State Route15 (SR15) is a state highway that travels south-to-north across the entire length of the U.S. state of Georgia, east of its centerline. This route is part of a multi two-state route 15 that begins in Florida and ends in Georgia at the North Carolina state line. It connects the Florida state line, south-southeast of Folkston with the North Carolina state line, in Dillard, via Folkston, Blackshear, Baxley, Vidalia, Soperton Wrightsville, Sandersville, Greensboro, Athens, Demorest, and Clayton.

SR15 used to travel through Hazlehurst, Glenwood, and Dublin, which is now the path of SR 19. It used to travel from Dublin to Wrightsville, which is now the path of US 319/SR 31. It also used to travel from Athens, through Arcade and Jefferson, to Commerce, which is now the route of SR 15 Alt.

Route description

SR15 enters Georgia just south of Folkston as a four-lane highway, along with US 1, US 23, US 301, and SR 4. SR 23 and SR 121 joining the concurrency in Folkston. In Homeland, US301 branches off to the north while the other five routes, head northwest. After about 10 miles, SR15 and SR121 also branch off from US1/US23/SR4, as a two-lane highway, crossing US 82/SR 520 (South Georgia Parkway) in Hoboken. The two state routes continue north through Blackshear, where they cross US 84/SR 38. After that, the two state routes continue to stay together, heading north through the community of Bristol. Soon after, SR121 branches off to the north while SR15 heads northwest to rejoin US1 and SR4 at Baxley. North of Baxley, the three highways continue, remaining a four-lane highway all the way to the Altamaha River. Approximately past the river crossing, SR15 branches off to the northwest again, where SR 29 begins and follows SR15. At Vidalia, SR15 and SR29 turn west and follow US 280/SR 30 for several miles to the community of Higgston. The two highways head north from there through the community of Tarrytown and then on to Soperton. SR29 heads northwest of Soperton while SR15, along with SR 78, continues north, reaching an interchange with I-16, and goes to Adrian. The two state routes continue north to Wrightsville, where SR78 departs eastward. SR15 continues by itself through the adjacent cities of Tennille and Sandersville. Through these cities, most of SR15 has been widened to four lanes, and it briefly picks up SR 24. North of Sandersville, SR15 crosses SR24/SR 540 (Fall Line Freeway) and then heads north through the community of Warthen and onto Sparta. Through Sparta, SR15 makes a few turns, briefly picking up SR 16 and SR 22. North of Sparta, it picks up SR 77, and continues north through White Plains and Siloam. At Siloam, SR15 has an interchange with I-20. SR77 departs to the north while SR15 continues northwest to Greensboro, passing beneath I-20, but without direct access. In Greensboro, SR15 makes two more turns, briefly following US 278/SR 12 through downtown. SR15 continues north to Watkinsville, after which it joins US 129/US 441. It travels together with US441 as a mostly four-lane highway throughout the rest of their course in Georgia.

The three highways, along with several others, circle around the east side of Athens along the SR 10 Loop (Athens Perimeter Highway) and head north through the town of Nicholson and around the east side of Commerce via a bypass. The highways then have an interchange with I-85, and head between the towns of Baldwin and Cornelia, where they become a limited access freeway for a short time and rejoin US 23. The three highways remain together and head through the cities of Tallulah Falls, Clayton, and Dillard before crossing into North Carolina.

