State Route 31 (SR 31) 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 south-to-north through portions of Lowndes, Lanier,

Clinch Clinch may refer to: * Nail (fastener) or device to hold in this way * Clinching, in metalworking * Clinch fighting or the clinch, a grappling position in boxing or wrestling, a stand-up embrace * Clinch County, Georgia, USA * Clinch River, near T ...

Atkinson Atkinson may refer to: Places *Atkinson, Nova Scotia, Canada * Atkinson, Dominica, a village in Dominica *Atkinson, Illinois, U.S. * Atkinson, Indiana, U.S. *Atkinson, Maine, U.S. *Atkinson Lake, a lake in Minnesota, U.S. *Atkinson, Nebraska, U. ...

Coffee Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulant, stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It is the most popular hot drink in the world. S ...

, Telfair,

Wheeler Wheeler may refer to: Places United States * Wheeler, Alabama, an unincorporated community * Wheeler, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Wheeler, California, an unincorporated community * Wheeler, Illinois, a village * Wheeler, Indiana, a ...

Dodge Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...

, Laurens, and

Johnson Johnson is a surname of Anglo-Norman origin meaning "Son of John". It is the second most common in the United States and 154th most common in the world. As a common family name in Scotland, Johnson is occasionally a variation of ''Johnston'', a ...

counties in the south-central part of 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 ...

. The highway connects the

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

state line, south of Clyattville with Wrightsville, via

Valdosta Valdosta is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. As of 2019, Valdosta had an estimated population of 56,457. Valdosta is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in 2021 had a ...

Douglas Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals *Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking *Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civil W ...

, and

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

. SR 31 formerly had a segment from Homerville to Pearson, but it was later decommissioned. The highway was then incrementally extended in both directions from its resulting Pearson–Douglas segment to its current path.

Route description

Florida to Douglas

SR 31 begins at the

state line south-southeast of Clyattville, in Lowndes County, where the roadway continues as State Road 145. Almost immediately, it crosses over the Withlacoochee River. The highway curves to the northwest and back to the north and passes Oris Blackburn Memorial Park. It begins to curve to the northeast and enters Clyattville, where it meets the western terminus of SR 376 (Clyattville–Lake Park Road). The highway continues to the northeast and has an interchange with Interstate 75 (I-75). Approximately later, it skirts along the southeastern edge of

Valdosta Regional Airport Valdosta Regional Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) south of the central business district of Valdosta, a city in Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is owned by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport A ...

. At the

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 Madison Highway, it turns to the right and becomes known as Inner Perimeter Road, part of an eastern bypass of most of the city. At South Patterson Street, US 41/ SR 7 begin a concurrency to the northeast. This intersection also marks the southern terminus of US 41 Bus./ SR 7 Bus. The next main intersection is SR 94 (New Statenville Highway). Then, it begins to curve to the north and enters the eastern city limits of

. Right after a slight bend to the north-northwest is an intersection with US 84/ US 221/ SR 38 (East Hill Avenue). At this intersection, US 221 joins the concurrency. After a curve to the northwest, the four highways intersect East Park Avenue. Here, US 221/SR 31 split off to the northeast and then leaves the city. The two highways travel through

rural area In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are descri ...

s of the county, traveling southeast of

Moody Air Force Base Moody Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation near Valdosta, Georgia. Geography The base is in northeastern Lowndes County, Georgia, with the eastern border of the base following the Lanier County line. Georgia State Rout ...

, and enter Lanier County. They continue to the northeast and gradually curve to the north-northeast. Along the eastern shore of Milltown Bay, they begin a northward routing and meet the western terminus of SR 31 Conn. (Murray Boulevard). Approximately later, they enter Lakeland. After a curve to the north-northwest, where SR 135 (South Mill Street) joins the concurrency, they enter the main part of town, where they intersect US 129/ SR 11/ SR 37/ SR 122 (West Main Street). Here, both concurrencies merge and head to the east-northeast. Immediately, SR 135 departs to the north-northwest on North Carter Street. At Oak Street, SR 135 Byp. joins the concurrency. At North College Street, SR 135 Byp. leaves the concurrency to the north-northwest. This intersection also marks the eastern terminus of SR 11 Byp. The other six highways continue to the east-northeast, crossing over Big Creek before leaving town. Then, they cross over the

Alapaha River The Alapaha River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 18, 2011 river in southern Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is a tributary of the S ...

