U.S. Route 43 (US 43) is a northâÂÂsouth United States Highway in the Southern states of Alabama and Tennessee. It travels from Prichard, Alabama, to Columbia, Tennessee. The highway's southern terminus is in Prichard, at an intersection with US 90, and its northern terminus is in Columbia at an intersection with US 31/US 412/US 412 Bus.
In Alabama and Tennessee, all of the U.S. Highways in each state have one or more unsigned state highways designated along its length. US 43 travels concurrently with Alabama State Route 13 (SR 13) from its southern terminus to an intersection in southeastern Fayette County. For the rest of its length in the state, US 43 is concurrent with signed state highways. In Tennessee, US 43 travels concurrently with Tennessee State Route 6 (SR 6) along its entire length in the state. It also has an unsigned concurrency with SR 227 between Saint Joseph and Loretto.
USÃÂ 43 begins along Telegraph Road in Prichard, Alabama, at the point where USÃÂ 90 crosses over Telegraph Road; a short connector road joins the two highways nearby. It travels northward toward Chickasaw on a three-lane road that features one lane in each direction and a center turning lane. Upon intersecting the Craft Highway in Chickasaw, the roadway adds another lane in each direction. As it enters Saraland, the highway meets State Route 158 (SRÃÂ 158), which connects to Interstate 65 (I-65) to the west. Farther north in the town, it meets SRÃÂ 213. It continues north and then crosses I-65 on the northern edge of Satsuma. USÃÂ 43 continues north on a four-lane divided highway that runs roughly parallel to the meandering Mobile River. A trumpet interchange near Calvert provides access to a steel mill between the highway and the river. In McIntosh, the highway passes Andrews Chapel, a historic log church. North of McIntosh, the highway runs through forest land; clearings dot the roadside occasionally. At Wagarville, the highway intersects SRÃÂ 56, which travels west toward Chatom. Near Jackson, the road crosses the Tombigbee River just before an intersection with SRÃÂ 177. SRÃÂ 177 serves as a business route for USÃÂ 43 as it passes through downtown Jackson. A connector road on either side of USÃÂ 43 links the highway to SRÃÂ 69, which passes over the four-lane road. SRÃÂ 177 intersects USÃÂ 43 again as it leaves Jackson. USÃÂ 43 curves to the northeast as it heads toward Grove Hill. There, SRÃÂ 295 splits off to the east and passes through the town. Shortly thereafter, the highway meets US 84 at a diamond interchange. SRÃÂ 295 rejoins USÃÂ 43 on the northern end of Grove Hill. Roughly halfway between Grove Hill and Thomasville, SRÃÂ 178 connects Fulton to the highway system. Near the center of Thomasville, the road meets SRÃÂ 154, which heads southwest toward Coffeeville. In northern Thomasville, USÃÂ 43 splits away from the roadway, which continues as SRÃÂ 5. Instead, USÃÂ 43 heads northwesterly until it intersects SRÃÂ 10 at Dixons Mills.
USà43 continues northward from Dixons Mills along a winding road that leads to Linden. There, it meets SRà69, which came from the southwest. The two highways travel together through Linden, where they are overlapped briefly by SRà28. When the highways reach Providence, the two roads fork and USà43 takes the western leg; SRà69 heads north toward Greensboro. It then curves slightly to the northwest and meets USà80 in southeastern Demopolis. The two routes head west together for about before USà43 turns back to the north. The highway passes by the town square and in between the Tombigbee and Black Warrior Rivers before crossing the latter. North of Demopolis, it follows a two-lane road that passes through wooded farmland that clears as the road goes north. When the highway reaches Eutaw, it joins up with SRà14, which comes from Greensboro to the southeast. In the middle of town, the two routes meet northbound U.S. Route 11 in Alabama at the Greene County Courthouse Square District; southbound USà11 goes around the other side of the block, effectively making the courthouse square its median. The three routes only share one block before SRà14 departs to the west and the other two routes head in the opposite direction. Outside of Eutaw, the roadway curves around to the north and it runs a parallel course to I-20/I-59, though a few miles offset. At Knoxville, the two U.S. Highways cross over the two Interstate Highways, after which, USà43 and USà11 travel on the north side of the interstates until reaching Tuscaloosa. In southwestern Tuscaloosa, the two highways cross the Joe Mallisham Parkway, which serves as a western bypass of Tuscaloosa and Northport. Just south of downtown Tuscaloosa, USà43 and USà11 diverge at an interchange with SRà69, which also happens to be the northern end of I-359. SRà69 descends from the elevated highway and joins USà43 on Lurleen B. Wallace Parkway through the downtown area and past the historic Bama Theatre. The northbound and southbound lanes are separated by a block until they join to cross the Black Warrior River on the Hugh R. Thomas Bridge just above the Oliver Dam and then enter Northport. Shortly after crossing the river is an interchange with 5th Street. The highways ease to the north and continue until reaching USà82. There, SRà69 continues to the north while USà43 turns west onto USà82. These two highways head west for a short distance before USà43 turns away to the northwest. The highway curves back around to head northeast as it intersects SR 171. Farther north in Northport, USà43 meets the end of the TuscaloosaâÂÂNorthport western bypass.
