I 59

[HiHoAgRV]

Has anyone been on I 59 south from Chattanooga to Birmingham reciently? The last time I drove it I thought it was going to destroy the TV and 'stream with the concrete expansion joints . Are both lanes rough? We are planning a 8 day loop and the last day could include this leg so I'm looking for some feedback on the conditions.

Thanks!

[klattu]

Stay in the left lane after Gadsden heading north...
I don't remember the south bound side.

[clancy_boy]

Take the truck route around Birmingham - LOTS smoother. I hate that stretch of road. Reduce your speed, I have seen big rig trailers split open on the side of the road on that stretch from the bouncing.

[HiHoAgRV]

We will be departing Falls Creek Falls headed home on a unflexable schedule and I am seriously considering crawing over to Huntsville and taking I65 south simply to avoid 59. I can't seem to recall if the left lane of 59S was smoother.

[klattu]

If before your trip...
I'll be able to give you a report Monday from Chattanooga south to Gadsden.
Just cannot remenber the south bound side, I know the north is enough to make you pull over to which wheel fell off.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by klattu

If before your trip...
I'll be able to give you a report Monday from Chattanooga south to Gadsden.
Just cannot remenber the south bound side, I know the north is enough to make you pull over to which wheel fell off.

Super! My plans will put me there on the 18th of August. I'll probably start a thread for the trip because it will go from Jackson, MS up the Natchez trace to Nashville, up to West Virginia, down the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville, to Falls Creek Falls then back to Jackson. 8 days of fun...

[trevisgardne]

It is horrible. I had to replace my hitch coupler after taking the I-59 South route this spring. I popped some rivets also.

Take another route!

[klattu]

Just back...
Its left lane both ways.
Started just as we crossed over into Alabama from Georgia off of I-24.
I-59 was good untill the state line...romp romp romp....went directly to left lane...it did not smooth out all the way to Gadsden, we got off there.
I would take, only if willing to stay in left lane.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by klattu

Just back...
Its left lane both ways.
Started just as we crossed over into Alabama from Georgia off of I-24.
I-59 was good untill the state line...romp romp romp....went directly to left lane...it did not smooth out all the way to Gadsden, we got off there.
I would take, only if willing to stay in left lane.

Thanks to all for the info- I think I'll add an hour to the last day of our '7-day-8-states' tour by taking the state highways over to 65 south and avoid 59 south.
I'll post a trip status on the 'On The Road' forum.

[nilesrob]

There's another route from Chattanooga towards Birmingham that sort of parallels 59 - I think it might be 72 or 2 or something - runs by Guntersville Lake. It's been maybe 2 years but I remember it as a great road, and better since you are not on a highway but can still maintain decent speeds. You join it west of Chattanooga a little bit, but don't ask me any more specifics - can't remember now.