Georgia State Route 22 on arvau

Wikipedia / Georgia State Route 22

State Route22 (SR22) is a state highway that travels southwest-to-northeast in an eastern arc through portions of Muscogee, Talbot, Taylor, Upson, Crawford, Bibb, Jones, Baldwin, Hancock, Taliaferro, Oglethorpe, and Madison counties in the western and west-central parts of the U.S. state of Georgia. The highway connects the Alabama state line in Columbus, across the state line from Phenix City, Alabama, to Comer, via Macon and Milledgeville.

SR22 originally traveled only from Columbus to Macon, and was incrementally extended to Comer in stages. It was rerouted many times in Columbus and formerly had a more northern path in the Macon area.

The part of the highway from the Alabama state line east to Geneva is part of the Fall Line Freeway (SR 540), a long-distance four-lane highway that extends from Columbus to Augusta. Also, this section could be included in the proposed eastern extension of Interstate 14 (I-14).

Route description

Columbus to Macon

SR22 begins at the Alabama state line, concurrent with US 80 and SR 540 (Fall Line Freeway). The limited-access section of this highway in Columbus is known as the J.R. Allen Parkway, named after the mayor of Columbus during its consolidation with Muscogee County. The same stretch of road is also known colloquially as the North Bypass, originally designed to bypass Columbus before urban sprawl placed the highway in the middle of both residential and commercial growth. Almost immediately into Georgia, the road has an interchange with the northern terminus of SR 22 Conn. (2nd Avenue). The next exit is an interchange with SR 219 (River Road). After that is Bradley Park Drive. Then the road has a full cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 185 (I-185). The same exit lanes for I-185 are also used for US 27/SR 1 (Veterans Parkway) and Moon Road. The final limited-access exit heading eastbound is a shared exit with Schomburg and Blackmon roads. The highway then curves to the southeast before an interchange with US 27 Alt./SR 85 (Manchester Expressway), becoming a four-lane divided highway. In another 1.6 miles, SR 22 meets the eastern terminus of SR 22 Spur (Macon Road). The highway then parallels the northern border of Fort Benning and travels through the community of Upatoi, still inside the Columbus city limits. The road then crosses Baker Creek into Talbot County, traveling just north of the community of Box Springs and later meeting the northern terminus of SR 355. Just before entering Geneva, SR 41 joins the concurrency. In Geneva, SR 22 meets the western terminus of SR 96. SR540 departs the concurrency on SR96 and continues east as a four-lane divided highway, while US 80 and SR 22 turn to the north on a two-lane road. In Talbotton, they intersect SR 90/SR 208 (Clark Street). At this intersection, SR90 meets its western terminus, and SR208 joins the concurrency very briefly and departs at Monroe Street. A few blocks later, SR41 also leaves the concurrency to the north on Washington Avenue, while US80/SR22 curves east. After traveling through rural areas of the county, the road enters the far northern part of Taylor County. They intersect US 19/SR 3, which join the concurrency. The four highways cross over the Flint River into Upson County. Not long afterward, US80/SR22 splits off to resume an eastern course, shortly entering Crawford County. In Roberta, they intersect US 341/SR 7/SR 42 (Dugger Avenue). At this intersection, SR42 joins the concurrency. The three highways pass the Crawford County Public Library and Crawford County Middle School. In nearby Knoxville, SR42 departs the concurrency, while US80/SR22 curves east-northeast into the rural eastern part of Crawford County. The highway then crosses Echeconnee Creek into Bibb County and the community of Lizella, widening to a four-lane divided highway shortly before entering the city of Macon and taking on the name Eisenhower Parkway.

