Route from Tifton to Birmingham

Question

I am looking at taking 520 from Tifton to Columbus, then Opelika, then 280 to Birmingham. Can anyone tell me if these are two lane or four lane highways? Are there a lot of stop lights to get through towns or does the highway bypass them instead of going straight through? Thank you!

Answer

For your route from Tifton to Birmingham via 520 to Columbus, then Opelika, and finally 280 to Birmingham, here's a detailed look at the road conditions and your questions regarding lane counts and stoplights:

Route Overview:

Your planned route includes several highways, each with different characteristics:

US 520 (Tifton to Columbus) – This highway is primarily a four-lane highway, especially as you approach Columbus. However, in some areas, it may narrow down to two lanes, particularly in more rural sections. Overall, it's a major route, and the four-lane sections are more common than two-lane. It's a pretty smooth ride, but watch for some areas that may have traffic lights as you get closer to towns.
US 431 (Columbus to Opelika) – This section is a mix of two-lane and four-lane roads. As you approach Opelika, you'll find the road widens into four lanes, but much of it may still be two lanes in rural areas. Some towns along this route, like Phenix City, may have stoplights as you pass through, although there are also bypasses that divert traffic around these towns to avoid stops.
US 280 (Opelika to Birmingham) – US 280 is mostly a four-lane highway, especially as you approach larger towns and cities. However, it can narrow to two lanes in some rural stretches, particularly in the more distant parts of Alabama before you hit major urban centers like Birmingham. The highway is generally designed as a bypass for some towns, which helps reduce stoplights. Still, expect a few stoplights when passing through smaller communities.

Stoplights and Bypasses:

In terms of stoplights and bypasses, here’s a breakdown for the towns and areas you’ll encounter:

Tifton – Tifton itself will have stoplights as you leave the town, but once you’re on US 520, you'll mostly be on open road.
Columbus – US 520 brings you into Columbus, where you may encounter a few stoplights before joining US 431. However, there’s a bypass around the city, so you should avoid most of the traffic lights, especially if you follow the signs for the main routes.
Opelika – As you approach Opelika, you may find that US 431 has some stoplights in town. There is also a bypass around Opelika, which will help you avoid the traffic lights in the center of town.
Smaller Towns on US 431 – Towns like Phenix City and others along the way may have stoplights, but many of them are served by bypasses, so you can avoid the traffic in these areas if you follow the main route signs.
US 280 through Alabama – This highway has both four-lane and two-lane sections. While some of the towns along US 280 are bypassed, others may require you to pass through the town center and deal with stoplights.

Summary:

In summary, your route will be primarily on four-lane highways, especially as you approach larger cities. However, you’ll encounter some two-lane stretches, particularly in rural areas and smaller towns. There will also be a few stoplights as you pass through towns like Columbus and Opelika, although bypasses will help you avoid most of them. Overall, this is a well-traveled route, and you should have a fairly smooth drive, but expect some traffic when going through urbanized areas or smaller towns.

Route from Tifton to Birmingham

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