Running the crest of the Talladega Mountains, Alabama's highest range, SR 281 was originally an unpaved forest route known as Skyway Motorway prior to the reconstruction into a paved scenic highway.

US 431 can be reached however via Cleburne County Road 131 (CR 131), a former alignment of the Skyway Motorway and a short connector to SR 281.

In the early 1990s, SR 49 Spur was extended south along the western side of the Talladega Mountains, ending at a remote location in the national forest at the fork of two forest roads, one which was part of the old Skyway Motorway.

When SR 95 was extended from US 84 to the Florida State Line, the same method was used in posting mile markers.

Geographic data related to Alabama State Route 281 at OpenStreetMap