Macon metropolitan area

As a divided highway, US 80/SR 22 travels by Macon State College before an interchange with I-475. The highway then enters more dense commercial developments including Macon Mall and Central Georgia Technical College before intersecting US 41/SR 247 (Pio Nono Avenue) next to Westgate Mall. Just under later, US 80/SR 22 has an interchange with I-75/SR540. Then, they pass Saints Rest Cemetery and Memorial Park, before they intersect US 41 Bus./US 129/SR 11/SR 49 (Broadway). At this intersection, all six highways travel concurrently to the north and curve to the northeast. At Walnut Street, US41 Bus./SR22/SR49 splits off to the northwest. At 2nd Street, SR22 departs to the northeast. There is an interchange with US129/SR11/SR 87 that is only accessible from the westbound lanes. Immediately, the road crosses over the Ocmulgee River and passes over I-16/SR540 (Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway), which has a partial interchange with SR22, but no access to I-16/SR540 from either direction of SR22 or to SR22 from I-16/SR540 east. Just west of Coliseum Medical Center is an intersection with US 23/US 129 Alt./SR 19 (Emery Highway). At this intersection, US129 Alt. travels concurrently with SR22 to the north for just over . At the intersection with US129/SR11/SR49, US129 Alt. meets its northern terminus, and SR22 joins that concurrency to the north-northeast. Less than later, SR49 (Shurling Drive) splits off to the east.

Jones County to Comer

US129/SR11/SR22 crosses over Walnut Creek and then enters Jones County. Just before intersecting SR 18, the concurrency passes by Brasswells Lake, Newberry Lake, and Anderson Lake. On the southwestern edge of the city limits of Gray, SR18 joins the concurrency. The four highways enter the main part of the town. At Bill Conn Parkway, SR18 splits off to the southeast. At Atlanta Road, SR11 departs the concurrency to the north. One block later, they intersect SR 44. Here, US129 heads to the north, concurrent with SR44, while SR22 continues to the northeast. Just outside town, it passes Lake Jonesco Golf Course. After traveling through Haddock, the route enters Baldwin County. After entering Milledgeville, it passes the Walter B. Williams, Jr. Park. Immediately afterward, it meets the southern terminus of SR 212. Then, it intersects US 441/SR 29 (Robertson Mill Road). SR22 passes by Youth Development Center Lake and Oconee Regional Medical Center. It curves to the south-southeast and then to the east-northeast and intersects US 441 Bus./SR 24/SR 29 Bus. (North Columbia Street). The four highways travel concurrently to the east-northeast on West Montgomery Street. One block later, US441 Bus. departs to the south-southeast on North Clark Street, concurrent with SR29 Bus. SR22/SR24 parallel the northern edge of Georgia College & State University. At North Elbert Street, the concurrency turns to the right and meets the northern terminus of SR49 (East Hancock Street) and the former northern terminus of SR 112 (South Elbert Street). At this intersection, SR22/SR24 turn to the left onto East Hancock Street and leave town by crossing over the Oconee River. The two highways diverge with SR22 heading to the northeast and entering Hancock County. In Sparta, it intersects SR 15/SR 16 (Broad Street). The three highways travel north-northwest and leave town. Almost immediately, they curve to the north-northeast and split, with SR15/SR22 continuing straight ahead. After a curve back to the north-northwest, SR22 splits to the northeast and travels through Powelton. Then, the highway enters Taliaferro County. After an interchange with I-20 (Carl Sanders Highway), it enters Crawfordville, where it intersects US 278/SR 12 (Broad Street). It parallels the southwestern edge of A. H. Stephens Historic Park and leaves town. It crosses over the South Fork Little River and North Fork Little River before intersecting SR44. Then, it very gradually curves to the northwest and enters Oglethorpe County. It intersects US 78/SR 10 southeast of Lexington. The concurrency crosses the southeasternmost corner of the city limits on Main Street. Just over later, SR 77 (Elberton Road) joins the concurrency and leaves on Union Point Road. On the northwesternmost corner of the city limits, SR22 splits off to the northeast on Comer Road. The highway crosses over the South Fork Broad River into Madison County. Almost immediately, SR22 enters the southern city limits of Comer. At Comer Bypass, it meets its eastern terminus, an intersection with SR 72 and southern terminus of SR 98.

National Highway System

The following portions of SR22 are part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense:

From its western terminus to its intersection with SR96 in Geneva (completely concurrent with US80 and SR540)
From its interchange with I-475 in western Macon to its intersection with US41 Bus./US129/SR11/SR49 in southeastern Macon (completely concurrent with US80)
From the eastern end of its concurrency with US80 to the point where the concurrency with US129/SR11/SR49 meet the northern city limits
From Gray to the eastern end of the SR24 concurrency east of Milledgeville
The entire length of the SR15 concurrency from Sparta to a point north of the city
The entire length of the US78/SR10 concurrency from a point southeast of the city to the northwestern part of the city.

