State Route 60 (SR 60) 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 southeast-to-northwest through portions of

Jackson Jackson may refer to: People and fictional characters * Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Qu ...

Hall In architecture, a hall is a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age and early Middle Ages in northern Europe, a mead hall was where a lord and his retainers ate and also slept. Later in the Middle Ages, the gr ...

, Lumpkin,

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

, and Fannin counties in the north-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 Braselton area with McCaysville at the

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

state line, via Gainesville and

Dahlonega The city of Dahlonega () is the county seat of Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242, and in 2018 the population was estimated to be 6,884. Dahlonega is located at the north end of ...

Route description

Southern terminus to Gainesville

SR 60 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 SR 124 east of Braselton in Jackson County. It crosses over, but does not have an interchange with

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

(I-85) very soon after. It heads northwest and crosses into Hall County. Just after the county line, the highway intersects SR 332 (Belmont Highway), and the two routes head

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 ...

to the northwest. In the

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

of Belmont, they meet the northern terminus of SR 211 (Tanners Mill Road). In Candler, SR 332 departs to the west on Poplar Springs Road. SR 60 continues to the northwest and enters Gainesville. At Central Park, it has an interchange with I-985/ US 23/ SR 365 (Lanier Parkway). This interchange also marks the southern terminus of SR 53 Connector. Just after this interchange, SR 53 Connector/SR 60 pass the

Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located in Gainesville, a city in Hall County, Georgia, United States. History In 1941 only a dirt airstrip existed. At this time a request by the City of Gainesville was place ...

and the eastern terminus of the Pearl Nix Parkway before intersecting with SR 369. At this intersection, SR 53 Connector departs to the northwest on John W. Morrow, Jr. Parkway, while SR 60/SR 369 head concurrent to the northeast for a few blocks. At the intersection with US 129 Business/ SR 11, SR 369 departs to the northeast, while SR 60 heads northwest, concurrent with SR 11 Business. Near City Park, the two highways split and each immediately intersects SR 60 Connector (Oak Tree Drive). Then, SR 60 crosses over the northeastern portion of

Lake Lanier Lake Lanier (officially Lake Sidney Lanier) is a reservoir in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created by the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River in 1956, and is also fed by the waters of the Chestatee Ri ...

and passes the Chattahoochee Golf Course. Then, it meets the southern terminus of SR 283 (Mt. Vernon Road) and the eastern terminus of SR 136 (Price Road) before crossing over another part of Lake Lanier.

North of Gainesville

The road passes through Murrayville and crosses into the southern portion of Lumpkin County. Just northeast of the

Chestatee River The Chestatee River (variant spellings Chestatie, Chestetee, Chostatee, Chosteta, Chestotee; none in modern use) is a file geodatabase (GDB) at ftp://rockyftp.cr.usgs.gov/vdelivery/Datasets/Staged/Hydro/FileGDB101/ river in the Appalachian Mountain ...

, it intersects US 19/ SR 400 and SR 115 (Long Branch Road). At this intersection, SR 115 meets its southern terminus, and SR 400 meets its northern terminus. Southwest of here, US 19/SR 400 run concurrent toward

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

; west of here, US 19/SR 60 begin a concurrency toward

. They curve to the northwest, entering town and bordering the western edge of the Achasta Golf Club. Just before they curve away from the golf course toward the main part of town, they cross over the Chestatee River. On the southeastern edge of the

North Georgia College & State University The University of North Georgia (UNG) is a public senior military college with multiple campuses in Georgia. It is part of the University System of Georgia. The university was established on January 8, 2013 by a merger of North Georgia College ...

, they intersect SR 9/ SR 52 (Morrison Moore Parkway West), which join the concurrency. The four highways curve around the main part of town. At East Main Street, the southern terminus of US 19 Business/ SR 52 Business intersect the concurrency. A short distance after this intersection, SR 52 departs to the east, while US 19/SR 9/SR 60 cross over Yahoola Creek on the Reverend Joseph Grizzle Bridge. The highways head to the north and meet the northern terminus of US 19 Business/SR 52 Business (North Grove Street) and begin passing through the

North Georgia mountains The Georgia Mountains Region or North Georgia mountains or Northeast Georgia is an area that starts in the northeast corner of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States, and spreads in a westerly direction. The mountains in this region are in ...

. The concurrency enters the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest before SR 60 departs from the concurrency to the northwest. It becomes a very winding route and enters Union County. Then, it passes Woody Gap and Woody Lake and enters Suches. There, it meets the western terminus of SR 180 (Wolf Pen Gap Road). Just before leaving the county, SR 60 begins to parallel the

Toccoa River The Toccoa River and Ocoee River are the names in use for a single river that flows northwestward through the southern Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States. It is a tributary of the Hiwassee River, which it joins in Polk Coun ...

. In Fannin County, it continues to parallel the river; the two are never more than apart. South-southeast of

Margaret Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular througho ...

, SR 60 splits off and continues its northwesterly routing. In Morganton, it meets part of the former route of US 76. Northwest of town, it intersects US 76/ SR 2/ SR 515 (Appalachian Highway). The route continues to the northwest, through Mineral Bluff. In town, it meets the southern terminus of SR 60 Spur (Murphy Highway). A little while later, it curves to the west and parallels the Toccoa River for a second time. It continues to the west and enters McCaysville. The highway curves to the northwest to meet its northern terminus, an intersection with the northern terminus of SR 5 (Harpertown Road) at the

state line, on the northern edge of town. Here, the roadway continues as

Tennessee State Route 68 State Route 68 (SR 68) is a state highway in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee. Route description SR 68 begins in southeastern Tennessee, at an intersection with Georgia State Route 5 (SR 5) and SR 60 at the Tenn ...

(Toccoa Avenue).

