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Fall Line Freeway
The Fall Line Freeway (FLF), also signed as State Route 540 (SR 540), is a 215-mile-long (346 km) highway designed to span the width of the U.S. state of Georgia from Columbus at the Alabama state line to Augusta, traveling through several cities including Macon, Fort Valley, Sandersville, and Wrens. Though it is called a freeway, it is composed of both limited-access and high-speed divided highway portions. There are also two segments of the highway that are two lanes, separated by a center turn lane: a brief portion in west-central Washington County (west of Sandersville) and another brief portion in northern Jefferson County (completely within the city limits of Wrens). As of August 2018, the Fall Line Freeway is 100% open to traffic. Between August 2017 and July 2018, the highway was completed. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced that the highway was officially signed as SR 540 on September 24, 2018, as the newest state route in the state.
Most of the FLF was a piecing together of segments of pre-existing highways, upon which SR 540 was designated in September 2018. It consists of U.S. Route 80 (US 80) from the Alabama state line to Geneva and from Macon to East Macon; SR 22 from Alabama to Geneva; SR 41 in Geneva; SR 96 from Geneva to the west of Fort Valley; SR 90 from west of Junction City to Junction City; SR 49 Connector (SR 49 Conn.) from west of Fort Valley to Fort Valley; SR 49 from Fort Valley to Byron; Interstate 75 (I-75) from Byron to Macon; I-16 in Macon; SR 87 from Macon to East Macon; US 23/US 129 Alternate (US 129 Alt.) from Macon to East Macon; SR 19 from Macon to East Macon; SR 57 from East Macon to southwest of Gordon; SR 24 from southeast of Milledgeville to east of Sandersville; SR 88 from east of Sandersville to Wrens; US 1/SR 4 from Wrens to Augusta; US 221 in Wrens; and SR 17 in Wrens.
From 2018 to 2019, the highway formerly used the southern portion of SR 243, from southwest of Gordon to north-northeast of Ivey, until that highway was decommissioned. The portion of the highway from north-northeast of Ivey to southeast of Milledgeville was a newly built highway, specifically for this project.
In November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was enacted, designating the Fall Line Freeway corridor from Columbus to Augusta as the "Middle Georgia Corridor," part of the proposed Interstate 14 (I-14) Gulf Coast Strategic Highway. The Fall Line Freeway would need to be bypassed or upgraded to meet interstate highway standards.
Contrary to its description as a "freeway," the Fall Line Freeway is a four-lane divided highway, except for short two-lane sections west of Sandersville and within Wrens and undivided portions in places like Reynolds, Macon, and Ivey. Four freeway sections exist: following the J.R. Allen Parkway (part of US 80/SR 22), which is the bypass north of Columbus, Interstate 75 (I-75) from Byron to Macon, I-16 in Macon, and the interchange with US 441 between Ivey and Sandersville, south of Milledgeville. The highway is designed to assist the flow of commercial traffic, providing an easier path for freight trucks carrying goods between Columbus and Augusta, avoiding Atlanta. Much of the route follows US 80, SR 96, SR 24, SR 88, and US 1/SR 4, while other parts are separate alignments, such as much of the portion between Scottsboro and Sandersville. The route is named for the fall line escarpment it follows, a geographical division between the coastal plain and inland hills.
SR 540 and the FLF begin on an unnamed bridge over the Chattahoochee River, at the Alabama state line, on the Phenix City, Alabama–Columbus city line, concurrent with U.S. Route 80 (US 80) and SR 22. The state line is also the western terminus of SR 22. On the Alabama side of the state line, US 80 (and the unsigned designation Alabama State Route 8) travel on the J.R. Allen Parkway, a freeway into Phenix City. On the Georgia side, US 80, SR 22, SR 540, and the FLF utilize the parkway as a bypass of most of Columbus. They head to the east-northeast and curve to the northeast. Immediately, they have an interchange with the northern terminus of SR 22 Connector (SR 22 Conn.; Manchester Expressway). Just over 1,000 feet (300 m) later, they meet SR 219 (River Road). After an interchange with Bradley Park Drive, they meet Interstate 185 (I-185 and its unsigned companion designation SR 411) and US 27/SR 1 (Veterans Parkway). On the eastbound side is also access to Moon Road, which has a separate exit on the westbound side. The highways then meet Blackmon and Schomburg roads. After a curve to the southeast, the freeway ends, and the roadway changes to a divided highway. Almost immediately, they have an interchange with US 27 Alternate (US 27 Alt.) and SR 85. They curve to the east-northeast and then meet the eastern terminus of SR 22 Spur (Macon Road). They travel in a generally northeastern direction until entering Upatoi. There, they curve to the southeast. Then, they curve back to the east-northeast and cross over Baker Creek, where they leave the city limits of Columbus and Muscogee County and enter Talbot County.
