State Route7 (SR7) is a state highway that travels in a southeast-to-northwest orientation through portions of Lowndes, Cook, Tift, Turner, Crisp, Dooly, Houston, Peach, Crawford, Monroe, Lamar, Pike, and Spalding counties in the southern and central parts of the U.S. state of Georgia. The highway connects the Florida state line southeast of Lake Park to the Griffin area, via Valdosta, Tifton, Cordele, Perry, and Barnesville. The highway is concurrent with either US 41 or US 341 for its entire length, and closely parallels I-75 for much of its length.

SR7 was established at least as early as 1919 along nearly the same path it travels today. US41/SR7 was designated on a concurrency with I-75 northwest of Valdosta to Hahira in 1982. US41/SR7 were re-routed onto an eastern bypass of Valdosta in 2006.

Route description

Echols and Lowndes counties

SR7 begins at the Florida state line, southeast of Lake Park. Here, the roadway continues as US 41/State Road 25 (Plum Street). US41/SR7 travels to the northwest, within Echols County, paralleling a Norfolk Southern Railway. Less than later, they enter Lowndes County. The two highways enter Lake Park, where they have a concurrency with SR 376. During the concurrency, the three highways travel north of Clayton Lake and the Francis Lake Golf Course. After the concurrency ends, US41/SR7 travels northeast of Horselot Lake and to the east of the Twin Lakes. After traveling through Dasher, they have an intersection with the southern terminus of US 41 Bus./SR 7 Bus. (South Patterson Street). This intersection also marks the southern end of a concurrency with SR 31. US41/SR7/SR31 travels to the north-northeast on Inner Perimeter Road on what is essentially a bypass of the main part of Valdosta. They intersect SR 94 (New Statenville Highway). They curve to a northerly direction and enter the eastern part of the city. After curving to the north-northwest, they intersect US 84/US 221/SR 38 (East Hill Avenue). Here, US221 joins the concurrency. The four highways travel to the north-northwest and curve to the northwest just before reaching East Park Avenue. Here, US221/SR31 departs the concurrency. US41/SR7 curves to the west and intersects SR 125 (Bemiss Road). Just northwest of Five Points Shopping Center, they intersect the northern terminus of US41 Bus./SR7 Bus. (North Ashley Street). The two highways travel between Valdosta Country Club and Langdale Park. On the northern edge of the park, they cross over the Withlacoochee River. They curve to the west-southwest to an interchange with Interstate 75 (I-75), with which they begin a concurrency to the north-northwest. I-75/US41/SR7 passes by Stone Creek Golf Club. The three highways enter Hahira, where they have an interchange with SR 122. At this interchange, US41/SR7 departs from I-75 and travel concurrent with SR122 into the main part of town and depart by turning north-northwest onto Church Street. Then, the concurrency enters Cook County.

Cook, Tift, and Turner counties

US41/SR7 travels through the town of Cecil and then enters Adel. There, they intersect SR 37/SR 76 (4th Street). Immediately after leaving the city, they travel through Sparks. After Lenox, the two highways enter Tift County. On the southwestern edge of Henry Tift Myers Airport, they begin a concurrency with SR 125. The three highways travel along the southeastern edge of Unionville, before entering Unionville proper for less than . When they leave Unionville, they immediately enter Tifton. In the main part of town, they intersect US 82/US 319/SR 35/SR 520 (5th Street). Just to the west-northwest of Fulwood Park, SR125 splits off to the east-southeast, while US41/SR7 continues to the west-northwest and curve to the north-northwest to an interchange with I-75. After traveling through Chula, and passing southwest of the Golf Club of South Georgia, they enter Turner County. In Sycamore, they intersect SR 32 (Jefferson Davis Highway), which joins the concurrency. The three highways pass Turner County Airport to its west and enter Ashburn. In the main part of town, they intersect SR 112. At this intersection, SR32 departs the concurrency to the southwest. About three blocks later, US41/SR7 intersects the southern terminus of SR 159 (North Street). After traveling through rural areas of the county, they enter Crisp County.