History

1920s

SR15 was established at least as early as 1919 on three segments. The southern segment extended from the current southern terminus through Folkston, Waycross, and Alma, and ended at Hazlehurst. The central segment extended from SR27 in Lumber City to SR19/SR30 west-southwest of Mount Vernon. The northern segment extended from SR30 in Mount Vernon to Athens, through Jefferson to its current northern terminus. There was no indication if SR15 traveled between the separate segments, though. By the end of September 1921, the portion of SR15 from west-southwest of Mount Vernon to Wrightsville was shifted westward, to travel north-northwest to Dublin and had a separate segment from SR26 east-northeast of Dublin to Wrightsville (again no indication of SR15 between the two segments). Its former path from Mount Vernon to Adrian was redesignated as part of SR56. By October 1926, US1 was designated on SR15 from the Florida state line to north-northeast of Alma. US129 was designated on SR15 from just south of Watkinsville to Jefferson. Three segments had a "completed hard surface": a portion southwest of Waycross, a portion in the south-southwest part of Athens, and the Cornelia–Clarkesville segment. By October 1929, SR4 was designated on US1/SR15 from the Florida state line to north-northeast of Alma. This segment, as well as a portion south of Sandersville, had a completed hard surface.

1930s

By the middle of 1930, the southern terminus was truncated to the point it previously left the concurrency with US1/SR4 north-northeast of Alma. Four segments had a completed hard surface: a portion in the northwestern part of Athens, from southeast of Jefferson to southwest of Commerce, the Baldwin–Cornelia segment, and the Clarkesville–North Carolina segment. Between November 1930 and the beginning of 1932, US23 was designated on the Baldwin–North Carolina segment. In January 1932, SR29 was established on SR15's current path from US1/SR4 in South Thompson through Vidalia to SR56 in Soperton. In March, the Watkinsville–Athens segment was completed. The next month, SR24 was extended from Athens to Commerce, on what is now SR15's. Also, the Tennille–Sandersville segment was also completed. Nearly two years later, SR121 was established from US84/SR 50 in Hoboken to SR38 in Blackshear. Later that year, the southern terminus of the northern segment of SR15 was shifted west-southwest to Dublin, to connect with its central segment. From just north of the Appling–Jeff Davis county line to Hazlehurst, SR15 had a completed hard surface. About one year later, the Johnson County portion of the Dublin–Wrightsville segment was completed. During the first half of 1936, two segments of SR15 were completed: the Laurens County portion of the Dublin–Wrightsville segment and a short portion south-southeast of Baldwin. Later that year, the northern half of the Homer–Baldwin segment was completed. By the end of the year, the Treutlen County portion of the Vidalia–Soperton segment of SR29 was also completed. In the first quarter of 1937, SR78 was established from Soperton north to Adrian and north-northwest to Wrightsville. In the third quarter of the year, three segments of SR15 were completed: the entire southern segment (from north of Alma to Hazlehurst), a portion north-northeast of Lumber City, and from the Hancock–Greene county line to just north-northwest of Greensboro. The next year, SR121 was extended southward to US1/SR4 in Racepond and northward to Baxley. Two segments of SR15 were completed: the Athens–Jefferson and Homer–Baldwin segments. By July 1939, the Vidalia–Soperton segment, as well as a portion in the southeastern part of Commerce, of SR29, and a portion in the southern part of Wrightsville on SR78, was completed. Later that year, the entire Commerce–Homer segment of SR15, as well as the northern half of the South Thompson–Vidalia segment of SR29, was completed. By the end of the year, all of SR15 north of Watkinsville, as well as a portion of SR24 in the extreme northern part of Athens, was completed.

1940s

In 1940, the Wrightsville–Tennille segment of SR15, as well as the portion of SR78 from Soperton to north-northwest of Adrian, was completed. In the second half of 1941, the Adrian–Wrightsville segment of SR78 was completed. The next year, a portion of SR15 southeast of Sparta, as well as the southern half of the South Thompson–Vidalia segment of SR29, was completed. Between January 1945 and November 1946, US319 was designated on the Dublin–Wrightsville segment of SR15. Three segments of SR15 and one segment of SR24 were "hard surfaced": from Lumber City to north of Glenwood, from Sandersville to just south of Warthen, the Sparta–Greensboro segment, and the Jackson County portion of SR24. By February 1948, the Sandersville–Sparta segment of SR15, the Pierce County portion of the Hoboken–Blackshear segment of SR121, a portion of SR121 south-southeast of Baxley, and the entire Athens–Commerce segment of SR24 were all hard surfaced. By April 1949, US441 was designated on the Watkinsville–Athens and Commerce–Baldwin segments of SR15 and the Athens–Commerce segment of SR24. Two segments of SR15 were hard surfaced: a portion south-southeast of Dublin and the Oconee County portion of the Greensboro–Watkinsville segment.

