State Route 6 (SR 6) is a

state highway A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either ''numbered'' or ''maintained'' by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered by a ...

that travels northwest-to-southeast in the U.S. state of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

. It is known as Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, Jimmy Campbell Parkway, Nathan Dean Parkway, and Wendy Bagwell Parkway in

Paulding County Paulding County is the name of two counties in the United States of America: * Paulding County, Georgia * Paulding County, Ohio Paulding County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was about 18 ...

; C.H. James Parkway in

Cobb County Cobb County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia, located in the Atlanta metropolitan area in the north central portion of the state. As of 2020 Census, the population was 766,149. Its county seat and largest city is Marietta. Along with ...

; Thornton Road in Douglas County; and Camp Creek Parkway and honorarily as Tuskegee Airmen Parkway in

Fulton Fulton may refer to: People * Robert Fulton (1765–1815), American engineer and inventor who developed the first commercially successful steam-powered ship * Fulton (surname) Given name * Fulton Allem (born 1957), South African golfer * Fult ...

and Clayton counties. It begins at the

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

state line, where it is

concurrent Concurrent means happening at the same time. Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to: Law * Concurrence, in jurisprudence, the need to prove both ''actus reus'' and ''mens rea'' * Concurring opinion (also called a "concurrence"), a ...

with US 278. Here, US 278 enters Alabama, concurrent with the

unsigned Unsigned can refer to: * An unsigned artist is a musical artist or group not attached or signed to a record label ** Unsigned Music Awards, ceremony noting achievements of unsigned artists ** Unsigned band web, online community * Similarly, the c ...

state highway SR 74. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 85 (I-85) west of the

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , also known as Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield, Hartsfield–Jackson and, formerly, as the Atlanta Municipal Airport, is the primary internatio ...

Route description

SR 6 starts at the

state line, southwest of Cedartown, and northwest of Esom Hill in

Polk County Polk County is the name of twelve counties in the United States, all except two named after president of the United States James Knox Polk: * Polk County, Arkansas * Polk County, Florida * Polk County, Georgia * Polk County, Iowa * Polk Count ...

, and initially heads east to Cedartown, concurrent with US 278 from its western terminus. Skirting Cedartown around the south, the highway continues east to Rockmart, where it turns sharply to the south and then southeast into

and

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

. Bypassing Dallas to the south, SR 6 continues traveling to the southeast and travels through the southwestern corner of

, through Powder Springs, to Austell in Douglas County. In Lithia Springs, the highway approaches the intersection with US 78/ SR 5/ SR 8, where US 278 turns left and joins a concurrency with US 78 as far east as

Druid Hills Druid Hills is a community which includes both a census-designated place (CDP) in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, as well as a neighborhood of the city of Atlanta. The CDP's population was 14,568 at the 2010 census. The ...

, while SR 6 continues southeast where it has an intersection with Maxham Drive, a local boulevard spanning from the Westfork Shopping Center through SR 5, and later crosses over

I-20 Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with I-10 in Scroggins Draw, Texas, and ending at an interchange with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina. Between ...

, where it has a

partial cloverleaf A partial cloverleaf interchange or parclo is a modification of a cloverleaf interchange. The design has been well received, and has since become one of the most popular freeway-to-arterial interchange designs in North America. It has also bee ...

and

half-diamond interchange A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a controlled-access highway crosses a minor road. Design The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge. Approaching the ...

. Forming the county line between Cobb and Douglas counties, the highway continues traveling to the southeast, and crosses the

Chattahoochee River The Chattahoochee River forms the southern half of the Alabama and Georgia border, as well as a portion of the Florida - Georgia border. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chatta ...

into

Fulton County Fulton County is the name of eight counties in the United States of America. Most are named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the first practical steamboat: *Fulton County, Arkansas, named after Governor William Savin Fulton *Fulton County, Georgia *F ...

. Curving to the east, the highway crosses I-285 and reaches its eastern terminus at the western edge of

in College Park. The entire length of SR 6 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.

