Georgia State Route 11

State Route11 (SR11) is a 376-mile-long (605km) state highway in the U.S. state of Georgia, traveling through portions of Echols, Lanier, Berrien, Irwin, Ben Hill, Wilcox, Pulaski, Houston, Peach, Bibb, Jones, Jasper, Newton, Walton, Barrow, Jackson, Hall, White, Lumpkin, and Union counties. It travels the entire length of the state from south to north, connecting the Florida state line with the North Carolina state line, roughly bisecting the state into two equal parts. It travels through Warner Robins, Macon, and Gainesville. It is the longest route in the state.[citation needed] The portion from the southeastern city limits of Monticello to the Jasper–Newton county line is included in the Monticello Crossroads Scenic Byway.

Route description

The route begins at the Florida state line south of Statenville. The route travels north concurrent with US 129 through Statenville, Lakeland, Nashville, Ocilla, Fitzgerald, and Abbeville, before arriving in Hawkinsville. In Hawkinsville, SR 11 departs US 129 and runs concurrent with US 341 northwest to Perry. There, SR 11 departs and runs concurrent with US 41, and eventually, US 129 again, north to Macon. SR 11 leaves Macon concurrent with US 129 and SR 22. In Gray, SR 11 departs, and travels north, without being concurrent with a U.S. Highway. In Jefferson, the route again runs concurrent with US 129. The two routes continue north, passing through Gainesville. Further north, SR 11 and US 129 are joined by US 19. The three routes climb over and descend the mountains, and continues north to the North Carolina state line, where SR 11 meets its northern terminus.

The following portions of SR11 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:

• The segment concurrent with US341 from Hawkinsville to Perry and US341 Byp. in Perry
• From the split of US80/SR87 and US129/SR11 in Downtown Macon over the Ocmulgee River to the point where it leaves the northern city limits of the city
• From the southern intersection with US29 Bus./SR8 and SR53 to the intersection with SR82 in Winder
• From the southern end of its concurrency with US129 in Jefferson to its northern terminus

History

1920s

SR11 was established at least as early as 1919. It started at an intersection with SR7 at the Florida state line, southwest of Statenville and ended at SR12 in Covington. It was also designated from SR12 in Social Circle through Gainesville and north-northwest to SR9 in Dahlonega. There was no indication if the two segments were connected via a concurrency with SR12 or if they were separate. By the end of 1921, both segments were indicated to be connected by a concurrency with SR12 between Covington and Social Circle. The portions of SR11 and SR43 north of Gainesville were swapped. That meant that SR11 headed north-northeast from Gainesville to Cleveland, then west-northwest to SR9 in Turners Corner. SR9 and SR11 traveled concurrently north-northeast and then north-northwest to Blairsville, where SR9 ended. Then, SR11 had a western curve before reaching the North Carolina state line. By the end of 1926, SR11's southern terminus was then at the Florida state line, but south-southeast of Statenville. US341 was designated on the Hawkinsville–Perry segment. US41 was designated on the Perry–Macon segment. US129 was designated on two segments: the Macon–Gray and Jefferson–Gainesville segments. US270 was designated on the Gainesville–North Carolina segment. SR12 between Covington and Social Circle was shifted southeast and off of SR11. Three segments had a "completed hard surface": from Ocilla to Fitzgerald, from Echeconnee to east-northeast of Macon, and in the north-northeast part of Gainesville. Three segments had a "completed semi hard surface": a segment south-southwest of Echeconnee, from just east of the White–Lumpkin county line to Turners Corner, and from just north of Turners Corner to North Carolina. Six segments had a "sand clay or top soil" surface: from east-northeast of Macon to Gray, from south of Monticello to north-northwest of that city, a small portion southeast of Covington, from Monroe to Jefferson, nearly the entire Hall County portion of the Jefferson–Gainesville segment, from the north-northeast part of Gainesville to just east of White–Lumpkin county line. Six segments were indicated to be under construction: from Fitzgerald to the Ben Hill–Wilcox county line, a segment northwest of Hawkinsville, from Perry to south-southwest of Echeconnee, from south-southeast of the Jones–Jasper county line to south of Monticello, a small portion south-southeast of Covington, and a segment north-northwest of Jefferson. By the end of 1929, US19 was designated on the Gainesville–North Carolina segment. US270 was decommissioned. From south-southeast of the Jones–Jasper county line to the Jasper–Newton county line, the highway had a completed semi hard surface. The Social Circle–Monroe segment had a sand clay or top soil surface. Two segments were indicated to be under construction: a segment south-southeast of Covington and a segment southwest of Social Circle.