The highway continues to the east-northeast and travels just to the north of Box Springs. After beginning to head to the northeast, FLF crosses over Rockmore and Upatoi creeks and intersects the northern terminus of SR 355. It curves to an easterly direction and intersects SR 41, which joins the concurrency. US 80, SR 22, SR 41, SR 540, and the FLF curves to the northeast and enters Geneva. In the central part of the city, US 80, SR 22, and SR 41 make a left turn to the north-northwest at the western terminus of SR 96. Here, the FLF takes the beginning of SR 96 to the northeast. Almost immediately, it intersects the western terminus of SR 240. The roadway curves to the east-southeast and leaves Geneva. The highway then intersects a former segment of SR 96. Then, it begins a gradual curve to the northeast. Right after curving back to the south-southeast, it begins a concurrency with SR 90. Approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) later, SR 90, SR 96, SR 540, and the FLF intersect another former segment of SR 96. The highway enters Junction City. It curved to the east-southeast and intersects Old Mauk Road, which leads to the main part of Junction City. It curved to the east-northeast and intersected the southern terminus of Buckner Road, which also leads to the main part of the city. At this intersection, SR 90 turns right to the south-southeast. The FLF curves back to the east-southeast, leaving the city limits and enters Taylor County.
The FLF (SR 96, SR 540 ) travels through the southern part of Howard. Just after beginning a curve to the south-southeast, it intersects the western terminus of Old 96 Road, the former path of SR 96 through Butler. The highway travels on a southern bypass of the city. Just west of the city is an intersection with SR 137 (Charing Road). The highway curves to the east-southeast. Just before an intersection with the northern terminus of Payne Farm Road and the southern terminus of Tower Street, it enters the southern part of Butler. There, it intersects US 19/SR 3 (South Broad Street). Just after leaving the city limits of Butler, the highway curves to the northeast. After a curve to the east-northeast, it intersects the eastern terminus of SR 96's former path through Butler. It curves to the southeast and enters Reynolds just before an intersection with the southern terminus of Hicks Road. It curves to the east and enters the main part of the city. It intersects SR 128 (Winston Street). Just west of Collins Street, the highway curves to the east-northeast. It curves to the east-southeast and leaves the city limits of Reynolds just to the west of an intersection with the northern terminus of South General John B. Gordon Road. It curves to the southeast and then back to the east- northeast. and crosses over the Flint River on the Ward Edwards Bridge. Here, it enters Crawford County.
Fall Line Freeway
The Fall Line Freeway (FLF), also signed as State Route 540 (SR 540), is a 215-mile-long (346 km) highway designed to span the width of the U.S. state of Georgia from Columbus at the Alabama state line to Augusta, traveling through several cities including Macon, Fort Valley, Sandersville, and Wrens. Though it is called a freeway, it is composed of both limited-access and high-speed divided highway portions. There are also two segments of the highway that are two lanes, separated by a center turn lane: a brief portion in west-central Washington County (west of Sandersville) and another brief portion in northern Jefferson County (completely within the city limits of Wrens). As of August 2018, the Fall Line Freeway is 100% open to traffic. Between August 2017 and July 2018, the highway was completed. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced that the highway was officially signed as SR 540 on September 24, 2018, as the newest state route in the state.
Most of the FLF was a piecing together of segments of pre-existing highways, upon which SR 540 was designated in September 2018. It consists of U.S. Route 80 (US 80) from the Alabama state line to Geneva and from Macon to East Macon; SR 22 from Alabama to Geneva; SR 41 in Geneva; SR 96 from Geneva to the west of Fort Valley; SR 90 from west of Junction City to Junction City; SR 49 Connector (SR 49 Conn.) from west of Fort Valley to Fort Valley; SR 49 from Fort Valley to Byron; Interstate 75 (I-75) from Byron to Macon; I-16 in Macon; SR 87 from Macon to East Macon; US 23/US 129 Alternate (US 129 Alt.) from Macon to East Macon; SR 19 from Macon to East Macon; SR 57 from East Macon to southwest of Gordon; SR 24 from southeast of Milledgeville to east of Sandersville; SR 88 from east of Sandersville to Wrens; US 1/SR 4 from Wrens to Augusta; US 221 in Wrens; and SR 17 in Wrens.
From 2018 to 2019, the highway formerly used the southern portion of SR 243, from southwest of Gordon to north-northeast of Ivey, until that highway was decommissioned. The portion of the highway from north-northeast of Ivey to southeast of Milledgeville was a newly built highway, specifically for this project.
In November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was enacted, designating the Fall Line Freeway corridor from Columbus to Augusta as the "Middle Georgia Corridor," part of the proposed Interstate 14 (I-14) Gulf Coast Strategic Highway. The Fall Line Freeway would need to be bypassed or upgraded to meet interstate highway standards.
