U.S. Route 280

U.S. Route 280 is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. It currently runs for 392 miles (631 km) from Blichton, Georgia at U.S. Highway 80 to Birmingham, Alabama at I-20/I-59. For much of its route, U.S. 280 travels through rural areas and smaller cities in southern Georgia and east central Alabama. Once the highway approaches Birmingham, it is a major suburban route. Numerous shopping centers are located on U.S. 280 throughout northern Shelby County and southern Jefferson County.

Through Talladega County, Alabama, U.S. 280 is known as the Jim Nabors Highway, in honor of the Sylacauga, Alabama, native known for portraying the television character Gomer Pyle. The historical designation of US-280 and SR-38 is the Florida Short Route.

For many years, US-280 and SR-38 was considered one of the more dangerous routes in Alabama, due to the number of large stretches of narrow two lane roadway leading southeastwardly from Birmingham. Work was completed in 2006 making U.S. 280 a four-lane highway throughout the entire state of Alabama. This project began in the 1970s. As a result, U.S. 280 now bypasses numerous small towns in east Alabama, including Goodwater, Jackson's Gap, Camp Hill and Waverly.