1930s

By the middle of 1930, five segments of the highway had a completed hard surface: from Fitzgerald to just north of the Ben Hill–Wilcox county line, from north-northwest of Hawkinsville, from Perry to Gray, a segment in the southwest part of Jefferson, and from north-northeast of Gainesville to the North Carolina state line. Later that year, a segment in the southwestern part of Social Circle had a completed hard surface. Two segments had a sand clay or top soil: from Social Circle to Winder and from Jefferson to Gainesville. Three segments were indicated to be under construction: the Pulaski County portion of the Abbeville–Hawkinsville segment, nearly the entire Houston County portion of the Hawkinsville–Perry segment, and from Winder to the southwestern part of Jefferson. By the end of the next year, US19 south of Turners Corner was shifted west and off of SR11. Four segments had a completed hard surface: from Hawkinsville to Perry, a segment north-northwest of Monticello, from Winder to Jefferson, and nearly the entire Gainesville–North Carolina segment. The entire Pulaski County portion of the Abbeville–Hawkinsville segment had completed grading, but no surface course. Three segments were indicated to be under construction: the entire Berrien County portion of the Lakeland–Nashville segment, nearly the entire Wilcox County portion of the Fitzgerald–Abbeville segment, and a segment north-northwest of Monticello.

In March 1932, the Pulaski County portion of the Abbeville–Hawkinsville segment had a sand clay or top soil. Later that year, two segments had completed grading, but no surface course: nearly the entire Wilcox County portion of the Fitzgerald–Abbeville segment and the entire Pulaski County portion of the Abbeville–Hawkinsville segment. A small portion just south-southeast of the Wilcox–Pulaski county line was under construction. In August of that year, a portion north-northwest of Abbeville was under construction. The next month, nearly the entire Jasper County portion of the Monticello–Covington segment had a completed surface, while the Nashville–Alapaha segment was under construction. By the middle of 1933, two segments were indicated to be under construction: the Lakeland–Nashville segment and the entire Berrien County portion of the Alapaha–Ocilla segment. In June that year, the Lanier County portion of the Lakeland–Nashville segment had a completed hard surface. The next month, the Berrien County portion of the Lakeland–Nashville segment had completed grading, but was not surfaced. In August of that year, the Fitzgerald–Abbeville segment had a completed hard surface. At the end of the year, the entire segment from Gainesville to the North Carolina state line also had a completed hard surface. A few months later, from Nashville to the Berrien–Irwin county line, the highway had completed grading, but was not surfaced.

Two segments of SR11 were indicated to be under construction: the Jasper County portion of the Gray–Monticello segment and the segment from Social Circle to Winder. Later that year, two segments had a completed hard surface: the Lanier County portion of the Lakeland–Ray City segment and a segment in Alapaha. Two segments had completed grading, but was not surfaced: the Ray City–Alapaha segment and the Berrien County portion of the Alapaha–Ocilla segment. At the end of the next year, US129 was extended on SR11 from Turners Corner to the North Carolina state line. Two segments had a completed hard surface: a segment north-northwest of Abbeville and the segment from east of Covington to Monroe. By the middle of 1935, three segments had a completed hard surface: nearly the entire Wilcox County portion of the Abbeville–Hawkinsville segment, a segment south-southeast of Hawkinsville, and the entire Jasper County portion. Three segments were indicated to be under construction: the entire Jones County portion of the Gray–Monticello segment, a segment north-northeast of Monroe, and the entire Hall County portion of the Jefferson–Gainesville segment. Later that year, a small portion just south of Ocilla had a completed hard surface. By the middle of 1936, two segments had a completed hard surface: the entire Wilcox County portion and the Newton County portion of the segment from Monticello to east of Covington. A few months later, two small segments had a completed hard surface: one just south of the Jones–Jasper county line and one just north-northwest of Monroe. The segment south of Statenville was under construction.

