Fall Line Freeway

The Fall Line Freeway (FLF; also signed as State Route 540 (SR 540)) is a highway designed to span the width of the U.S. state of Georgia from Columbus at the Alabama state line to Augusta, travelling 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 Gulf Coast Strategic Highway; however, the route would require substantial upgrades (including several bypasses) to meet interstate highway standards.

Route description

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.

Muscogee County

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Crawford and Peach counties

SR 96, SR 540, and the FLF curve to the east-southeast and then gradually curve to the northeast. During a curve to the east-northeast, they enter Peach County. Just to the west of Aldridge Road, they re-enter Crawford County. Less than later, they re-enter Peach County. They curve to the northeast and intersect the southern terminus of SR 49 Conn. Here, SR 96 turns right to the southeast, towards Fort Valley, while SR 49 Conn., SR 540, and the FLF head to the northeast on a bypass of the city. They curve to the east-northeast. Just after an intersection with Peggy Drive, they pass Fort Valley Middle School. After a curve to the northeast, they pass Hunt Elementary School and intersect US 341/ SR 7 (Hartley Road). They curve to a due-east direction before curving to the southeast, where they intersect SR 49. Here, SR 49 Conn. ends, and SR 540 and the FLF take SR 49 to the northeast. They curve to the east-northeast and then back to the northeast. They cross over Mule Creek and enter Powersville. There, they intersect the western terminus of SR 247 Conn. (Robert Ray Parkway) and the southern terminus of Newell Road. The highways curve to the north-northeast. They enter Byron. In the city, they intersect SR 42. At an interchange with I-75 (and its unsigned companion designation SR 401), SR 540 and the FLF split off of SR 49 and follow I-75 to the north. I-75, SR 401, SR 540, and the FLF curve to the north-northeast and leave Byron and then re-enter Crawford County. Just a short distance later, they cross over Echeconnee Creek into Bibb County.

Bibb County

The highways reach the Coach Billy Henderson Interchange with Sardis Church Road. Approximately later is an interchange with Hartley Bridge Road. About later, they meet the southern terminus of I-475 (and its unsigned companion designation SR 408). They curve to the northeast. At a bridge over Rocky Creek, they enter the city limits of Macon. Immediately, they have an interchange with US 41/ SR 247 (Pio Nono Avenue). Within this interchange, I-75, SR 401, SR 540, and the FLF curve back to the north-northeast. Just after this interchange, they have a partial exit with Rocky Creek Road, which is only accessed from the westbound lanes. Access to US 41 north and SR 247 north for the westbound lanes is provided via this interchange. Approximately later, they curve to a nearly due-north direction and meet US 80/SR 22 (Eisenhower Parkway). At a bridge over Anthony Road, they curve to the north-northwest. Right after this bridge is an interchange with the eastern terminus of SR 74 (Mercer University Drive). Within this interchange, the highways curve to the northeast. They then meet US 41 Bus./ SR 19 (Forsyth Street). This interchange also provides access to Hardeman Avenue. The highways then curve back to the north-northeast. Just after they travel under a bridge that carries US 23/ SR 87 (Riverside Drive), they meet the western terminus of I-16 (and its unsigned companion designation SR 404) at the Major Bobby Jones MD POW–MIA Interchange.

Here, SR 540 and the FLF split off of I-75/SR 401 and begin a concurrency with I-16/SR 404. The highways travel to the east-southeast. Immediately, they cross over the Ocmulgee River

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases