Transportation

With its location in the center of the Southeast, Birmingham is served by interstate railroads, truck lines, air cargo companies and barge lines. Birmingham International Airport is home to eight major airlines operating at 19 gates. With more than 160 arrivals and departures daily, Birmingham International Airport handles more than 3 million passengers annually. Additionally, the airport, which is in close proximity to three major interstates and two major highways, is served by nine major air cargo carriers.

Currently, the Birmingham International Airport is implementing a $43 million development plan that will increase air service to foreign destinations and expand the air cargo capacity. A 2,000-foot extension of the eastwest runway will increase its length to 12,000 feet. The plan also includes a 400,000-square-foot apron and taxiway addition. Once completed in 2005, the 675,000-square-foot apron will increase the airport's ability to accommodate a mix of commercial aircraft.

The area is unique in that more rail carriers serve Birmingham than any other southeastern city (six in total). Port Birmingham, on the Tennessee-Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway, is highly utilized as it provides a connection to mid-America through 16,000 miles of inland waterways and the Gulf of Mexico. Four major interstate highways and four major federal routes make Birmingham highly accessible, and over 100 common carriers serve the area.

Additionally, construction continues on the Southeast's newest interstate highway that will link Birmingham to Memphis, Tennessee. Corridor X, which is designated as the future Interstate 22, will be open to traffic from Jasper to Graysville by the fall of 2005. The final eight-mile segment is being designed and includes a massive interchange at Interstate 65 and U.S. Highway 31 that will have up to 14 bridges. Highway officials estimate a 2009 completion date for the entire project. In December 2004, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby arranged for an additional $25 million of federal funding to be put towards the continued construction of Corridor X and the Northern Beltline that will eventually complete the I-459 loop around Birmingham.