. After that, US 221/SR 31/SR 122 depart the concurrency to the north-northeast. Just under later, SR 122 splits off, and US 221/SR 31 continue to the north-northeast, intersect SR 168, cut across the northwestern corner of Clinch County, and enter Atkinson County. A little over later, SR 64 joins the concurrency. The three highways continue to the north-northeast and intersect US 441/ SR 89. At this intersection, SR 89 reaches its northern terminus, and US 441 joins the concurrency. In fact, US 441 is concurrent for over half of SR 31's total length. The concurrency continues into

Pearson Pearson may refer to: Organizations Education *Lester B. Pearson College, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada *Pearson College (UK), London, owned by Pearson PLC *Lester B. Pearson High School (disambiguation) Companies *Pearson PLC, a UK-based int ...

. There, they intersect US 82/ SR 520 (Albany Avenue). At this intersection, SR 64 turns right onto US 82/SR 520. The other three highways continue to the north-northeast through rural areas of the county. Then, they curve to the north-northwest and enter Coffee County. Immediately, they curve to the north and cross the

Satilla River The Satilla River rises in Ben Hill County, Georgia, United States, near the town of Fitzgerald, and flows in a mostly easterly direction to the Atlantic Ocean. Along its approximately U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high- ...

. Then, they pass Pine Forests Memorial Gardens and enter

Douglas to Wrightsville

They travel along the eastern edge of Douglas Municipal Airport. Farther to the north is an intersection with SR 135/ SR 206 (Bowens Mill Road). At this intersection, SR 206 reaches its eastern terminus, and US 221 departs the concurrency. Farther to the north, they intersect SR 158 (Baker Highway). In the main part of town is an intersection with SR 32. On the northern edge of town is an intersection with SR 206 Conn. (North Connector Road). US 441/SR 31 curve to the northwest and enter Broxton, where SR 268 briefly joins the concurrency. After they leave town, they continue to the northwest and have a short concurrency with SR 107, a few miles south of

Jacksonville Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

. At the end of the concurrency, US 319 joins the concurrency. The three highways cross over the

Ocmulgee River The Ocmulgee River () is a western tributary of the Altamaha River, approximately 255 mi (410 km) long, in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the westernmost major tributary of the Altamaha.J. H. Millhollin Memorial Bridge, into Telfair County. Then, they curve to the north-northeast. When the concurrency enters Jacksonville, they intersect SR 117. Just before entering McRae, they meet the northern terminus of SR 149 Conn. Then, they enter town and intersect SR 132 on the southern edge of the city limits. Approximately later, US 280/ SR 30 join the concurrency. In the central part of town is an intersection with US 23/ US 341/ SR 27. The five highways curve to the northeast and cross over the

Little Ocmulgee River The Little Ocmulgee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 21, 2011 tributary of the Ocmulgee River in the U.S. state of Georgia Georgia most commonly refers t ...

into Wheeler County. On the southeastern edge of

Little Ocmulgee State Park Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge is a Georgia state park located north of McRae-Helena on the Little Ocmulgee River. Part of the park was initially built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, around the natural divers ...

, US 319/US 441/SR 31 depart to the north-northwest and skirt along the eastern edge of the park. They cut across a tiny part of Dodge County before entering Laurens County. The concurrent highways have an intersection with SR 46/ SR 126. Northeast of Rentz, they have a second intersection with SR 117, which joins the concurrency. They curve to the north-northeast, pass

Oconee Fall Line Technical College Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC) is a public community college with its main campuses in Sandersville and Dublin, Georgia. It is part of the Technical College System of Georgia and provides education services for an eleven-county servic ...

, and enter

. Immediately is an interchange with I-16 (Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway) and pass the Dublin–Laurens County Recreation Center. At the southern terminus of US 441 Byp., SR 117 departs the concurrency. At Joiner Street is the northern terminus of SR 257. In the central part of town, at an intersection with Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, the three highways turn to the left onto South Monroe Street. Then, they intersect US 80/ SR 19/ SR 26 (Bellevue Avenue). At this intersection, the two concurrencies merge to the northeast. At Jefferson Street, US 441 departs to the north-northwest, concurrent with SR 29, which joins the concurrency. Also, SR 19 leaves the concurrency The five highways cross over the

Oconee River The Oconee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map Accessed April 21, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its origin is in Hall County and it terminates where it joins ...

on the

Herschel Lovett Bridge The Oconee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map Accessed April 21, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its origin is in Hall County and it terminates where it joins ...

, into East Dublin. In the city, US 319/SR 31 depart to the northeast. They travel through rural areas of the county, have a short section along the Laurens–

county line, and enter Johnson County proper. The concurrency enters Wrightsville and curve to the east to an intersection with SR 15/ SR 57/ SR 78 (Marcus Street). At this intersection, SR 31 reaches its northern terminus, while US 319 continues to the east, concurrent with SR 78.

