State Route 79 is a 117-mile-long (188 km) route that extends northeastward from Birmingham to the Tennessee state line. Prior to the completion of Interstate 65, SR-79 was the southern part of the route that connected Birmingham and Huntsville. The southern terminus of SR-79 is at the interchange of Tallapoosa Street with Interstate 20/Interstate 59 (Exit 128) near Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.