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Portion of I-59/20 to be renamed in honor of fallen officer Wytasha Carter
On May 5, the Alabama Senate unanimously passed a resolution that names a portion of I-59/20 after Sgt. Wytasha Carter, a Birmingham police officer killed in the line of duty in 2019. Learn more.
Sergeant Wytasha L. Carter Memorial Highway
In January of 2019, Birmingham Police Sergeant Wytasha Carter was killed in the line of duty. In memoriam, Alabama Rep. Allen Treadaway sponsored a resolution that would rename a portion of I-59/20 in his honor.
The resolution passed both the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate—once Gov. Kay Ivey approves the resolution, the section from mile marker 127 to 128 will officially be the Sergeant Wytasha L. Carter Memorial Highway.
Other Road Namesakes
Elton B. Stephens Expressway
The Elton B. Stephens Expressway, also known as the Red Mountain Expressway, is named after local businessman and philanthropist Elton B. Stephens. While studying at Birmingham-Southern College, Stephens supported himself by selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door. After graduating from the Alabama School of Law, Stephens and his wife, Alys, continued down that path. Eventually, they formed EBSCO Industries, Inc.
In addition, Elton and Alys loved to support Birmingham through philanthropy. For example, the couple helped fund the Elton B. Stephens Science Center at Birmingham-Southern and the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center at UAB.
Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard
The stretch of streets from Vulcan to Woodlawn known as Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard is named after Birmingham’s first black Mayor. After graduating from Miles College, the University of Detroit and the University of Oklahoma, Arrington returned to Birmingham.
After running and winning a seat on the Birmingham City Council, he ran for Mayor in 1979. From 1979 to 1999, Arrington served as Mayor—among other successes, he grew Birmingham’s city limits by annexing areas like Birmingport, the Oxmoor Valley and the 280 Corridor.
Which sections of Birmingham’s roads would you like to know more about? Tag us @bhamnow to learn more!