National Highway System

The following portions of SR 31 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: * From just north of I-75, south of Valdosta, to the northern end of the US 41/SR 7 concurrency in the northeast part of Valdosta * The entire length of the US 441 concurrency, from just south-southwest of Pearson to Dublin

History

SR 31 was established at least as early as 1919, from SR 38 in Homerville north-northwest to Pearson, and then on current path to SR 32 in Douglas. At this time, part of SR 26 was established in the Dublin area, and part of SR 30 was established in the northeastern part of the McRae area. By the end of September 1921, the Homerville–Pearson segment was decommissioned. SR 15 was extended on SR 26 from Dublin east-northeast to North Dublin, and then north-northeast to Wrightsville. Between October 1929 and June 1930, the southern terminus of SR 31 was extended southwest to US 84/SR 38 east-northeast of Valdosta. Between November 1930 and January 1932, the southern terminus was shifted west-southwest, into Valdosta. US 280 was designated on SR 30 in the McRae area. In January 1932, the northern terminus of SR 31 was extended to McRae. In early 1935, the northern terminus was extended again, to SR 117 south-southwest of Dublin. At the end of 1939, the southern terminus was extended south-southwest to the Florida state line south-southwest of Valdosta. In 1942, the entire path of SR 31 that existed at the time, and what would eventually be designated as part of it, SR 171 in the Dublin area and SR 15 from Dublin to Wrightsville, had a "completed hard surface". Between January 1945 and November 1946, US 319 was designated on SR 31, from south-southeast of Jacksonville to south-southwest of Dublin; SR 117, from south-southwest of Dublin to that city; US 80/SR 26/SR 29, from Dublin to North Dublin; and SR 15, from North Dublin to Wrightsville. Between February 1948 and April 1949, US 441 was designated on SR 31 from south-southwest of Pearson to Dublin. Between July 1957 and June 1960, the northern terminus of SR 31 was extended north-northeast on US 319/US 441 to Dublin, truncating SR 117; east-northeast on US 80/US 319/SR 26/SR 29 to North Dublin; and on US 319 to Wrightsville, since SR 15 was shifted eastward. In 1989, SR 822 was established from just south of the

CSX CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...

railroad tracks in Dublin north-northwest to US 80/US 319/SR 26/SR 29/SR 31 (Bellevue Avenue). An unnumbered road was proposed from US 319/US 441/SR 31 (Telfair Street/Jefferson Street) and SR 19 (also part of Jefferson Street) east-northeast to the southern terminus of SR 822. In 1992, the path of SR 31 in Dublin was shifted east-southeastward, off of US 319/US 441/SR 19 and US 80/US 319/SR 26/SR 29, and onto the unnumbered road and replaced SR 822. In 1994, part of Inner Perimeter Road was established from US 41/SR 7 southeast of Valdosta to US 221/SR 31 in the northeast part of the city. In 2006, this road was extended southwest to SR 31. SR 31 and US 41/SR 7 were shifted out of downtown, and onto it. US 221 was also rerouted in the eastern part of the city, onto US 41/SR 7/SR 31 as it currently does.

Major intersections

Special routes

Lakeland connector route (1965–1980)

State Route 31 Connector (SR 31 Conn.) was a short

connector route A connector is a highway or freeway road that connects to another highway or freeway. It can be part of an interchange such as the MacArthur Maze or a longer roadway such as the Interstate 635. A connector route is a type of special route or su ...

of SR 31 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 Lakeland. Between June 1963 and January 1966, it was established on US 129/ SR 11/ SR 37/ SR 122 (Main Avenue), from where SR 122 (Main Street) split off of Main Avenue, east-southeast to US 221/SR 31/ SR 135 (Mill Street). Between January 1974 and the beginning of 1981, it was decommissioned.

Lakeland connector route

State Route 31 Connector (SR 31 Conn.) is a

that exists entirely within the southeastern part of

Lanier County Lanier County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,078. The county seat and only incorporated municipality is Lakeland. The county is named after the Georgia poet S ...

. It is located just south of Lakeland and is known as Murray Boulevard for its entire length. It begins at an

with US 221/SR 31 (Lakeland Highway). It travels due east to meet its eastern terminus, an intersection with SR 135 (College Street). SR 31 Conn. is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility. Between January 1998 and January 2010, it was established on its current path.

Douglas spur route

State Route 31 Spur (SR 31 Spur) was a short-lived

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 ...