By the end of the year, the entire Pulaski County portion had a completed hard surface. A few months later, the Berrien County portion of the Alapaha–Ocilla segment had completed grading, but was not surfaced. By the middle of 1937, the portion south of Statenville also had this same treatment. A few months later, SR11's Statenville–Lakeland segment was shifted eastward. It traveled through Stockton to a point east of Lakeland and turned left on SR65 and then SR31 to Lakeland. There, it continued its former path. The Berrien County portion of the Alapaha–Ocilla segment had a completed hard surface. By the end of the year, the Alapaha–Ocilla segment had a completed hard surface. A segment in Lakeland had completed grading, but was not surfaced. Three segments were indicated to be under construction: nearly the entire Echols County portion of the Statenville–Stockton segment, a segment north of Stockton, and the Barrow County portion of the Monroe–Winder segment. The next year, two segments had a completed hard surface: the Lakeland–Nashville segment and the Hall County portion of the Jefferson–Gainesville segment. Three segments had completed grading, but was not surfaced: the Lanier County portion of the Stockton–Lakeland segment, a segment from north-northwest of Monroe to Winder, and the Jackson County portion of the Jefferson–Gainesville segment. The Echols County portion of the Statnville–Stockton segment was indicated to be under construction. By the middle of 1939, two segments had a completed hard surface: the Nashville–Alapaha segment and a small portion southeast of the Jackson–Hall county line. From north-northwest of Monroe to Winder, SR11 had a sand clay or top soil surface. The decade ended with the entire segment from the Florida state line to Lakeland having a completed hard surface.

1940s to 1960s

By the end of 1940, US129 was extended through the state and designated on the portion of SR11 from the Florida state line to Hawkinsville. A segment of SR11 northwest of Jefferson had a completed hard surface. In 1942, the entire length of SR11 had a completed hard surface. Between July 1957 and June 1960, at a point northeast of Byron, SR49 was shifted off of US41/SR11 and onto a sole path to SR247 south of Macon, then north-northwest on SR247 to return to US41/SR11 south-southwest of Macon. Between June 1963 and the end of 1965, US41 was shifted off of SR11 in this same area, following SR49 and SR247, and returned to SR11 south of Macon.

1970s to 2000s

In 1976, a portion of US129 north of Hawkinsville was shifted west onto US341/SR11 from Hawkinsville to a point northwest of the city. In 1982, at a point northeast of Byron, SR11 was shifted eastward onto US41/SR49 and then US41/US129/SR49/SR247 and headed north-northwest into Macon. By A decade later, a northeastern bypass of Perry, designated as SR866, was proposed from US341/SR11 east of Perry to Interstate75 (I-75) north-northwest of it. The next year, SR11 was shifted onto the path of SR866 and then resumed its northern routing on US41. Its former path on US341 and US41 was redesignated as SR11 Bus. In 1997, a western bypass of Arcade and Jefferson, designated as SR837, was proposed from SR82 in Arcade to US129/SR11 northwest of Jefferson. In 2001, this bypass was proposed to be extended northwest and west to end at US129/SR11 in Talmo. The next year, SR837 was completed. In 2003, US129 was shifted westward. It and SR11 replaced the northern part of SR837. The former path of US129 became US129 Bus. on SR15 Alt. The southern part of SR837 was redesignated as SR11 Conn. By 2013, US341 Byp. was designated on the northeastern bypass of Perry and its western extension.

During a 2020 electoral campaign President Donald Trump was quoted as saying "This is a proper huge road like" and we had pledged 100 million dollars into this road as he wanted to make this the longest road ever created and he even said "I couldn't imagine China having a road this long"

Future

The intersection with SR 316 is planned to become an interchange in the future, along with SR 81 at SR 316. This project is part of a master plan to convert SR 316 into a full limited-access highway.

Major intersections

Special routes

Lakeland bypass

State Route11 Bypass (SR11 Byp.) is a 0.6-mile-long (0.97km) bypass for SR11 in Lakeland. It consists of West Church Avenue and East Church Street and then turns south onto North College Road (SR135 Byp.). It also travels concurrently with SR135 between North Center Street and North Temple Street.

Between June 1960 and June 1963, SR11 Byp. was established from US129/SR11/SR37 to SR135 in the northern part of the city. By the end of 1965, it was extended to its current eastern terminus.

The entire route is in Lakeland, Lanier County.

