State Route 77 (SR 77) is a 124-mile-long (200 km) north–south state highway in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. The southern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with U.S. Route 431 (US 431) near LaFayette. The northern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with US 431 just north of Attalla. North of Talladega, the highway passes the entrance to Talladega Superspeedway, home of the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Xfinity Series, and Camping World Truck Series races that are held annually.

State Route 77 marker
State Route 77
Map
Route information
Maintained by ALDOT
Length124 mi[1] (200 km)
Existed1940–present
Major junctions
South end US 431 in LaFayette
Major intersections SR 21 in Talladega
I-20 in Lincoln
US 78 in Lincoln
US 411 in Rainbow City
I-59 in Attalla
US 11 in Attalla
US 278 near Attalla
North end US 431 near Attalla
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountiesChambers, Randolph, Clay, Talladega, Calhoun, Etowah
Highway system
  • Alabama State Highway System
SR 76 US 78

Route description

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SR 77 begins in Ridgeville at US 431. It immediately crosses a railroad track and turns south, passing through a ridge cut, before junctioning with US 278. It enters Attalla and junctions with US 11. It turns east-to-west again and junctions with I-59 in Rainbow City. This junction is almost immediately below I-59's junction with I-759. It enters the main part of Rainbow City and junctions with US 411 and crosses the Coosa River. It crosses over multiple forks of the Coosa River as it enters Calhoun County.

It crosses more forks of the Coosa River as it nears Ohatchee. It junctions with SR 144 and leaves Ohatchee. It crosses into Talladega County.

It enters Lincoln, where it junctions with US 78. It continues south and junctions with I-20. It passes by the world-famous Talladega Superspeedway as it enters Talladega. It junctions with SR 34 and enters the city. Within the city, it junctions with SR 275 and SR 21. It turns northwest-southeast and enters the Talledega National Forest. It eventually enters Clay County.

It eventually leaves the National Forest and junctions with SR 130. It maintains an east-to-west path throughout this area. it enters Ashland and junctions with SR 9. There is a highly complex string of intersections in this city, including a point where SR 9 continues on SR 77's right-of-way and another point where the two routes parallel each other as they leave the city to the south. After a journey southeast to Meadow Valley, it junctions with SR 49. It maintains a concurrency with it as it enters the main part of Meadow Valley (the city). It continues on SR 49's right-of-way. It leaves the county near Sikesville. It enters Randolph County.

It maintains a short east-to-west path to SR 22 in Wadley. It maintains a concurrency with it until they reach Louina. SR 22 continues on SR 77's right-of-way. SR 77 turns south and enters Chambers County.

The route has no junctions with other routes of its kind as it makes the long journey south to La Fayette. It junctions with US 431 once again in the northern part of the city. This is SR 77's southern terminus.

This route is a minor route for travel between Gadsden and Auburn as a replacement for US 431.

History

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The original route of SR 77 was established in 1940, traveling from LaFayette to Ashland. By 1961, the highway was extended to its current northern terminus in northwestern Etowah County. Until 1985, the segment of the highway between Talladega and Lincoln was concurrent with US 231 Alt.

The earlier routes that predated SR 77 in Talladega and Calhoun counties include the Gilbert's Ferry road and the Jackson Trace, which was used and named after General Andrew Jackson, who, with militia used this part of the route the defeat the Creek people at the Battle Of Horseshoe Bend.

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
ChambersLaFayette0.0000.000  US 431 (LaFayette Street / SR 1)Southern terminus
Randolph17.66328.426 
 
SR 22 east – Roanoke
Southern end of SR 22 concurrency
Wadley18.97430.536 
 
SR 22 west (Lee Street) – Alexander City
Northern end of SR 22 concurrency
Clay32.03451.554 
 
SR 49 south – Mellow Valley, New Site
Southern end of SR 49 concurrency
34.21555.064 
 
SR 49 north – Lineville
Northern end of SR 49 concurrency
Ashland40.24564.768 
 
SR 9 north
Southern end of SR 9 concurrency
40.30064.857 
 
 
 
SR 9 south / CR 31 north
Northern end of SR 9 concurrency
TalladegaTalladega63.298101.868 
 
SR 21 north (Haynes Street/East Battle Street)
Southern end of SR 21 concurrency
64.474103.761 
 
SR 21 south (West Battle Street)
Northern end of SR 21 concurrency
66.259106.634  
 
SR 275 to SR 21 – Sylacauga, Montgomery, Anniston, Shocco Springs
67.928109.320 
 
SR 34 west
Eastern terminus of SR 34
Lincoln75.979122.276  I-20 – Birmingham, AtlantaI-20 exit 168
77.259124.336  US 78 (SR 4)
CalhounOhatchee90.269145.274  SR 144 – Ragland
EtowahRainbow City103.242166.152  US 411 (Rainbow Drive / SR 25) – Ashville, Gadsden
Gadsden107.407172.855  
 
I-59 to I-759 – Birmingham, Chattanooga
I-59 exit 181
Attalla109.122175.615  US 11 (3rd Street / SR 7)
111.881180.055  US 278 (SR 74) – Cullman, Walnut Grove, Attalla
112.334180.784  US 431 (SR 1) – Albertville, BoazNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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KML is from Wikidata
  1. ^ a b "Milepost/General Highway Maps". Alabama Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2011.