Crisp, Dooly, and Houston counties

After traveling through Arabi, US41/SR7 continues toward Cordele. They intersect SR 33 Conn. (Rockhouse Road East). After intersecting the northern terminus of SR 33, they intersect SR 300 (Georgia–Florida Parkway). The two highways then enter Cordele, where they intersect US 280/SR 30/SR 90 (16th Avenue). At this intersection, SR90 joins the concurrency. After traveling on the west side of both Crisp Regional Hospital and the Crisp County-Cordele Airport, the three highways leave the city to the north and enter Dooly County. They enter Vienna, where they intersect SR 27 (Union Street). At this intersection, SR90 departs the concurrency to the west-northwest, while US41/SR7 continues to the north. Just before leaving the city, they pass Vienna City Cemetery. They travel through Pinehurst and enter Unadilla. There, they have another interchange with I-75 in the southwestern part of the city. In downtown, they have a one-block concurrency with SR 230. Then, they enter Houston County. Approximately northwest of the county line, the two highways cross under, but don't have an interchange with, I-75. In Henderson, they intersect SR 26. After traveling on the west side of the Flat Creek Public Fishing Area, they enter Perry. In the city, they intersect Perry Parkway. Then, they curve along the western side of I-75 for approximately , where they curve slightly to the northwest and intersect SR 127/SR 224 (Marshallville Road). The four highways travel to the east and immediately have an interchange with I-75. They curve to the southeast on Golden Isles Parkway, before US41/SR7/SR127 departs to the northeast on General Courtney Hodges Boulevard. This is at an intersection with the northern terminus of SR 7 Spur, which is a former section of US41/SR7. The three highways travel to the southeast of Creekwood Park and just north of Evergreen Cemetery. After rounding a slight curve, they intersect US 341/SR 11 Bus. At this intersection, US341/SR7 travels to the north-northwest, while US41/SR11 Bus./SR127 continues to the east-northeast. US341/SR7 gradually takes more of a northwesterly routing and have an interchange with I-75. They curve to the west-northwest and intersect US 341 Byp./SR 11 Conn. (Perry Parkway) and leave the city. Approximately later, they enter Peach County.

Peach, Crawford, and Monroe counties

US341/SR7 travels to the northwest through rural parts of the county and enter Fort Valley. In the main part of the city, they turn to the northeast and intersect the western terminus of SR 7 Conn. (East Church Street). They curve to a due-north routing and intersect SR 96, which joins the concurrency. Approximately later, they begin a curve to the west and intersect SR 49 (North Camellia Boulevard). Immediately afterward, US341/SR7 turns back to the north, while SR96 travels to the west. The concurrent routes curve to the north-northwest, then to the west, and to the northwest before intersecting SR 49 Conn./SR 540 (Fall Line Freeway). Approximately later, they enter Crawford County. After traveling through rural portions of the county, the concurrency curves to a nearly due-north routing and enters Roberta. In town, they intersect the northern terminus of SR 128 (West Agency Street). Two blocks later, they intersect US 80/SR 22/SR 42 (Crusselle Street). At this intersection, SR42 joins the concurrency. The three highways curve to the northwest into Musella, where SR42 departs the concurrency. US341/SR7 continues on a nearly northwestern routing and enters Monroe County. They cut through the northeastern corner of Culloden. Just north-northeast of town, they curve to the north-northeast and intersect SR 74. Southwest of Strouds, they intersect the southern terminus of SR 83. The two highways curve back to the northwest and enter Lamar County.