It crosses over an arm of Lake Tuscaloosa and travels along the western edge of Binion Creek Landing Park. It winds to the north-northwest and intersects SRÃÂ 18. At this intersection, USÃÂ 43 ends its southern concurrency with SRÃÂ 13 and begins a concurrency with SRÃÂ 18. Also, SRÃÂ 13 becomes a signed highway at this intersection. USÃÂ 43 and SRÃÂ 18 wind to the north-northeast and enter Bankston and later pass through Stough. Approximately after crossing the Sipsey River the highways enter Fayette where they intersect SRÃÂ 171 (2nd Avenue Southeast) in the downtown area. At this intersection, SRÃÂ 18 continues to the west-northwest on Columbus Street West and USÃÂ 43 and SRÃÂ 171 travel to the north-northeast on 2nd Avenue Northeast. North of Fayette, the two highways intersect the southern terminus of SRÃÂ 129 and the western terminus of SRÃÂ 102 shortly thereafter. They curve to the north-northwest and then briefly travel through the Fayette State Experiment Forest. The highways curve to the north-northeast and enter Winfield. They cross over some railroad tracks of BNSF Railway before intersecting SRÃÂ 118 (Bankhead Highway) and the southern terminus of SRÃÂ 253. USÃÂ 43, SRÃÂ 118, and SRÃÂ 171 travel concurrently to the northwest toward Gu-Win and Guin. They pass a 3M plant before they intersect the western terminus of SRÃÂ 44 (7th Street) in Guin. The highways intersect USÃÂ 278 (unsigned SRÃÂ 74) and the eastern terminus of SRÃÂ 142 (11th Avenue West) in downtown Guin. At this intersection, SRÃÂ 118 turns south onto USÃÂ 278 west, and USÃÂ 43 and SRÃÂ 171 turn north onto USÃÂ 278 east; the three highways travel to the north-northwest. Between Guin and Hamilton, they have an interchange with I-22/USÃÂ 78. They cross over the Buttahatchee River as they enter Hamilton. They intersect SRÃÂ 17 south of the downtown area. At this intersection, SRÃÂ 171 ends and SRÃÂ 17 joins the USÃÂ 43/USÃÂ 278 concurrency. At Bexar Avenue West, USÃÂ 278 turns east, while USÃÂ 43 and SRÃÂ 17 continue to the north. The highways curve back to the northeast and intersect the southern terminus of SRÃÂ 187. They enter Hackleburg and in the main part of town is an intersection with SRÃÂ 172 and the southern terminus of SRÃÂ 253 (Clay Street). They then continue to the north and intersect SR 13 for a second time northwest of Phil Campbell. They enter Russellville and have an interchange with SRÃÂ 24.
