The highway made up the western half of Auburn's circumferential inner loop, University Drive.

From there, it headed north-northwest and traveled through the college's agricultural research fields for the next two miles (3 km).

In addition, the western segment would cut across the property of Auburn University, a state institution over which the city had no power of eminent domain to acquire right-of-way.

As such, this western segment was turned over to the Alabama Department of Transportation for construction and maintenance.

Initial right-of-way acquisition began in 1966, with construction beginning the following year.