History

1920s to 1940s

SR22 was established at least as early as 1919 from SR1 in Columbus to Macon. At this time, SR11 was established from Macon to SR 20 in Gray, and SR20 was established from SR11 in Gray to Sparta. By the end of September 1921, SR22 was extended along the path of SR11 from Macon to Gray. SR20's path from Gray to Sparta was redesignated as an eastern extension of SR22. By October 1926, US80 was designated on the Columbus–Macon segment, and US129 was designated on Macon–Gray segment. By October 1929, US19 was designated on the portion of US80/SR22 southwest of Salem. In early 1935, SR22 was extended north-northeast to Crawfordville. The 1938 GDOT map, the first one with inset maps, showed that US80 entered Georgia on the 14th Street Bridge. US80 and SR22 traveled east on 14th Street, turned right onto US27/SR1/SR85/SR 103 (1st Avenue) and traveled to the south, turned left onto 11th Street and traveled to the east, curved to the northeast on Wynnton Road, and then left Columbus. US80 and SR22 were indicated to have entered Macon on Montpelier Avenue, turned left on College Street and traveled to the northeast, turned right onto Georgia Avenue and traveled to the east-southeast, and turned left onto US129/SR11, before leaving the city. Later in 1938, SR22 was extended north-northwest to the northern part of Taliaferro County. In the third quarter of 1939, it was extended again, to the northwest to end at US78/SR10 in the southeastern part of Lexington. At the end of 1940, SR22 was extended northward to Comer. Between the beginning of 1945 and November 1946, US80/SR22 were then shown to travel east on 14th Street in Columbus to US27/SR1/SR103 (4th Avenue), turned right onto 4th Avenue and traveled to the south, turned left onto 11th Street and traveled to the east, turned right onto 8th Avenue and traveled south for one block, turned left, and resumed its former path.

1950s to 1980s

Between April 1949 and August 1950, the path of US80/SR22 in Columbus was changed. They traveled east on 14th Street to US27/SR1/SR103 (4th Avenue), turned right onto 4th Avenue and traveled to the south, turned left onto 13th Street and traveled to the east, turned right onto 13th Avenue and traveled to the south, and curved to the southeast, before resuming the former path. At this time, US23 was designated on part of SR22 in Macon. By the beginning of 1952, US80/SR22 were then shown to travel east on 14th Street in Columbus to US27/SR1/SR103 (4th Avenue), turned right onto 4th Avenue and traveled to the south, turned left onto 11th Street and traveled to the east, turned right onto 6th Avenue and traveled to the south for one block, turned left onto 10th Street and traveled to the east, turned right onto 10th Avenue and traveled to the south for one block, and turned left onto Wynnton Road to resume former path. Between June 1955 and July 1957, US80/SR22 were then shown to travel east on 14th Street to US27/SR1/SR85/SR103 (4th Avenue), turned right onto 4th Avenue and traveled to the south, turned left onto 13th Street and traveled to the east, turned right onto 13th Avenue and traveled to the south, and curved to the southeast, before resuming the former path. By June 1960, the entire length of SR22 was paved. Between June 1963 and the beginning of 1966, the path of US80 from the central part of Columbus to northeast of the city was shifted northward, off of SR22 and onto US27/SR1/SR85/SR103 and then US27 Alt./SR85. In 1967, the path of US80 from the Alabama state line to 4th Avenue was shifted southward, off of SR22 and onto US 280/SR 1 Spur and US27/SR1. The path of SR22 in the Macon area was split in two, from east-southeast of Lizella to the southern part of Macon. SR22 was projected and under construction on a southern path from US80 to SR49. SR 22 Conn. followed the former path on US80 from the western point to just east of the I-475 interchange, with SR 74 following the former path, also on US80, to downtown. SR22 resumed its path on SR49 and then US41 Bus./SR11. The next year, this new path of SR22 was completed from US80 to US41/SR247 (Pio Nono Avenue). It was still projected from there to SR49. In 1971, SR22 in the Macon area was completed to SR49. US80 was shifted onto the entire length of the newer path of SR22. In 1983, SR22's western terminus was truncated to the US27 Alt./US80/SR1/SR85 interchange. SR22 was proposed on a farther northern path (its current path) from the Alabama state line to this interchange. The former path from 4th Avenue to the northeast was redesignated as a southwestern extension of SR22 Spur. The former path from the Alabama state line to 4th Avenue was redesignated as part of SR85/SR219. At this time, a western bypass of Crawfordville, designated as SR 741, was proposed from SR22 southwest of the city to SR22 northwest of it. In 1985, the path of SR22 in Columbus was completed from SR 22 Spur to I-185. The path of SR22 in Crawfordville was shifted westward, replacing the proposed path of SR741. In 1987, the path of SR22 in Columbus was completed from I-185 to a point east of the US27/SR1 interchange.

