Editing Gardendale, Alabama (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|18.0|sqmi|km2}}, all land. However, with the recent annexation of several thousand acres from the community of [[Mount Olive, Jefferson County, Alabama|Mt. Olive]] and other unincorporated areas, the city now has an estimated total area of around {{convert|25.0|sqmi|km2}}. Gardendale is situated along one of the three major transportation corridors from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast (I-75, I-65, I-55). A tremendous volume of freight (via rail and truck) passes through or near Gardendale.

Gardendale is served by two major north–south highways: [[Interstate 65 in Alabama|Interstate 65]] and [[U.S. Route 31 in Alabama|U.S. 31]]. A new interstate highway, [[Interstate 22]] will run northwestward from I-65 near Gardendale towards [[Memphis, Tennessee]]. This freeway is open from Coalburg Road near [[Fultondale, Alabama|Fultondale]] just southwest of Gardendale to Memphis. Another future road project is the Northern Beltline which will run from [[Interstate 59]] near [[Argo, Alabama|Argo]] westward across northern Jefferson County, crossing I-65 on the northern edge of Gardendale. This highway is currently designated to become [[Interstate 422]]. This route is some 15–20 years away from completion. Major east–west roads in Gardendale include Fieldstown Road (there has been some discussion of requesting a state highway designation for this road between US 31 and I-65 and perhaps westward towards I-22) which runs from U.S. 31 in Gardendale westward, Tarrant Road which runs from the city eastward, and Mt. Olive Road which runs northwestward from the city. Another future road project may be an extension of Fieldstown Road east of U.S. 31 to connect to the Castle Pines development (which is in the city but only accessible via a roundabout route nearly {{convert|10|mi|km}} long) and then across New Castle Road, and then further east to connect to Carson Road. Gardendale is located in an area that once yielded large amounts of coal. Gardendale is located at the southwestern end of one of the Appalachian ridgelines running from eastern Tennessee into northeast Alabama. Several old and closed coal mines exist in the area as well as lands that were once strip mined and then replanted for forests. No major waterways are located in Gardendale but several streams feed into the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River that passes north and west of the city. Much of the land inside the city limits on the east and northeast sides of Gardendale is rocky and hilly with deep ravines. This portion of the city is sparsely populated and has limited access by road. The only major rail line passing near Gardendale is a north–south track passing on the eastern edge of the city from Boyles Yard near Tarrant paralleling New Castle Road northward towards Blount County. This rail line carries freight and is not a passenger line. The nearest passenger train service is by Amtrak at the Birmingham station {{convert|10|mi|km}} south of Gardendale. Commercial air travel is located at the nearby [[Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport]].{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}