Georgia State Route 8

State Route8 (SR8) is a 183-mile-long (295km) state highway that travels west-to-east through portions of Haralson, Carroll, Douglas, Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Barrow, Clarke, Oconee, Madison, Franklin, and Hart counties, bisecting the northern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The highway travels from its western terminus at US78 and SR4 at the Alabama state line west of Tallapoosa to its eastern terminus at US29 at the South Carolina state line at the south end of Lake Hartwell. This was also the proposed State Route808 (SR808).[citation needed] The highway is concurrent with either US29 or US78 for its entire length.

Route description

SR8 starts at the Alabama state line west of Tallapoosa in Haralson County, and closely parallels I-20 from there into Atlanta. SR8 heads through Bremen and crosses through Carroll County and Villa Rica and on through Douglasville in Douglas County. The highway continues through Austell in Cobb County before it reaches the City of Atlanta and Fulton County, crossing the Downtown Connector on its way into Decatur in DeKalb County.

In Decatur, SR8 turns northeast, crossing I-285 in Tucker, and paralleling I-85 through Lilburn and Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County to Auburn in Barrow County, where the highway turns southeast and heads into Winder. Continuing southeast, SR8 makes a southern half-circle around Athens in Clarke County, just briefly touching Oconee County, before turning sharply northeast and heading through Danielsville in Madison County to Franklin Springs in Franklin County. There, the highway turns east, travels through Royston, and heads to its eastern terminus after heading through Hartwell.

The following portions of SR8 are included as part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility:

• A small portion in Douglasville
• From the US278/SR6 intersection in Lithia Springs, through Atlanta, to an intersection with the southern terminus of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and the northern terminus of Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Tucker
• From the west end of the SR11/SR53 concurrency in Lawrenceville to the SR72 intersection in the northeast part of Athens

History

1920s

SR8 was established at least as early as 1919 on its current path, except for the Lawrenceville–Athens segment going through Winder, and the segment from Hartwell to the South Carolina state line traveling to the east-northeast. At this time, SR34 was established from Carrollton to Villa Rica. By the end of September 1921, SR16 was established from the Alabama state line to Carrollton. By October 1926, US78 was designated on the path of SR8 from the Alabama state line to Decatur and a segment west-southwest of Athens. US29 was designated on SR8 from Atlanta to the South Carolina state line. SR16 from Alabama and Carrollton and SR34 from Carrollton to Villa Rica were redesignated as a southern branch of SR8. An unnumbered road was established from US29/SR8 in Hartwell east-southeast to the South Carolina state line, at a point just south-southeast of the current eastern terminus of SR8. Four segments had a "completed hard surface": from northwest of Atlanta to Decatur, the eastern two-thirds of the Gwinnett County portion of the Decatur–Lawrenceville segment, from northwest of Watkinsville to the northeast part of Athens, and the eastern part of the Royston–Hartwell segment. By October 1929, US19 was designated on the Atlanta–Lawrenceville segment. The Decatur–Lawrenceville segment had a completed hard surface.

1930s

By the middle of 1930, US78 was split into two divided U.S. Routes: US78N was designated on the original path of SR8 from Alabama to Villa Rica, and US78S was designated on the southern branch of SR8. Later that year, the Austell–Atlanta segment, as well as the entire Clarke County segment, had a completed hard surface. By the beginning of 1932, four segments were also completed: the entire Carrollton–Villa Rica segment (except for its eastern end), from west-southwest of Douglasville to Austell, the Lawrenceville–Athens segment, and from the Madison–Franklin county line to the South Carolina state line. In February 1932, US19 was shifted off of SR8 to the north; US23 was designated on the Atlanta–Lawrenceville segment instead. The eastern part of the Carrollton–Villa Rica segment of US78S and the southern branch of SR8 had a completed hard surface. Between May and August, the Villa Rica–Douglasville segment was completed. In August, two segments were completed: the Athens–Danielsville segment and a segment just south of the Madison–Franklin county line. Between November 1932 and May 1933, two segments were completed: the Bremen–Villa Rica and Danielsville–Royston segments. In May, the entire Alabama–Bremen segment (except for the western end) was also completed. The next month, the western terminus was also completed. The next year, another southern branch of SR8 was established from Hartwell to the South Carolina state line on the previously unnumbered road in the area. The western terminus of the original southern branch had a completed hard surface. About two years later, the segment of the southern branch from the Alabama state line to Carrollton was completed. In 1938, US78S was redesignated as US78 Alt., and US78N was redesignated as the mainline US78. By the middle of 1939, US23 was shifted off of SR8, to the north.

