Local Sprawl

I snapped a photograph on my way home from Mt. Laurel the other day while I was on Hwy 280. This picture was taken at the Hwy 280 and Valleydale Road intersection. This is the view facing Birmingham, and directly to the left is the Inverness Corners shopping center. Directly to the right is a Home Depot. This photograph obviously shows sprawl at its highest level. The dependence on the automobile and the outward extension of development away from our city's center is over evident in this part of Birmingham. There is very little, if any, residential area on this section of road, which promotes individuals using their vehicles. The majority of the land is obviously used for commercial entities. Due to the major lack of residences nearby, walkability is at a minimum. There is an extremely high amount of pavement/concrete, and virtually no communal areas, with the exception of all the parking lots. What little human interaction that does happen here, happens either within these businesses or through vulgar hand gestures between motorists on Hwy 280. One things for sure, I feel lucky that I don't have to deal with this section of road daily.