The three highways head to the north and pass the King Drive-In theater, the oldest, continually-operating theater in the state. They travel northeast through Littleville and then northwest towards Tuscumbia. They have an intersection with USà72 (unsigned SRà2), USà72 Alt., and SRà20. At this intersection, USà72 Alternate ends, while USà72 and SRà20 join the USà43/SRà13/SRà17 concurrency. The five highways continue to the north, briefly travel through Tuscumbia proper before traveling along the TuscumbiaâÂÂMuscle Shoals city line. On the Muscle ShoalsâÂÂSheffield city line, the highways intersect East 2nd Street, which carries SRà184 east of the intersection. They then pass administration offices of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Then, they cross over the Tennessee River on the O'Neal Bridge and enter Lauderdale County. The USà43/USà72/SRà13/SRà17/SRà20 concurrency immediately enters Florence. It has an incomplete interchange where SRà20 leaves the concurrency to the west-southwest on Coffee Road. There is no direct access from SRà20 to USà43 north/USà72 east/SRà13 north/SRà17 north. The highways pass near University of North Alabama's main campus and travel to the northeast. There is an interchange with SRà157 (Helton Drive). At this interchange, SRà17 departs the concurrency and heads northwest with SRà157. After that, they intersect SRà133 (Cox Creek Parkway). Just west-southwest of Killen, USà72 continues to the east-northeast, while USà43 and SRà13 head to the northeast. USà43 and SRà13 curve to the north and intersect SRà64. They continue to the north and east until they reach the Tennessee state line, where SRà13 ends.
US 43 enters Lawrence County and the city limits of Saint Joseph. The unsigned State Route 6 (SR 6) begins at the state line. In the main part of the city, US 43 begins an unsigned concurrency with SR 227 (Iron City Road). They curve to the northeast, leave Saint Joseph, and enter Loretto. There, SR 227 splits off to the southeast onto East Main Street (Lexington Highway). Then, US 43 intersects SR 98 (Rabbit Trail Road) in Leoma. It has an interchange with US 64 (unsigned SR 15; Lawrenceburg Highway) in Lawrenceburg. In downtown Lawrenceburg, US 43 intersects US 64 Bus. (Gaines Street). The highway runs through Lawrenceburg Proper and into the Ethridge City Limits. There are instersections with Ethridge-Redhill Road Tennessee State Route 938 to the West, and Campbellsville Pike Tennessee State Route 940 to the East. The highway begins a curve to the north, crossing the South Fork of the Buffalo River. Shortly after intersecting with the South end of Old Highway 43, the highway crosses over the North Fork of the Buffalo River. Next it intersects with the North end of Old Highway 43 at the junction with SR 240 (Monument Road).
In Maury County, US 43 intersects SR 20, then it intersects with the South end of Lawrenceburg Highway (the former route of Highway 43). After that junction, it passes by Stillhouse Hollow Falls, a Class I Scenic-Recreational State Natural Area (https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/na-natural-areas/natural-areas-middle-region/middle-region/na-na-stillhouse-hollow-falls.html) The highway continues over Big Bigby Creek and to the junction with the North end of Lawrenceburg Highway.
It intersects the southern terminus of SR 243 (South Main Street) in Mount Pleasant. It travels on an overpass over Mt. Joy Road and some railroad tracks. US 43 bypasses downtown by traveling through the western part of the city. It intersects SR 166 (1st Avenue). Then, it has an interchange with SR 243, which also leads to the Maury County Airport. It has an interchange with US 412 (unsigned SR 99) and the western terminus of US 412 Bus. (Hampshire Pike) in Columbia. At this interchange, US 43 and US 412 travel concurrently to the north-northeast. At an interchange with SR 50 (Williamsport Pike), the concurrency briefly re-enters the city before leaving again. The concurrency curves to the east-southeast and has an interchange with SR 7 (Santa Fe Pike). Then, they intersect US 31 and US 412 Bus (Nashville Highway). Here, US 43 ends, US 412 continues to the east-southeast on Bear Creek Pike, and SR 6 turns onto US 31 north.
Prior to the completion of Corridor X in western Alabama, US 43 and US 278 shared a concurrency with US 78 between Guin and Hamilton.
In 1934 as part of a proposal to eliminate the US 31W and US 31E spilt, US 43 was to be extended north to Hopkinsville, Kentucky on US 31 and modern day US 41A. A highway numbered US 143 was also to be commissioned to replace US 31E to Glasgow, Kentucky. This plan received pushback from the states involved, and the plan was scrapped.
Preliminary talks have indicated that Alabama state officials support a plan to upgrade US 43 to Interstate Highway standards from the Mobile metropolitan area to the I-20/I-59 interchange in Knoxville, Alabama (southwest of Tuscaloosa). No number has been assigned. The plan is estimated to cost roughly $1.6 billion. The project is expected to help the economies of cities in the Black Belt by connecting communities in western Alabama, the Port of Mobile, I-65, and I-20/I-59.