1940s and 1950s

In 1942, the southern branch of SR8 from Hartwell to the South Carolina state line was decommissioned. Between November 1946 and February 1948, the southern branch of SR8 from Alabama to Villa Rica was redesignated as SR8 Alt. US29 in the Decatur area was split into two paths: the original was a direct path from Atlanta to Lawrenceville; the northern branch bypassed the city with SR8 Spur; both branches were designated US29. In 1952, US78 Alt., as well as the northern branch of US29, was decommissioned. The next year, the northern branch of US29 was reinstated. Between September 1953 and June 1954, the original branch of US29 in the Decatur area was redesignated as US29 Bus. By June 1955, US278 was designated on SR8 from Austell to southeast of Avondale Estates.

1960s

Between the beginning of 1956 and the beginning of 1961, US29's path between Hartwell to the South Carolina state line was shifted southeast, off of SR8 and onto SR181; the formation of Lake Hartwell truncated SR8. Between June 1960 and June 1963, a bypass of the northern part of Athens, designated as SR350, was established and paved as a divided highway from US129/SR15 in the north-central part of the city to US29/SR8 in the northeastern part. By the beginning of 1966, SR8 was routed on US29 Bus. in the Decatur area. SR350 was upgraded to a freeway. It was under construction on a path southwest to US29/US78/SR8/SR10 in the western part of the city. US29 was shifted northward, onto SR350, from the US29 Temp./US129/US441 Temp./SR15 interchange to the Madison Avenue interchange. US441 Temp. was designated on SR350 from the US29 Temp./US129/US441 Temp./SR15 interchange to the US441/SR15 Alt. interchange. US29/US78/SR8/SR10 entered downtown Athens on Broad Street. At Milledge Avenue, US29 temporarily ended, and US29 Temp./US129/US441 Temp./SR15 traveled to the north-northwest. At Pulaski Street, SR8 split off US78/SR10 to the north-northwest. At Dougherty Street, it intersected the southern terminus of SR15 Conn. and traveled east-northeast to SR15 Alt. (Thomas Street). SR8/SR15 Alt. traveled concurrently to the north-northwest and curved to the north-northeast on Madison Avenue. SR15 Alt. split off at Hobson Avenue, and SR8 continued to its interchange with US29/SR350. In 1966, SR350 was decommissioned. US29/SR8 was shifted northwest, onto the western part of the freeway. The former path through downtown, on US78/SR10, was redesignated as SR8 Bus. US29 Temp. was decommissioned. The freeway was extended eastward one exit. SR8 was extended on this freeway to the new exit and resumed its northeastern path. SR106 was extended on US29 to the Athens freeway, at the US29/SR8/SR8 Bus. interchange. The next year, US29 and SR72 were both shifted onto the new path of SR8 in the northeastern part of Athens to the freeway.