History

SR 6 was established at least as early as 1919 from SR 1 in Cedartown east-southeast through Dallas to SR 8 in Austell. By the end of September 1921, it was extended westward to the Alabama state line. By October 1926, US 78 was designated on SR 8 at SR 6's eastern terminus. About 20 years later, between the beginning of 1945 and November 1946, the entire segment from Alabama to Austell was hard surfaced. Between June 1954 and June 1955, US 278 was designated on the entire original segment. Between June 1963 and the end of 1965, SR 6 was extended south-southwest on US 78/SR 8 to a point south-southwest of Austell and then on a sole path southeast to I-20; this entire extension was hard surfaced. At this time, Camp Creek Parkway was established from Welcome All Road west-southwest of College Park to US 29/SR 14 in the city. Between the beginning of 1963 and the beginning of 1969, a northern bypass of the main part of Rockmart was built from US 278/SR 6 west-northwest of the city to SR 113 in the northwestern part of the city. By the beginning of 1974, an eastern bypass of the main part of Rockmart was proposed from US 278/SR 6/SR 100 southeast of Van Wert north-northwest and north to SR 113 in the northwest part of Rockmart. In 1976, SR 139 was rerouted westward just west of the Atlanta Airport, onto the path of US 29/SR 14. Due to this, Camp Creek Parkway was extended eastward to I-85. Between the beginning of 1979 and March 1980, Camp Creek Parkway was extended westward to Old Fairburn Road and northwest to Butner Road. Between the beginning of 1979 and the beginning of 1982, SR 6's path in Cedartown was shifted westward one block, replacing the entire length of SR 6 Loop. In 1983, a western bypass of Powder Springs, Clarkdale, and Austell, designated as SR 726, was proposed from an unnumbered road south-southwest of Powder Springs to US 78/SR 5/SR 8 southwest of Austell. In 1986, a slightly northern rerouting of US 278/SR 6 was proposed from just east of the Paulding–Cobb county line to the northern part of Powder Springs. US 278/SR 6 in the Powder Springs–Austell area was shifted westward, onto the path of SR 726 and the northern part of the unnumbered road in Powder Springs. The former path from Powder Springs to Austell was redesignated as SR 6 Bus. Camp Creek Parkway was extended north-northwest to connect with the eastern terminus of SR 6. The next year, SR 744 Spur was proposed from US 27/SR 1/SR 100 in the southern part of Cedartown to the proposed path of SR 744 southeast of it. Part of the eastern bypass of Rockmart, designated as SR 748, was proposed from SR 113 east-northeast of the city south and south-southeast to US 278/SR 6 east-southeast of Van Wert. A northeastern bypass of Yorkville, designated as SR 789, was proposed from north-northeast of Yorkville to east of it. A southern bypass of Dallas, designated as SR 768, was proposed from west-southwest of Dallas to US 278/SR 6/SR 120 southeast of it; this replaced the proposed path of SR 6 Byp. In 1988, a proposed northern rerouting of US 278/SR 6 was designated as a second iteration of SR 726. In 1990, US 278/SR 6 was shifted northeast from Van Wert on SR 113 and southeast on the proposed path of SR 748, with SR 101/SR 113 concurrent with them to Yorkville. US 278/SR 6/SR 120 was routed on the proposed path of SR 768. At this time, SR 726 was completed. Also, Camp Creek Parkway's path between I-285 and I-85 was designated as SR 387. The next year, the path of US 278/SR 6 in Cedartown was shifted southward from the central part of the city to the southern part, onto the proposed path of SR 744 Spur. US 278/SR 6, as well as part of US 27/SR 1, was routed onto parts of the former path of SR 744. US 278/SR 6 in Rockmart was shifted northward onto a more direct path just north of the city. US 278/SR 6 in the Powder Springs area was shifted northward, onto the former path of SR 726. Also, SR 387 was decommissioned. In 1987, SR 6 was extended on the entire length of Camp Creek Parkway, to its eastern terminus. On March 14, 1984, US 278 and SR 6, between Powder Springs and Austell, was designated as the 'C. H. (Fat) James, Sr., Memorial Highway'. Recently, at the intersection of SR 6 and I-285 in East Point, there has been a renaissance for southern

: the opening of the Camp Creek MarketPlace. It was opened in late 2003, and the second portion opened in spring or summer of 2006. On August 1, 2008, Camp Creek Parkway, the stretch of SR 6, between SR 70 and

I-85 Interstate 85 (I-85) is a major Interstate Highway in the Southeastern United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65, I-65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus is an interchange with Interstate 95, I ...

, was honorarily designated Tuskegee Airmen Parkway. As of March 2009, the portion of the highway in Fulton County is no longer signed as SR 6. The only signage on this route are the Tuskegee Airmen Parkway signs. The portion near I-285 and the Atlanta Airport, which is in Clayton County, is still signed as SR 6.

Major intersections

Special routes

Cedartown loop route

State Route 6 Loop (SR 6 Loop) was a short

loop route In road transportation in the United States, a special route is a road in a numbered highway system that diverts a specific segment of related traffic away from another road. They are featured in many highway systems; most are found in the Int ...

of SR 6 that existed entirely within the

city limits City limits or city boundaries refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limit can be called the city proper. Town limit/boundary and village limit/boundary apply to towns and villages. Similarly, corporate limi ...

of Cedartown. Between June 1963 and the beginning of 1966, it was established from US 278/SR 6 north to SR 100. In 1976, SR 100 was shifted westward, and SR 6 Loop's northern terminus was extended east-southeast to US 27/ SR 1 in the northern part of the city. In 1982, the path of SR 6 was shifted westward one block, replacing the path of SR 6 Loop.

Rockmart business loop

State Route 6 Business (SR 6 Bus.) is a

business route A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route connected to a ''parent'' numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or ...

of SR 6. Nearly the entire road is within the

of Rockmart. Its entire length is

with U.S. Route 278 Business (US 278 Bus.).

Dallas spur route

State Route 6 Spur (SR 6 Spur) was a

spur route A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important road such as a freeway, Interstate Highway, or motorway. A bypass or beltway should not be considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with another or the s ...

of SR 6 that existed southeast of the

. In 1966, it was established from SR 61 to US 278/SR 6. In 1983, it was decommissioned.