1950s and 1960s

By August 1950, US23 was designated on US1/SR4 from the Florida state line to north of Alma and on the southern segment of SR15 from north of Alma to Hazlehurst. The Wheeler County portion of SR15 and the Greene County portion of its Greensboro–Watkinsville segment, as well as the Blackshear–Bristol segment of SR121, was hard surfaced. By the beginning of 1952, US441 was designated on US23/SR15 from Baldwin to the North Carolina state line. The Glenwood–Dublin segment of SR15 and the Racepond–Hoboken and Bristol–Baxley segments of SR121 were hard surfaced. Between July 1957 and June 1960, SR15 was re-extended to the Florida state line, on its current path, to Wrightsville. Its former path from north of Alma to Dublin was redesignated as SR 19; its former path from Dublin to Wrightsville, on US319, was redesignated as SR31. The paths of SR15 and SR24 between Athens and Commerce were swapped. By June 1963, SR 350 was established from US129/SR15 in the northwestern part of Athens to US29/SR8 in the northeastern part of the city. SR15 and SR24 between Athens and Commerce were swapped back. The path of SR15 between Tallulah Falls and Tiger was shifted southwest on a more direct path. Its former path on US23/US441 was redesignated as SR 343. By the beginning of 1966, SR24's northern terminus was truncated to Watkinsville. SR15 replaced the Watkinsville–Athens segment, and SR 15 Alt. replaced the Athens–Commerce segment. US29 was designated on SR350 from the US129/SR15 interchange, which also had US 29 Temp. and US 441 Temp., to the US29/SR8 interchange. US441 Temp. was designated on it from the US129/SR15 interchange to the US441/SR15 Alt. interchange. A western extension of SR350, ending at US29/US78/SR8/SR10, was under construction. Also, SR350 was under construction east-southeast just slightly from the US29/SR8 interchange. US23/US441/SR15 between Tallulah Falls and a point about halfway between Clayton and Mountain City was shifted eastward; at this time, SR343 was decommissioned. In 1966, SR350 was decommissioned. US29 was designated on the freeway from the western terminus to where it, as well as SR8, depart the freeway. This interchange also had SR 8 Bus. and SR 106. SR8 was designated on the entire length of the freeway. Its former path through the city was redesignated as SR8 Bus., still concurrent with US78/SR10. In 1967, US29 was extended on the freeway one interchange to the east. At this interchange, SR 72 was extended southeast to end here, concurrent with US29/SR8.

