U.S. Route 31

U.S. Route 31 marker
U.S. Route 31
Map
US 31 highlighted in red; US 31E/31W split in orange
Route information
Length1,280 mi[citation needed] (2,060 km)
Existed11 November 1926 (1926-11-11)[1]–present
Major junctions
South end US 90 / US 98 in Spanish Fort, AL
Major intersections
North end I-75 in Mackinaw City, MI
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesAlabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan
Highway system
US 30 US 32

U.S. Route 31 or U.S. Highway 31 (US 31) is a major north–south U.S. highway connecting southern Alabama to northern Michigan. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with US 90/US 98 in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 75 (I-75) south of Mackinaw City, Michigan.

US 31 once crossed the Straits of Mackinac by car ferry to intersect US 2 north of St. Ignace, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula and then formerly reached Mackinaw City along the southern approaches of the Mackinac Bridge (which has been taken over by I-75). It also formerly entered downtown Mobile, Alabama, via a long bridge over Mobile Bay.

The southern segment of US 31 connects the cities of Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Decatur in Alabama, and Nashville in Tennessee. The northern segment of US 31 connects Louisville in Kentucky, and Indianapolis in Indiana. From Nashville to Louisville, US 31 is signed U.S. Route 31W and U.S. Route 31E. From the Mobile Bay area in Alabama to Indianapolis, US 31 travels parallel to Interstate 65 (I-65).

  1. ^ McNichol, Dan (2006). The Roads that Built America. New York: Sterling. p. 74. ISBN 1-4027-3468-9.