Dallas bypass route

State Route 6 Bypass (SR 6 Byp.) was a proposed

bypass route A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety. A bypass spe ...

of SR 6 that was proposed just outside of the

. In 1983, its planned path was from US 278/SR 6 west-southwest of the city to US 278/SR 6/ SR 120 southeast of it. In 1987, SR 768 was proposed on the path that SR 6 Byp. was planned to travel, thereby replacing it.

Dallas–Hiram business loop

State Route 6 Business (SR 6 Bus.) is a

that travels from

to Hiram. It consists of Buchanan Street, West Memorial Drive, East Memorial Drive, Merchants Drive, and Atlanta Highway. Unlike SR 6 Bus. in Rockmart, it is not

with a business route of U.S. Route 278 (US 278). SR 6 Bus. begins along Buchanan Street as SR 120 turns right onto the intersection with US 278/SR 6 (Jimmy Campbell Parkway). Buchanan Street ends at West Memorial Drive, and SR 6 Bus. turns right. From that point on, it follows the former path of SR 6. Curving toward the northeast, SR 6 Bus. encounters a paved trail that turns along the south side of the road, then both travel on bridges over Weaver Creek and then travel under a

railroad bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...

, before making a curve back towards the east-northeast as it gets closer to downtown Dallas. At the intersection of North Confederate Avenue and Main Street, SR 61 leaves North Confederate Avenue and joins SR 6 Bus. in a concurrency, and the name changes from West Memorial Drive to East Memorial Drive. SR 6 Bus. and SR 61 leave East Memorial Drive (former SR 381) and make a right curve onto Merchants Drive. The highways travel south-southeast down a hill along the eastern edge of downtown Dallas, but then begins to elevate in the vicinity of the local post office. SR 61 leaves SR 6 Bus. at Nathan Dean Boulevard, and later the road curves from south-southeast to southeast at Hardee Street, formerly SR 6 Spur. It turns due east just before the intersection with Heritage Club Boulevard, but then curves east-northeast before the intersection of Old Harris Road, only to turn due east again after a fork in the road with Macland Road, across from an intersection with Butler Industrial Drive. Just before leaving Dallas, it travels along the south side of Carter Lake. Before the intersection with Paris Road, the highway enters the Hiram city limits, where Merchants Drive becomes Atlanta Highway, and climbs a slight hill. At New Canaan Baptist Church and Cemetery, the road descends along another hill, but climbs back up before the intersection with Cobbler Cove Drive. At Summerhill Road, SR 6 Bus. starts to curve to the southeast and approaches an intersection with SR 120/ SR 360 (Charles Hardy Parkway). Shortly after this, the business curves to the southeast and then to the south-southwest to end at US 278/SR 6 at the intersection with the northern terminus of Highland Falls Boulevard. In 1992, SR 6 Bus. was established on its current path.

Powder Springs–Austell business loop

State Route 6 Business (SR 6 Bus.) was a

of SR 6 that existed in Powder Springs and Austell. In 1983, a western bypass of the cities, designated as SR 726, was proposed from an unnumbered road south-southwest of Powder Springs to US 78/ SR 5/ SR 8 southwest of Austell. In 1986, the path of US 278/SR 6 was shifted westward, onto the path of SR 726 and the northern part of the unnumbered road; the former path was redesignated as SR 6 Bus. In 2001, it was decommissioned.

Austell spur route

State Route 6 Spur (SR 6 Spur) in Austell is a

that is known as Dr. Luke Glenn Garrett Jr. Memorial Highway. It parallels Sweetwater Creek. It begins at an

intersection In mathematics, the intersection of two or more objects is another object consisting of everything that is contained in all of the objects simultaneously. For example, in Euclidean geometry, when two lines in a plane are not parallel, their i ...

with US 278/SR 6 (C.H. James Parkway). Here, the roadway continues as Garrett Road. SR 6 Spur travels to the northeast and travels on a bridge over some

railroad tracks A railway track (British English and UIC terminology) or railroad track (American English), also known as permanent way or simply track, is the structure on a railway or railroad consisting of the rails, fasteners, railroad ties (sleepers, ...

Norfolk Southern Railway The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad in the United States formed in 1982 with the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, the company operates 19,420 route miles (31 ...

(NS). It passes the John W. Whitaker Intermodal Terminal for NS. It continues to the northwest until it reaches its eastern terminus, an intersection with Powder Springs Road. Here, the roadway continues as Westside Road, which provides access to Luke Garrett Middle School. The roadway that would eventually become SR 6 Spur was established in 2004. Between the beginning of 2004 and the beginning of 2013, it was designated as SR 6 Spur.

References

External links

* {{Commons category-inline 006 Transportation in Polk County, Georgia Transportation in Paulding County, Georgia Transportation in Cobb County, Georgia Transportation in Douglas County, Georgia Transportation in Fulton County, Georgia Transportation in Clayton County, Georgia College Park, Georgia