1970s and 1980s

In 1971, the path of US23/US441/SR15 in the Baldwin–Demorest area was shifted westward. Their former path became US 23 Bus./US 441 Bus./SR 15 Loop. In 1976, SR72 was indicated to be "projected mileage" from this point south to US78/SR10, then southwest and west to end at US441/SR15. In 1980, the Athens freeway was completed along its proposed extension's path, with US129/US441/SR15 designated on it. The path of SR15 in the Clarkesville area was shifted eastward, off of US23/US441 and partially onto SR 115. The next year, the portion of the Athens freeway between US29/SR8/SR72 and US78/SR10 on the northeastern part was downgraded to a divided highway. In 1983, US129/US441/SR15 Alt. was designated on the freeway from the then-current southern terminus to their current respective interchanges. In 1985, US441 Temp. was no longer shown on maps. SR72's western terminus was truncated to the far northeastern part of the city, at its current location. In 1986, a western cut-off, designated as SR 773, was proposed on a more direct path between two intersections with US23/US441/SR15 from south of Tallulah Falls and into the city. The next year, SR10 was designated on the Athens freeway from the US129/US441/SR15 to the eastern US78/SR10 Bus. interchange. Its old path through downtown, still concurrent with US78, was redesignated as SR10 Bus. At this time, SR72 was re-extended to the northeastern interchange. The path of US23/US441/SR15 in the Tallulah Falls area was shifted westward, onto the proposed path of SR773. The former path was redesignated as SR 15 Loop. In 1988, SR10 in Athens was shifted back to downtown, with SR10 Loop designated on the city's freeway. US78 was shifted to the southern side of the freeway, with its former path redesignated as US78 Bus. A southern bypass of Demorest and Clarkesville, designated as a northern extension of SR365, was proposed from SR365's then-current northern terminus at US23/US441/SR15 south-southeast of Demorest to SR115 south-southeast of Hollywood. At this time, SR 365 Spur was proposed from SR115 at SR365's proposed extension north-northwest to Hollywood. The next year, an eastern bypass of the main part of Commerce, designated as SR 759, was proposed from US441/SR15 south-southeast of Commerce to another intersection north-northeast of the city. SR365 extended east-northeast on its previously proposed path to SR115 south-southeast of Hollywood. An eastern bypass of Hollywood and Turnerville, designated as SR 835, was proposed from SR17 just south of Hollywood to US23/US441/SR15 south-southwest of Tallulah Falls.

1990s and 2000s

In 1991, the paths of SR15 and SR15 Alt. between Athens and Commerce were swapped. SR759 around Commerce was completed. An eastern bypass of Homer, designated as SR 765, was proposed from US441/SR15/SR164 south-southeast of Homer to US441/SR15 north-northeast of the city. Also, the path of US23/SR15 in the Demorest–Hollywood area was shifted off of US441 and onto SR365 from south-southeast of Demorest to south-southeast of Hollywood, then north-northwest on the proposed path of SR365 Spur to Hollywood. The next year, a slightly western rerouting of US129/US441/SR15 in the southern part of Athens, designated as SR 901, was proposed from US129/US441/SR15 southwest of their southern interchange with the Athens freeway north-northwest to Timothy Road just north of the freeway. The path of US441/SR15 in the Commerce area was shifted eastward, replacing SR759. The former path of US441, on SR334 and SR98, was redesignated on US 441 Bus. A southeastern bypass of Hollingsworth, designated as SR 876, was proposed from US441/SR15 south-southeast of Hollingsworth to SR198 southeast of the community. A cutoff, north-northeast of Hollingsworth, was proposed as an unnumbered road from Hollingsworth to US441/SR15 north-northwest of it. The path of US441, from south-southeast of Demorest to Hollywood, was shifted southeast, onto the path of US23/US441/SR15/SR365. The former path of US441 was redesignated as a northern extension of US441 Bus. In 1993, the path of US23/US441/SR15, from Hollywood to Tallulah Falls, was shifted eastward, onto the proposed path of SR835. The next year, the cutoff north-northeast of Hollingsworth, now proposed as SR 877, was extended to SR105 just east of the southern end of US441/SR15 concurrency. In 1995, US29/SR8 was also shifted to the southern side of the freeway, concurrent with US78/SR316. SR72's western terminus was once again truncated to its current location. In 1997, the path of US441/SR15, from Homer–Cornelia, was shifted eastward, onto the proposed path of SR876. In 2001, the path of US129/US441/SR15 in Athens was shifted westward, onto the proposed path of SR901. They were placed on a southern concurrency with the freeway for less than . This brief concurrency ended at Macon Highway. The next year, US129/US441/SR15 was shifted off of Macon Highway and onto the Athens freeway. SR877 was canceled. Two years later, the unsigned SR422 designation was applied to the Athens freeway. The path of US441/SR15 in Homer area was shifted eastward, onto the proposed path of SR765.

Major intersections

Special routes

Sparta connector route

State Route15 Connector (SR15 Conn.) was a connector route of SR15 that existed in Sparta. Between April 1949 and August 1950, it was established from SR 16 northeast of the city to SR15/SR 22 north of it. Between June 1955 and July 1957, the path of SR15 in the Sparta area was shifted northeast, replacing SR15 Conn.