National Highway System

The only portion of SR 60 that 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, is from just south of the interchange with I-985/US 23/SR 365, in Gainesville, to the northern end of the US 19 concurrency, north-northeast of Dahlonega.

History

1920s

The roadway that would eventually become SR 60 was established at least as early as 1919 as part of SR 9 from south-southwest of Dahlonega to north-northeast of the city. By the end of 1926, the portion of SR 9 south-southwest of the city had a "completed semi hard surface".

1930s

By the middle of 1930, this segment had a "completed hard surface". Later that year, SR 86 was established from Blue Ridge northeast to the

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

state line west-northwest of Ivy Log. The portion of SR 9 north-northeast of Dahlonega had completed grading, but had no surface course. By the end of 1931, US 19 was shifted west onto SR 9. In January 1932, the portion north-northeast of Dahlonega had a completed semi hard surface. The entire length of SR 86 was under construction. The next month, the western terminus of SR 86 was shifted eastward to begin northwest of Morganton. By mid-1933, the portion of SR 86 from northwest of Morganton to Mineral Bluff had a "sand clay or top soil" surface. Later that year, the entire length of SR 86 had a completed semi hard surface. In 1936, the portion of US 19/SR 9 north-northeast of Dahlonega, and the entire length of SR 86, were under construction. At the beginning of 1937, SR 86 was extended southeast to US 19/SR 9 in Porter Springs. SR 136 was extended southeast into Gainesville. A few months later, SR 86's original segment had completed grading, but was not surfaced. Later that year, US 19/SR 9 northeast of Dahlonega had a completed hard surface.

1940s

In late 1940, all of SR 86 was redesignated as SR 60. About a year later, SR 115 was established from northwest of Gainesville to Murrayville. Nearly the entire Lumpkin County portion of SR 60 was under construction. There was also a segment of SR 60, from just southeast of the Lumpkin–Union county line to northwest of Morganton had completed grading, but not surfaced. In 1944, the segment of SR 60 from just east-southeast of the Lumpkin–Union county line had a completed hard surface. By the end of 1946, a southern branch of US 76 was designated on SR 60 from Porter Springs to Morganton. Between 1946 and 1948, this branch route was removed from SR 60. An unnumbered road was built from Murrayville to Dahlonega; it had a "sand clay, top soil, or stabilized earth" surface. SR 245 was designated from Mineral Bluff to McCaysville. Each terminus had a completed hard surface; the central part had a sand clay, top soil, or stabilized earth surface. The next year, SR 136 in the northwest part of Gainesville, as well as the entire length of SR 245, was hard surfaced. The unnumbered road between Murrayville and Dahlonega was designated as SR 249.

1950s

By the middle of 1950, SR 136 from Gainesville to the SR 115 intersection, SR 115 from the SR 136 intersection to Murrayville, all of SR 249, and the entire Union County portion of SR 60 were hard surfaced. By 1952, the entire Lumpkin County portion of SR 60 was hard surfaced. In 1952, an unnumbered road was built from south-southeast of Gainesville into the city. The next year, the northern half of the Fannin County portion of the segment from Porter Springs to Morganton was hard surfaced. In 1954, the southern half was hard surfaced. The next year, the unnumbered road south-southeast of Gainesville was extended to SR 124 east of Braselton. By 1957, SR 60 was extended south-southwest on US 19/SR 9 to Dahlonega, then south-southeast to Gainesville, replacing all of SR 249 and parts of SR 115 and SR 136. Between 1957 and 1960, SR 60 was extended south-southeast to SR 124 east of Braselton.

1970s

In 1977, SR 60 from northwest of Morganton to the North Carolina state line was shifted westward, replacing all of SR 245. Its former path from Mineral Bluff to the state line was redesignated as SR 60 Spur.

Major intersections

Special routes

Connector route

State Route 60 Connector (SR 60 Connector) is a

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 ...

that exists entirely within the downtown portion of Gainesville in the central part of Hall County. The entire road is known as Oak Tree Drive for its entire length. It begins at an

with the SR 60 mainline (Thompson Bridge Road). It heads northeast for three blocks. Then, it heads southeast for one more block and meets its eastern terminus, an intersection with SR 11 Business (Riverside Drive).

Business route

Spur route

State Route 60 Spur (SR 60 Spur) is 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 ...

that exists entirely within the north central part of Fannin County. It is known as Murphy Highway for its entire length. It begins at an

with the SR 60 mainline (Lakewood Highway) in Mineral Bluff. The highway travels northeast, through the

and portions of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest until it meets its eastern terminus, the

state line, where the roadway continues as North Carolina Highway 60 (NC 60), southwest of

Culberson, North Carolina Culberson is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. Culberson is located on North Carolina Highway 60 near the Georgia state line, southwest of Murphy. Culberson has a post office with ZIP code 28903. Cu ...

. The roadway that would eventually become SR 60 Spur was established in 1930 as SR 86 from Mineral Bluff northeast to the North Carolina state line west-northwest of Ivy Log. In January 1932, the entire length of SR 86 was under construction. The next year, the entire length of SR 86 had a completed semi hard surface. In 1936, the entire length of SR 86 was under construction. The next year, SR 86 had completed grading, but was not surfaced. In late 1940, all of SR 86 was redesignated as SR 60. In 1977, SR 60 from Mineral Bluff to the North Carolina state line was shifted westward. Its former path from Mineral Bluff to the state line was redesignated as SR 60 Spur.

References

{{reflist

External links

Georgia Roads (Routes 41 - 60)
060 Transportation in Jackson County, Georgia Transportation in Hall County, Georgia Transportation in Lumpkin County, Georgia Transportation in Union County, Georgia Transportation in Fannin County, Georgia Gainesville, Georgia