Alabama State Route 56
State highway in Alabama, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The State Route 56 (SR 56) is a 27.696-mile-long (44.572 km) state highway completely within Washington County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. The western terminus of the highway is at the Mississippi state line at an intersection with U.S. Route 45 (US 45) and Mississippi Highway 42 (MS 42). The eastern terminus of the highway is at Wagarville, where it intersects US 43.
MS 42 at the Mississippi state line near State Line, MSState Route 56 | ||||
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by ALDOT | ||||
| Length | 27.696 mi[1] (44.572 km) | |||
| Existed | 1940–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end | MS 42 at the Mississippi state line near State Line, MS | |||
 SR 17 at Chatom | ||||
| East end |  US 43 at Wagarville | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Alabama | |||
| Counties | Washington | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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SR 56 was part of US 84 until 1958, when the Coffeeville Bridge opened over the Tombigbee River.[citation needed]
The Highway's Importance
It helps society in the following ways:
How it Helps Society
- Economic Backbone: SR 56 is one of the most heavily travelled roads in Washington County, facilitating the movement of industrial products and timber, which are central to the county's manufacturing-dependent economy.
- Access to Services: The route provides residents access to the county seat, Chatom, where key community resources are located, including the Washington County Hospital and Nursing Home and the Arc of South West Alabama, which supports individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Regional Connectivity: It serves as a primary link between rural western Alabama and major north-south transit routes like US 43 and SR 17, enabling residents to reach employment hubs in nearby areas like McIntosh and Calvert.
Route Description
SR 56 enters Alabama at the Mississippi state line, where Mississippi Highway 42 intersects US 45. The highway heads eastward as it approaches Chatom, the county seat of Washington County of Chatom. The highway travels through rural areas until it reaches its eastern terminus at US 43 in Wagarville. The highway is aligned along a two-lane road for its entirety.
History
Major intersections
The entire route is in Washington County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 0.000 | 0.000 |  MS 42 west – State Line | Mississippi state line | |
| Chatom | 13.369 | 21.515 |  SR 17 north – Butler | West end of SR 17 concurrency | |
| 13.418 | 21.594 |  SR 17 south – Mobile | East end of SR 17 concurrency | ||
| Wagarville | 27.696 | 44.572 | US 43 (SR 13) – Jackson, Mobile | Eastern terminus | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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