Athens spur route

State Route15 Spur (SR15 Spur) was a very short-lived spur route of SR15 that existed completely within the city limits of Athens. In 1952, it was established from US 441/SR15 in the southern part of the city north-northwest to US 129/SR15 in the western part of it. The next year, it was decommissioned.

Athens–Commerce alternate route

State Route15 Alternate (SR15 Alt.) is a alternate route of SR15. It consists of a series of streets, roads, and highways that form a south-to-north-oriented highway in Clarke and Jackson counties in the northeastern part of the state. SR15 Alt.'s southern terminus is in Athens at the interchange of Milledge Avenue and US 29/US 78/US 129/US 441/SR 8/SR 10 Loop/SR15 (Athens Perimeter Highway) and Macon Highway. The segment along Milledge Avenue winds by the campus of the University of Georgia. This street features stately homes and mansions, some of which house college fraternities and sororities. SR15 Alt. follows Prince Avenue northwest after the northern end of Milledge Avenue. As SR15 Alt. leaves Athens, it becomes concurrent with US129, where it is known as Jefferson Road. Upon entering Jefferson, SR15 Alt. splits from US129 to the northeast and becomes an independent highway. Its northern terminus is in the northeastern part of the city of Commerce at its intersection with US441 (sometimes referred to as the Commerce Bypass) and SR 59. This intersection is the north end of SR15 Alt.'s concurrency with US 441 Bus.

The entire length of SR15 Alt. that is concurrent with US129, from Athens to Arcade, is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.

Between June 1963 and the beginning of 1966, it was established from US129/US 441 Temp./SR15 in Athens north-northeast on Lumpkin Street, east-northeast on US78/SR8/SR10 (Broad Street), north-northwest on Thomas Street with SR8, curved to the north-northeast on Madison Avenue, and traveled northwest on Hobson Avenue. At US29/US441 Temp./SR 350, US441 joined it in a concurrency. In Commerce, it split off of US441 temporarily to the northeast and curved to the north-northwest to rejoin it at the spot where SR 98 also joined it. At an intersection with SR15/SR 326, the alternate route ended. In 1966, the path of SR8 in Athens was shifted northward onto the Athens freeway. Its former path through the city, partially on SR15 Alt., was redesignated as SR 8 Bus.

Jackson–Banks County spur route

State Route15 Spur (SR15 Spur) was a spur route of SR15 that existed on the Jackson–Banks county line, northeast of Commerce. In the second half of 1957, it was established from US 441/SR15 just south of the county line to SR 59 just north of it. In 1981, the path of SR59 in this area was shifted eastward, replacing all of SR15 Spur.

Baldwin spur route

State Route15 Spur (SR15 Spur) was a spur route of SR15 that existed in Baldwin. Between the beginning of 1938 and the beginning of 1951, it was established from US 441/SR15 to US 23/SR 13. In 1972, it was redesignated as SR 15 Conn.

Baldwin connector route

State Route15 Connector (SR15 Conn.) was a connector route of SR15 that existed in Baldwin. The roadway that would become SR15 Conn. was established between the beginning of 1938 and the beginning of 1951 as SR 15 Spur from US 441/SR15 to US 23/SR 13. In 1972, it was redesignated as SR15 Conn. In 1981, the path of US441/SR15 in Baldwin was shifted westward, replacing the connector route.

Baldwin–Cornelia loop route

State Route15 Loop (SR15 Loop) was a very short-lived loop route of SR15 that existed in Baldwin and Cornelia. In 1971, the path of US 23/US 441/SR15 in the Baldwin–Demorest area was shifted westward, bypassing Cornelia. The former path was redesignated as US 23 Bus./US 441 Bus./SR15 Loop. The next year, SR 105 was extended through the area, replacing the loop route.