Lakeland connector

State Route11 Connector (SR11 Conn.) is a marked segment of North Pecan Street between SR122 and US129/SR11/SR37 in Lakeland. Between the beginning of 1945 and the end of 1946, it was established on its current path.

The entire route is in Lakeland, Lanier County.

Hawkinsville business loop

State Route11 Business (SR11 Bus.) is a business route of SR11 in Hawkinsville. It also travels in a concurrency with US129 Bus./US341 Bus. and part of SR26. In 1989, it was established.

Hawkinsville spur route

State Route11 Spur (SR11 Spur) was a spur route of SR11 that existed west of Hawkinsville. Between June 1960 and June 1963, SR11 Spur was established from SR230 southwest of the city to US341/SR11 northwest of it. By the end of 1965, the southbound lanes of US341/SR11 were designated on the spur route. In 1989, it was decommissioned.

Perry business loop

State Route11 Business (SR11 Bus.) is a business route and former mainline of SR11. It begins at the "Perry Parkway" (US341 Byp./SR11), and travels concurrently with US341 into downtown Perry. At Houston Lake Road, the highway joins a concurrency with SR127, until it reaches Ball Street, where US341/SR11 Bus. turns right towards the northwest. The concurrency with US341 comes to an end two blocks later at the intersection with US41 (Commerce Street), and it then turns right. US41/SR11 Bus. is carried by Commerce Street until that street terminates at Macon Road, and the concurrency make a left turn, following that street north until it reaches the Perry Parkway again. SR11 Bus. ends at this segment of Perry Parkway, SR11 travels concurrent with US41 north of the parkway, and US341 Byp. travels concurrent with SR11 Conn. In 1993, a northeastern bypass of Perry, designated as SR866, was proposed from US341/SR11 east of Perry to Interstate75 (I-75) north-northwest of the city. The next year, SR11 was shifted onto this bypass, replacing SR866. Its former path through the city was redesignated as SR11 Bus.

Perry bypass route

State Route11 Bypass (SR11 Byp.) was a short bypass route of SR11 in downtown Perry. Between June 1963 and the end of 1965, it was established from US341/SR11 (Main Street) to US41/SR11 (Carroll Street). By the end of 1982, it was redesignated as a western extension of SR127.

Perry spur route

State Route11 Spur (SR11 Spur) was a short spur route of SR11 in downtown Perry. In 1968, it was established from US341/SR7 (Washington Street) to US41/SR11. By the end of 1982, SR11 through the city was shifted eastward, replacing all of SR11 Spur.

Perry connector

State Route11 Connector (SR11 Conn.) is a 2.8-mile-long (4.5km) connecting route of SR11 located northwest of the main part of Perry, and is the concurrent state road for US341 in its entire length from US41/SR11/SR11 Bus. to SR7. It also has an interchange with I-75. It is known as Perry Parkway for its entire length. In 1993, part of a northeastern bypass of Perry, designated as SR866, was proposed between US41/SR11 and I-75. The next year, all of SR866 was either redesignated as part of SR11, since it was moved onto the bypass, or just removed. In 1996, SR11 Conn. was established on its current path.

The entire route is in Perry, Houston County.

Arcade–Jefferson connector

State Route11 Connector (SR11 Conn.) is a 3.1-mile-long (5.0km) connecting route that connects US129 Bus./SR15 Alt. in Arcade with SR11 and the southern terminus of SR11 Bus. in Jefferson. The highway, which is named "Jefferson Bypass", is entirely concurrent with US129, and the only other major intersections are SR82 and former SR319 (Etheridge Road). In 1997, a western bypass of Arcade and Jefferson, designated as SR837, was proposed from SR82 in Arcade to US129/SR11 northwest of Jefferson. In 2002, SR837 was completed. In 2003, US129 was shifted westward. It and SR11 replaced the northern part of SR837. The former path of US129 became US129 Bus. on SR15 Alt. The southern part of SR837 was redesignated as SR11 Conn.

The entire route is in Jackson County.