Lamar, Pike, and Spalding counties

US341/SR7 travels along the western edge of Deer Trail Country Club and continue to the north-northwest. Just southeast of Barnesville, they intersect with US41/SR 18 (Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway). At this intersection, US341 reaches its northern terminus, and US41/SR7/SR18 travels concurrent to the northwest. Almost immediately, they enter the city limits of Barnesville. At Thomaston Street, SR 36 joins the concurrency. The four highways cross over a Norfolk Southern Railway line and curve to the north-northeast. SR18 departs the concurrency on Burnette Road. The concurrency crosses over another Norfolk Southern Railway line and curve to the north-northwest. They have an incomplete interchange with Aldora, Zebulon, and Elm Streets. The exit is only available for the southbound lanes and is only marked as leading to Aldora. Just northwest of Barnesville, SR36 departs the concurrency. US41/SR7 curves to the northwest and crosses over a Norfolk Southern Railway before crossing the northeastern corner of Pike County. Approximately after entering Spalding County, they intersect US 19/SR 3 south of Griffin. This intersection is the northern terminus of SR7; it also marks the southern terminus of US 19 Bus./US 41 Bus./SR 155 (Zebulon Road).

National Highway System

The following portions of SR7 are part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility:

• From the southern end of the SR31 concurrency, southeast of Valdosta, to the northern end of the I-75 concurrency, in Hahira

• The entire length of the SR125 concurrency, from southeast of Unionville to Tifton.

• The entire length of the SR32 concurrency, from Sycamore to Ashburn

• From the interchange with SR300, south of Cordele, to an indeterminate point north-northwest of the city.

• From the northern end of the SR224 concurrency (on US41/SR127) to the second I-75 interchange (on US341) in Perry

• A brief portion in Fort Valley

History

1920s

SR7 was established at least as early as 1919 on what is essentially its current path from the Florida state line southwest of Statenville to Griffin. Between the end of 1921 and the end of 1926, US41 was designated on SR7 between the Florida state line and Perry; it was also designated on the Barnesville–Griffin segment. Five segments of SR7 had a "completed hard surface": north-northwest of Valdosta, north-northwest of Adel, from the Cook–Tift county line to a point south-southeast of Tifton, north-northwest of Tifton, and the Barnesville–Griffin segment. Three segments had a "completed semi hard surface": from Florida to Valdosta, from north-northwest of Valdosta to Adel, and the Crisp County portion of the Cordele–Vienna segment. Two segments had a "sand clay or top soil" surface: from the Crisp–Dooly county line to the approximate location of Pinehurst and the entire Monroe County portion. Two segments were under construction: a portion in the south-southeast part of Tifton and from the approximate location of Arabi to Cordele. By the end of 1929, two segments had a completed hard surface: from Florida to Perry and a portion in the southeast part of Fort Valley. A very small portion from just south of the Crawford–Monroe county line had a sand clay or top soil surface.

1930s

In the second half of 1930, two segments had a sand clay or top soil surface: from Fort Valley to northwest of the Peach–Crawford county line and from just south of the Crawford–Monroe county line to the Monroe–Lamar county line. Two segments were under construction: from the Florida state line to just northwest of the Echols–Lowndes county line and the Peach County portion of the Perry–Fort Valley segment. By the end of 1931, all of the highway from the Florida state line to just northwest of the Peach–Crawford county line, as well as the entire Monroe County segment had a completed hard surface. In February 1932, the entire Crawford County portion had a sand clay or top soil surface. By the middle of 1933, both the Crawford and Lamar county portions of the Roberta–Barnesville segment were under construction. In May, the Lamar county portion had completed grading, but was not surfaced. By the end of 1935, nearly the entire Crawford County portion had a completed hard surface. In the first half of 1936, the Roberta–Griffin segment was also completed. In the second quarter of 1937, the entire highway was completed. By October, US41's path from Perry to Barnesville, via Macon, was shifted west onto SR7. By the end of the year, US41 was reverted to its former path. Between February 1948 and April 1949, US341 was designated on the Perry–Barnesville segment of SR7.