Contrary to its description as a "freeway," the Fall Line Freeway is a four-lane divided highway, except for short two-lane sections west of Sandersville and within Wrens and undivided portions in places like Reynolds, Macon, and Ivey. Four freeway sections exist: following the J.R. Allen Parkway (part of US 80/SR 22), which is the bypass north of Columbus, Interstate 75 (I-75) from Byron to Macon, I-16 in Macon, and the interchange with US 441 between Ivey and Sandersville, south of Milledgeville. The highway is designed to assist the flow of commercial traffic, providing an easier path for freight trucks carrying goods between Columbus and Augusta, avoiding Atlanta. Much of the route follows US 80, SR 96, SR 24, SR 88, and US 1/SR 4, while other parts are separate alignments, such as much of the portion between Scottsboro and Sandersville. The route is named for the fall line escarpment it follows, a geographical division between the coastal plain and inland hills.
SR 540 and the FLF begin on an unnamed bridge over the Chattahoochee River, at the Alabama state line, on the Phenix City, Alabama–Columbus city line, concurrent with U.S. Route 80 (US 80) and SR 22. The state line is also the western terminus of SR 22. On the Alabama side of the state line, US 80 (and the unsigned designation Alabama State Route 8) travel on the J.R. Allen Parkway, a freeway into Phenix City. On the Georgia side, US 80, SR 22, SR 540, and the FLF utilize the parkway as a bypass of most of Columbus. They head to the east-northeast and curve to the northeast. Immediately, they have an interchange with the northern terminus of SR 22 Connector (SR 22 Conn.; Manchester Expressway). Just over 1,000 feet (300 m) later, they meet SR 219 (River Road). After an interchange with Bradley Park Drive, they meet Interstate 185 (I-185 and its unsigned companion designation SR 411) and US 27/SR 1 (Veterans Parkway). On the eastbound side is also access to Moon Road, which has a separate exit on the westbound side. The highways then meet Blackmon and Schomburg roads. After a curve to the southeast, the freeway ends, and the roadway changes to a divided highway. Almost immediately, they have an interchange with US 27 Alternate (US 27 Alt.) and SR 85. They curve to the east-northeast and then meet the eastern terminus of SR 22 Spur (Macon Road). They travel in a generally northeastern direction until entering Upatoi. There, they curve to the southeast. Then, they curve back to the east-northeast and cross over Baker Creek, where they leave the city limits of Columbus and Muscogee County and enter Talbot County.
The highway continues to the east-northeast and travels just to the north of Box Springs. After beginning to head to the northeast, FLF crosses over Rockmore and Upatoi creeks and intersects the northern terminus of SR 355. It curves to an easterly direction and intersects SR 41, which joins the concurrency. US 80, SR 22, SR 41, SR 540, and the FLF curves to the northeast and enters Geneva. In the central part of the city, US 80, SR 22, and SR 41 make a left turn to the north-northwest at the western terminus of SR 96. Here, the FLF takes the beginning of SR 96 to the northeast. Almost immediately, it intersects the western terminus of SR 240. The roadway curves to the east-southeast and leaves Geneva. The highway then intersects a former segment of SR 96. Then, it begins a gradual curve to the northeast. Right after curving back to the south-southeast, it begins a concurrency with SR 90. Approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) later, SR 90, SR 96, SR 540, and the FLF intersect another former segment of SR 96. The highway enters Junction City. It curved to the east-southeast and intersects Old Mauk Road, which leads to the main part of Junction City. It curved to the east-northeast and intersected the southern terminus of Buckner Road, which also leads to the main part of the city. At this intersection, SR 90 turns right to the south-southeast. The FLF curves back to the east-southeast, leaving the city limits and enters Taylor County.
The FLF (SR 96, SR 540 ) travels through the southern part of Howard. Just after beginning a curve to the south-southeast, it intersects the western terminus of Old 96 Road, the former path of SR 96 through Butler. The highway travels on a southern bypass of the city. Just west of the city is an intersection with SR 137 (Charing Road). The highway curves to the east-southeast. Just before an intersection with the northern terminus of Payne Farm Road and the southern terminus of Tower Street, it enters the southern part of Butler. There, it intersects US 19/SR 3 (South Broad Street). Just after leaving the city limits of Butler, the highway curves to the northeast. After a curve to the east-northeast, it intersects the eastern terminus of SR 96's former path through Butler. It curves to the southeast and enters Reynolds just before an intersection with the southern terminus of Hicks Road. It curves to the east and enters the main part of the city. It intersects SR 128 (Winston Street). Just west of Collins Street, the highway curves to the east-northeast. It curves to the east-southeast and leaves the city limits of Reynolds just to the west of an intersection with the northern terminus of South General John B. Gordon Road. It curves to the southeast and then back to the east- northeast. and crosses over the Flint River on the Ward Edwards Bridge. Here, it enters Crawford County.
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