Cornelia alternate route

State Route15 Alternate (SR15 Alt.) was an alternate route of SR15 that existed entirely within the city limits of Cornelia. Between June 1963 and the beginning of 1966, it was established from US 23/US 441/SR15 (Wells Street), to the northwest and north-northeast, and curved to the north-northwest on Clarkesville Street to a second intersection with US23/US441/SR15. In 1972, this highway was redesignated as SR 105 Alt.

Cornelia connector route (1965–1972)

State Route15 Connector (SR15 Conn.) was a connector route of SR15 that existed entirely within the city limits of Cornelia. Between June 1963 and the beginning of 1966, it was established from US 23/US 441/SR15 east-northeast to SR 15 Alt. In 1972, this highway was redesignated as SR 105 Conn.

Cornelia connector route

State Route15 Connector (SR15 Conn.) is a connector route that exists almost entirely within Cornelia. It is known locally as Level Grove Road, and is designed to facilitate northbound to southbound traffic between US 441/SR15 and US 23/SR 365 (Tommy Irvin Parkway).

The roadway that would eventually become SR15 Conn. was established between the beginning of 1976 and the beginning of 1982, as an extension of US 123 and SR 13. Between the beginning of 1987 and the beginning of 1995, US123 and SR13 were truncated off of this path, and SR13 Conn. was designated in their place.

Cornelia spur route

State Route15 Spur (SR15 Spur) was a spur route of SR15 that existed entirely within the city limits of Cornelia. Between June 1963 and the beginning of 1966, it was established on Main Street from SR 15 Alt. north-northwest to US 23/US 441/SR15 (which also used the Main Street name). In 1972, this highway was redesignated as SR 105 Spur.

Clarkesville connector route

State Route15 Connector (SR15 Conn.) was a connector route of SR15 that existed entirely within the city limits of Clarkesville. The roadway that would eventually become SR15 Conn. was established between the beginning of 1951 and the beginning of 1962, as an unnumbered road from US 23/US 441/SR15 northwest to US23/US441/SR15/SR 115/SR 197. Between the beginning of 1966 and the beginning of 1976, SR15 Conn. was designated on this path, but with SR15 shifted eastward, off of the northern intersection. Between the beginning of 1987 and the beginning of 1995, SR15 Conn. was redesignated as SR 197 Conn.

Tallulah Falls spur route

State Route15 Spur (SR15 Spur) was a spur route of SR15 that partially existed in Tallulah Falls. The roadway that would eventually become SR15 Spur was established between January and September 1938 as an unnumbered road between two intersections with US 23/SR15. Its southern terminus was southwest of Tallulah Falls, and its northern terminus was west-northwest of it. Between the beginning of 1945 and November 1946, SR15 Spur was designated on this road. In 1953, the northern terminus was shifted to north-northwest of the town. Between June 1954 and June 1955, its southern terminus was shifted to being south-southwest of Tallulah Falls, and its northern terminus was shifted into the town. Between June 1963 and the beginning of 1966, its southern terminus was shifted to south of town. In 1969, its southern terminus was shifted to south-southeast of town. Between the beginning of 1979 and March 1980, SR15 Spur was decommissioned.

Tallulah Falls loop route

State Route15 Loop (SR15 Loop) is a loop route of SR15 that exists completely within the city limits of Tallulah Falls. It begins at an intersection with US 23/US 441/SR15. The loop travels to the east and curves to the northeast to a turnoff that leads to Tallulah Lodge. It passes a U.S. Post Office for the town and Indian Springs Trading Post and curves to the north-northwest. At the Tallulah Point Overlook, it begins heading west-northwest and reaches its northern terminus, a second intersection with US23/US441/SR15.

In 1987, the path of US23/US441/SR15 in the Tallulah Falls area was shifted westward. Its former path was redesignated as SR15 Loop.

See also

References

External links

• Georgia Roads (Routes 1 - 20)

• Georgia State Route 15 on State-Ends.com

• Georgia State Route 15 CONN on State-Ends.com