1960s to 2000s

Between June 1963 and the end of 1965, SR 333 was proposed to be extended on a path that functioned like a bypass. This extension was planned to extend south from the western part of Griffin, then south and southeast to US41/SR7 at Milner, then south-southeast and south-southwest to Aldora, and finally east-southeast to just south of Barnesville. In 1967, US341/SR7 in the Barnesville area was shifted southwest onto the southern part of this planned extension's path, along with SR333. The former path of SR7 northwest of Barnesville, on US41, was redesignated as SR 7 Conn., while the rest of it was under construction. The next year, SR333 was extended on its planned path through Milner to US19/SR3 south-southwest of Griffin. In 1969, SR333 was extended on US19/US41 to the southern part of Griffin. SR7 was extended northwest to US19/US41/SR3/SR333, at the southern terminus of US19 Bus./US41 Bus. In 1970, SR333 was truncated out of the Griffin area. SR7 was extended on US19/US41 from south-southwest of Griffin to northwest of Lovejoy. In 1981, SR7 between a point north-northwest of Valdosta to Hahira was shifted west onto I-75 and SR122, replacing SR 7 Conn. The next year, US41 was also shifted westward on this same path. In 1986, the northern terminus was reverted to its current point. In 2006, US41/SR7 was shifted out of downtown Valdosta, onto Inner Perimeter Road. The former path was redesignated as US 41 Bus./SR 7 Bus. The next year, US41/SR18 in the eastern part of Barnesville was rerouted on an eastern bypass of the city, which truncated US341/SR7 to the current northern terminus.

Major intersections

Special routes

Valdosta business loop

State Route7 Business (SR7 Bus.) is a business route of SR7 that exists entirely within the west-central part of Lowndes County. Nearly the entire route travels within the city limits of Valdosta. It travels concurrent with US 41 Bus. for its entire length.

US41 Bus./SR7 Bus. begins just southeast of Valdosta's city limits, at an intersection with US41/SR7/SR 31 (Inner Perimeter Road). The business routes travel to the northwest on South Patterson Street and pass just to the southwest of Payton Park. A short distance later, they intersect the western terminus of SR 94 (Griffin Avenue). Just north of Olympic Park, the southbound and northbound lanes split onto one-way pairs. The southbound lanes continue on Patterson Street, and the northbound lanes travel on Ashley Street. They intersect US 84/US 221/SR 38, which also travel on one-way pairs. The southbound lanes intersect the southern terminus of SR 7 Alt. (North Patterson Street). At West Magnolia Street, the two directions travel together again. US41 Bus./SR7 Bus. travel nearly due north, just to the east of Valdosta State University, between Drexel Park and Vallotton Park. Just past East Park Avenue, they curve to the north-northwest and intersect the southern terminus of SR 125 (Bemiss Road). Slightly more than later, the two highways pass by South Georgia Medical Center and then Billy Grant Baseball Field. Next to the Five Points Shopping Center, they intersect the northern terminus of SR7 Alt. (North Patterson Street). Then, they curve to the west-northwest and meet their northern terminus, another intersection with the US41/SR7 mainline.

All of SR7 Bus. is included as part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.

In 2006, US41/SR7 was shifted out of downtown Valdosta onto Inner Perimeter Road. Their former path was redesignated as US41 Bus./SR7 Bus.

Valdosta alternate route

State Route7 Alternate (SR7 Alt.) is a alternate route of SR7 that exists entirely within the west-central part of Lowndes County and travels completely within the city limits of Valdosta.

SR7 Alt. begins at an intersection with the southbound lanes of I-75 Bus./US 41 Bus./SR 7 Bus. in downtown Valdosta. It travels to the north-northwest and enters Valdosta State University. Within the university, the highway curves to a more due-north orientation and passes just to the west of Drexel Park. At East Park Avenue, the highway begins to travel due north. It then passes west of the South Georgia Medical Center. It curves to the north-northwest and travels to the east of McKey Park and Valdosta Middle School. Next to the Five Points Shopping Center, it meets its northern terminus, a second intersection with the southbound lanes of US41 Bus./SR7 Bus. There is an "end" sign at the corner of North Patterson Street and Smithbriar Drive (due to the roadway north of there being southbound only). Traffic on SR7 Alt. heading to US41 Bus./SR7 Bus. is required to turn right onto Smithbriar Drive for one block.

