intersected in Montgomery, leading south toward Troy and north toward Huntsville.
- U.S. Route 431: Intersected in Eufaula, providing a major north-south corridor through eastern Alabama.
Infrastructure and Usage
US 82 is largely a four-lane divided highway throughout much of Alabama, particularly on segments connecting major urban centers. It serves as a vital route for both regional agricultural transport and commuter traffic. In the Montgomery and Tuscaloosa areas, the highway is a critical component of the local infrastructure, supporting heavy daily traffic volumes.