Future

The section from the Alabama state line to Geneva is part of the Fall Line Freeway and could be included in the proposed I-14.

Major intersections

Special routes

Columbus connector route

State Route22 Connector (SR22 Conn.) is a connector route of SR22 that exists entirely within the city limits of Columbus in the west central part of Muscogee County. It is known as 2nd Avenue for its entire length.

It begins at an intersection with SR 85. It travels due north, curves to the north-northeast, and meets its northern terminus, an interchange with US 80/SR22/SR 540 (J.R. Allen Parkway/Fall Line Freeway).

All of SR22 Conn. is included as part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.

In 1983, SR22 Conn. was proposed from SR85 north-northwest to what is now the path of US80/SR22. In 1985, SR22 Conn. was completed on its proposed path.

Columbus spur route

State Route22 Spur (SR22 Spur) is a spur route of SR22 that exists entirely within the city limits of Columbus in the west-central and north-central parts of Muscogee County.

It begins at an intersection with US 27/SR 1 (Veterans Parkway). It travels due east on 13th Street. It turns right onto 13th Avenue and curves to the northeast onto Wynnton Road. Then, it takes on the name Macon Road and has an interchange with Interstate 185 (I-185; Lindsay Creek Bypass). Farther to the northeast, it skirts along the southern edge of Parkhill Cemetery. Just after traveling northwest of Fort Benning, it meets its eastern terminus, an intersection with US 80/SR22/SR 540 (Beaver Run Road/Fall Line Freeway).

All of SR22 Spur is included as part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.

Between June 1963 and the beginning of 1966, it was established on US80 from the northern terminus of SR 357 to SR22 northeast of Columbus. In 1983, the western terminus of the SR22 mainline was truncated to the US 27 Alt./US80/SR1/SR 85 interchange northeast of downtown. The former path of SR22 from US27/SR1 in downtown to US80 was redesignated as a southwestern extension of SR22 Spur.

Salem spur route

State Route22 Spur (SR22 Spur) was a short spur route of SR22 that partially existed in Salem, in the southern part of Upson County. Between June 1960 and June 1963, it was established from US 19/SR 3 southwest of Salem east-northeast over Auchumpkee Creek to US 80/SR22 in the community. In 1999, this spur route was decommissioned.

Macon connector route

State Route22 Connector (SR22 Conn.) was a connector route of SR22 that existed partially in Macon. In 1967, the path of SR22 in the Macon area was split in two, from east-southeast of Lizella to the southern part of Macon. The mainline route was projected and under construction on a more southern path from US 80 to SR 49. SR22 Conn. followed the former path on US80 from the western terminus to just east of the Interstate 475 (I-475) interchange. In 1971, US80 was shifted off of SR22 Conn. and onto SR22. In 1981, SR22 Conn. was decommissioned.

Milledgeville connector route

State Route22 Connector (SR22 Conn.) was a connector route of SR22 that existed entirely within the city limits of Milledgeville. In 1972, it and SR 24 Conn. was established on Franklin Street and Elbert Street from US 441/SR 29 to SR22/SR 24/SR 49. Between the beginning of 1986 and the beginning of 1996, US441/SR29 were shifted west of the city. The former path was redesignated as US 441 Bus./SR 243. At this time, both SR22 Conn. and SR24 Conn. were decommissioned.