The roadway that would eventually become SR7 Alt, was established between the beginning of 1945 and November 1946 as SR 7 Spur. At this time, it extended from what is now US41 Bus./SR7 Bus. south of its current southern terminus along its current alignment. Between June 1960 and June 1963, SR7 Spur was redesignated as SR 7 Loop. In 1982, SR7 Loop was redesignated as SR7 Alt.

Lowndes County connector route

State Route7 Connector (SR7 Conn.) was a connector route that existed entirely within the west-central part of Lowndes County and traveled northwest of Valdosta. It was established in between June 1960 and June 1963 from US 41/SR7 north-northwest of Valdosta to Interstate 75 (I-75) northwest of the city. In 1981, SR7 between Valdosta and Hahira was shifted westward onto I-75 and SR 122. This replaced SR7 Conn. The next year, US41 was also shifted onto this path.

Perry spur route

State Route7 Spur (SR7 Spur) is a spur route that exists entirely within the west-central part of Houston County and travels completely within the city limits of Perry. It is known locally as General Courtney Hodges Boulevard, after Courtney Hodges, the United States Army general that was born in Perry. It was formerly part of the routing of US 41/SR7 before they were realigned through the city.

SR7 Spur begins at a point of General Courtney Hodges Boulevard near where US41/SR7 formerly crossed over Interstate 75 (I-75) in the southern part of Perry. It travels to the northeast, passing the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce and the Perry Welcome Center, and meets its northern terminus, an intersection with US41/SR7/SR 127/SR 224 in the main part of the city.

Between June 1963 and the end of 1965, US41/SR7 in the southwestern part of Perry was shifted westward, presumably to give them an interchange with I-75. Part of the former path north-northeast of the Interstate was redesignated as SR7 Spur. In 1966, US 341/SR 11 in the main part of the city was shifted slightly to the southwest. Their former path on Washington Avenue was redesignated as a northern segment of SR7 Spur. It traveled from US341/SR11 (Spring Street) to US41/US341/SR7/SR11 (Carroll Street). In 1970, the southern segment was redesignated as SR7 Conn. Between the beginning of 1975 and the beginning of 1983, SR11's path through Perry was shifted slightly to the east, replacing what was the northern segment of SR7 Spur. In 1989, SR7 Conn. was reverted being designated as SR7 Spur.

Fort Valley connector route

State Route7 Connector (SR7 Conn.) is a connector route of SR7 that exists entirely within the west-central part of Peach County and travels completely within the city limits of Fort Valley. It is known locally as East Church Street.

SR7 Conn. begins at an intersection with US 341/SR7 (Oakland Heights Parkway) in the central part of Fort Valley. It travels due east to meet its eastern terminus, an intersection with SR 96 in the eastern part of the city.

In 1970, SR7 Conn. was designated from US341/SR7 east of the city to SR 49 northeast of the city. In 1986, SR96 was shifted eastward, truncating the easternmost part of the connector.

Barnesville connector route

State Route7 Connector (SR7 Conn.) was a connector route of SR7 that existed in the northwestern part of Barnesville. Between June 1963 and the end of 1965, SR 333 was proposed to be extended on a path that functioned like a bypass. This extension was planned to extend south from the western part of Griffin, then south and southeast to US 41/SR7 at Milner, then south-southeast and south-southwest to Aldora, and finally east-southeast to just south of Barnesville. In 1967, US 341/SR7 in the Barnesville area was shifted southwest onto the southern part of this planned extension's path, along with SR333. The former path of SR7 northwest of Barnesville, on US41, was redesignated as SR7 Conn., while the rest of it was under construction. In 1985, SR 18 in the Barnesville area was rerouted to the northwest, replacing all of SR7 Conn.

See also

• Georgia State Route 7W

• Georgia State Route 7E

References

External links

• Georgia Roads (Routes 1 - 20)