route through Alabama has a minimum of four lanes. Major intersections Related routes Muscle Shoals–Huntsville alternate route U.S. Route 72 Alternate (US 72 Alternate) exists in Alabama on the south side of the Tennessee River between Muscle Shoals and Decatur. US 72 alt. crosses the Tennessee River at Decatur along with US 31 and follows the entire route of Interstate 565. However, signs on I-65 at the I-565 exit make no mention of US 72 Alt. and only mention SR 20 westbound from the I-65/I-565 junction. SR 20 was co-signed with US 72 Alt. from Muscle Shoals to Huntsville. SR 20 has since been truncated to the junction of I-65 just east of Decatur. Originally, US 72 Alt. turned off of SR 20 on to SR 53 (Jordan Lane) in Huntsville and followed it north to rejoin with US 72. With the completion of I-565 in the early 1990s, US 72 Alt. was routed along with I-565 to the termination of I-565 at US 72. US 72 Alternate between Decatur and Huntsville is part of Corridor V of the Appalachian Development Highway System. See also Southern Rock Opera, a Drive-By Truckers album prominently featuring US 72 List of United States Numbered Highways Notes References The Drive By Truckers song “72 (This Highway’s Mean)” is written about highway 72. Sources Rand McNally Road Atlases 1926 - 2006 External links Endpoints of U.S. Highway 72 072 072 072 072 072 Transportation in Chattanooga, Tennessee Transportation in Huntsville, Alabama Transportation in Memphis, Tennessee Transportation in Shelby County, Tennessee Transportation in Fayette County, Tennessee Transportation in Marshall County, Mississippi Transportation in Benton County, Mississippi Transportation in Tippah County, Mississippi Transportation in Alcorn County, Mississippi Transportation in Tishomingo County, Mississippi Transportation in Colbert County, Alabama Transportation in Lauderdale County, Alabama Transportation in Limestone County, Alabama Transportation in Madison County, Alabama Transportation in Jackson County, Alabama Transportation in Marion County, Tennessee Transportation in Hamilton County, Tennessee