Jefferson business loop

State Route11 Business (SR11 Bus.) is a 5.4-mile-long (8.7km) business route of SR11 that is mostly within the city limits of Jefferson. It is a former section of SR11. The highway begins at an intersection with US129, SR11, and the northern terminus of SR11 Conn., where SR11 turns north onto US129. The street name is Winder Highway at first, until it reaches the intersection with Memorial Drive where it becomes Lee Street. Between Epps Street and Cobb Street, the route curves to the southeast as Railroad Avenue branches off to the left and it passes by a local antiques store next to a grade crossing with a CSX line. The southeast curve ends just before the intersection with Railroad Street, and the highway has a later intersection with Oak Street and Hill Street, the former of which travels along the west side of the Woodbine–Jefferson City Cemetery and then enters the Jefferson Historic District just before encountering the western terminus of US129 Bus./SR15 Alt./SR82. Two blocks later, SR11 Bus. turns left onto Washington Avenue along with US129 Bus., while SR15 Alt./SR82 continue east onto Sycamore Street towards Commerce and the Gainesville metropolitan area respectively. SR11 Bus. continues to travel concurrently with US129 Bus. for the rest of its length until both highways terminate at US129/SR11 north of Jefferson. In 2003, SR11 Bus. was designated on its current path.

The entire route is in Jackson County.

Gainesville business loop

State Route11 Business (SR11 Bus.) is a 3.2-mile-long (5.1km) business route of SR11 in Gainesville. It travels along Athens Highway from US129 Bus./SR11/SR60/SR369 in the central part of the city to US129/SR11 in the northeast part of the city.

SR11 Bus. begins as a continuation of Athens Highway (E.E. Butler Parkway), which also takes the concurrency with SR60 away from SR369. SR11 Bus./SR60 travels along Athens Highway until the intersections with Academy Street Northwest and Academy Street East, where the name changes to Green Street. North of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, SR11 Bus. branches off to the northeast onto Riverside Drive, while SR60 continues north along Thompson Bridge Road. Immediately after SR60 Conn. (Oak Tree Drive), Riverside Drive turns left towards the Riverside Military Academy, and SR11 Bus. moves onto Morningside Drive, which winds through a wooded residential area until it encounters a row of billboards on the southwest corner of a local street named Park Hill Drive, then adopts that street name as its own. As Park Hill Drive, SR11 Bus. encounters the northern terminus of SR11 Conn. across from South Enota Drive Northeast. The road gains the name Cleveland Highway after Roper Hill Road, then curves more towards the north after the intersection with Old Clarks Bridge Road, and later encounters the western terminus of SR284 (Clarks Bridge Road NE) across from a local dead end street named Northeast Barrett Street. One last local intersection (Lakeville Drive) branching off to the northwest and the entrance to the Chattahoochee–Oconee division of the United States Forest Service can be found before SR11 Bus. ends at US129/SR11 (Limestone Parkway/Cleveland Highway).

The portion of SR11 Bus. that is concurrent with SR60 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.

In 1990, SR11 Bus. was established from US129/SR11 in the central part of the city to US129/SR11 in the northern part.

The entire route is in Gainesville, Hall County.

Gainesville connector

State Route11 Connector (SR11 Conn.) was a connecting route of SR11 that was established in 1969 between SR13 to US129/SR11. In 1985, its southern terminus was truncated to another intersection with US129/SR11. In 1990, it was decommissioned, with its southern part became part of a re-routed US129/SR11. It was known as Downey Boulevard and South Enota Drive. The entire route is in Gainesville, Hall County.

Cleveland bypass route

State Route11 Bypass (SR11 Byp.) is a bypass of SR11 that bypasses the city of Cleveland just to the west. It is completely concurrent with US129 Byp. and is known as Appalachian Parkway for its entire length. It connects US129/SR11 just south of the city with US129/SR11 and SR75 Conn. north-northwest of it, with an intersection with SR115 west-southwest of the city. The bypass routes were established in 2016.

Blairsville truck route

State Route11 Truck (SR11 Truck) was a truck route of SR11 that traveled concurrently with U.S. Route129 Truck (US129 Truck) for its entire length. It also had a concurrency with US76/SR2/SR515. Between the beginning of 1995 and the beginning of 2012, this highway was proposed as SR1191. By 2015, SR1191 was completed. In 2016, US129 Truck and SR11 Truck were decommissioned and redesignated as the US19/US129/SR11 mainline.

The entire route was in Union County.

See also

• Georgia (U.S. state)portal
• U.S. roadsportal

External links

• Media related toGeorgia State Route 11at Wikimedia Commons