1970s and 1980s

In 1976, SR72 was proposed to be extended south-southeast and then south-southwest to US78/SR10 in the southeast part of Athens and then southwest and west-southwest to US129/US441/SR15 in the southern part of the city. The next year, SR8 east-northeast of Hartwell was shifted southeast, onto US29/SR181. Its former path was redesignated as SR8 Spur. In 1980, the freeway in Athens was completed on the eastern, southeastern, and southern parts of the city, with US129/US441/SR15 designated on these segments. The next year, the eastern part of the freeway, north of US78/SR10, was downgraded to a divided highway. In 1983, the southwestern part of the freeway, designated as SR732, was proposed to connect both ends of it. In 1985, US29 Bus. in the Decatur area was decommissioned, with SR8 shifted northwest, onto the US29 mainline. US441 Temp. in Athens was decommissioned. SR72's western terminus was truncated to its current location in the far northeastern part of Athens. In 1987, the Athens freeway was completed, with SR10 on the southern part; its former path through downtown was redesignated as SR10 Bus. SR72 was re-extended to the freeway's northeastern interchange. The next year, SR10 was shifted off of the Athens freeway through downtown, replacing SR10 Bus. The entire freeway was designated as SR10 Loop. US78 was shifted from downtown to the southern part of the freeway; its former path became US78 Bus. In 1989, a southern bypass of the Dacula–Athens area, designated as SR817, was proposed from US29/SR8/SR316 west-southwest of Dacula to the southwest corner of the Athens freeway.

1990s and 2000s

In 1990, SR181's western terminus was truncated to its current location, an intersection with US29/SR8 east-southeast of Hartwell, and off of US29/SR8. The next year, SR817's path from west-southwest of Dacula to SR11 north of Bethlehem was completed as an eastern extension of SR316. In the Athens area, the paths of SR15 and SR15 Alt. were swapped. In 1993, SR817's path from north of Bethlehem to US78/SR10 southeast of Bogart was also completed as an eastern extension of SR316, with US29 shifted onto the entire length. SR8 was shifted onto US29/SR316 from southeast of Russell to southeast of Bogart. In 1995, US29/SR8 was shifted to southern part of the Athens freeway. SR72 was again truncated to its current western terminus. The next year, SR817's path in the southwestern part of Athens was completed as an eastern extension of SR316, with US29/US78/SR8 concurrent with it. In 2001, US129/US441/SR15 was shifted onto the freeway, in the south-central part of its path, for a concurrency with the freeway for less than 0.5 miles (0.80km). They split off onto Macon Highway. The next year, US129/US441/SR15 was shifted off of Macon Highway and onto the Athens freeway. In 2004, the unsigned state highway designation SR422 was applied to the freeway.

Major intersections

Special routes

Current connector routes

Villa Rica connector route

State Route8 Connector (SR8 Conn.) is a 0.2-mile-long (0.32km) connector route for SR8 that exists entirely within the city limits of Villa Rica. It is known as Liberty Road for its entire length. It begins at an interchange with Interstate20 (I-20) in the eastern part of the city. Here, Liberty Road continues to the south-southeast. It travels to the north-northeast and curves to a nearly due-north direction. Almost immediately, it intersects the southern terminus of Mirror Lake Boulevard. Here, the connector turns right. It travels to the east-northeast and curves to the north-northwest. It then meets its northern terminus, an intersection with US78/SR8 (Bankhead Highway). Between the beginning of 1995 and the beginning of 2009, SR8 Conn. was established from I-20 to US78/SR 8, at the location of the current Colonel R. H. Burson Bridge. By 2013, the northern terminus of the connector route was shifted eastward on a curve.

The entire route is in Villa Rica, Douglas County.

Tucker connector route

State Route8 Connector (SR8 Conn.) is a 2.8-mile-long (4.5km) connector route for SR8 that exists entirely within the city limits of Tucker. It is known as Mountain Industrial Boulevard for its entire length. The route travels north to south, despite its east-west signage. It begins at an intersection with US29/SR8 (Lawrenceville Highway) and the southern terminus of Jimmy Carter Boulevard on the DeKalb–Gwinnett county line, and ends an interchange with exit 4 of US78 (Stone Mountain Freeway). Mountain Industrial Boulevard continues south past its eastern terminus.

The entire route is in Tucker, DeKalb County.

