Alabama State Route 49


State Route 49 is an state highway in the central and eastern parts of the U.S. state of Alabama. The southern terminus of the highway is at an interchange with Interstate 85 at Franklin in Macon County. The northern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with SR 281 east of Cheaha State Park in southern Cleburne County.

Route description

SR 49 serves a connecting route giving access to several major highways for residents of small towns and rural areas along its length. For motorists in Macon County, it serves as an access route to I-85 heading towards Montgomery. Motorists in southern Tallapoosa County use SR 49 to access U.S. Route 280 heading towards Alexander City and Birmingham; the two highways intersect at Dadeville. North of Dadeville, SR 49 travels through rural areas and small towns in eastern Alabama, traveling through New Site, Mellow Valley, and Lineville. It crosses the Tallapoosa River and passes through Horseshoe Bend National Military Park.

History

When SR 49 was formed in 1940, the highway traveled only from Tallassee to Dadeville. As a result of several northward extensions, by 1969 the highway extended to an intersection with US 78 near Heflin. In 1973, the highway was extended southward to its current terminus at I-85 in Macon County. When SR 281 was formed in 1995, the northernmost section of the route was truncated.

Major intersections