Former special routes

Carroll County alternate route

State Route8 Alternate (SR8 Alt.) was an alternate route of SR8 that existed completely within Carroll County. The roadway that would eventually become SR8 Alt. was established at least as early as 1919 as SR34 from Carrollton to Villa Rica. By the end of September 1921, SR16 was established from the Alabama state line to Carrollton. By October 1926, SR16 from Alabama to Carrollton and SR34 from Carrollton to Villa Rica were redesignated as a southern branch of SR8. By the middle of 1930, US78 was split into two Divided U.S. Routes: US78S was designated on the southern branch of SR8. By the beginning of 1932, the entire Carrollton–Villa Rica segment (except for its eastern end) had a "completed hard surface". In February 1932, the eastern part of the Carrollton–Villa Rica segment of US78S and the southern branch of SR8 also had a completed hard surface. In 1934, the western terminus was completed. About two years later, from the Alabama state line to Carrollton was completed. In 1938, US78S was redesignated as US78 Alt. Between November 1946 and February 1948, the southern branch of SR8 from Alabama to Villa Rica was redesignated as SR8 Alt. In 1952, US78 Alt. was decommissioned. Between September 1953 and June 1954, SR8 Alt. was decommissioned

The entire route was in Carroll County.

Decatur spur route

State Route8 Spur (SR8 Spur) was a short-lived spur route of SR8 that existed almost entirely within the city limits of Decatur. Between the beginning of 1945 and November 1946, it was established on a northern branch of US29 (Scott Boulevard) between two intersections with US29/SR8 west-southwest of the city and north-northeast of it. In 1952, the northern branch of US29 was decommissioned. The next year, this branch route was reinstated. Between September 1953 and June 1954, SR8 Spur was decommissioned.

The entire route was in DeKalb County.

Athens business loop

State Route8 Business (SR8 Bus.) was a business route of SR8 that existed entirely within the city limits of Athens. It traveled along the route of what is now US78 Bus./SR10.

Between 1963 and 1966, a freeway around the northern side of Athens (present-day SR10 Loop) was partially designated as SR350. At this time, US29, US78, SR8, and SR10 traveled on what is now US78 Bus. At Milledge Avenue, US29 temporarily ended. at this intersection, US29 Temp. turned off onto US129/US441 Temp./SR15. US78, SR8, and SR10 continued to the northeast. At Lumpkin Street, SR15 Alt. joined the concurrency. At Thomas Street, SR8 and SR15 Alt. turned left and curved to the northeast onto Madison Avenue. At Hobson Avenue, SR15 Alt. turned off, and SR8 continued to the northeast to the interchange with US29 and SR350. There, SR8 rejoined US29. In 1966, SR350 was completed. It was redesignated as part of US29 and SR8 and was extended to the east for one exit. At this time, SR8's former path through downtown Athens was redesignated as SR8 Bus. In 1978, SR8 Bus. was decommissioned.

The entire route was in Athens, Clarke County.

Danielsville connector route

State Route8 Connector (SR8 Conn.) was a short-lived connector route of SR8 that partially existed in Danielsville. The highway that would eventually become SR8 Conn. was established at least as early as 1919 as part of SR36 between Ila and an intersection with SR8 in Danielsville. In 1940, this segment had a "completed hard surface". By the end of 1946, SR98 through Danielsville had been moved to a western bypass of the city. Its former path through the city was redesignated as SR8 Conn. northwest of the city. Between February 1948 and April 1949, SR98 Conn. was extended through the city of Danielsville, absorbing the entire length of SR8 Conn.

The entire route was in Madison County.

Royston spur route

State Route8 Spur (SR8 Spur) was a spur route of SR8 that existed entirely within the city limits of Royston. Between 1939 and 1950, it was established from US29/SR8 to SR17. In 1985, it was decommissioned.

The entire route was in Royston, Franklin County.

Hartwell spur route

State Route8 Spur (SR8 Spur) was a short-lived spur route of SR8 that partially existed in Hartwell. In 1977, SR8's path east of Hartwell was shifted southeast onto the path of US29/SR181, between Hartwell and the South Carolina state line. Its former path became SR8 Spur. In 1983, the spur route was decommissioned.

The entire route was in Hart County.

See also

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

External links

• Media related toGeorgia State Route 8at Wikimedia Commons