Question: When was the Fall Line Freeway constructed?

Fall Line Freeway


The Fall Line Freeway (FLF; also signed as State Route540 (SR540)) is a 215-mile-long (346km) highway designed to span the width of the U.S. state of Georgia from the Alabama state line, in Columbus to Augusta, traveling through several cities including Macon, Milledgeville, and Sandersville. It is composed of both limited-access and high-speed divided highway portions. It is planned to become part of the proposed eastern extension of Interstate 14. As of August 2018, the Fall Line Freeway is 100% open to traffic.[1] Between August 2017 and July 2018, the highway was completed. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced that the highway was officially signed as SR540 on September 24, 2018.
Route description

Contrary to its description as a "freeway," the Fall Line Freeway is a four-lane divided highway, except a short section within Wrens and four freeway sections: following the J.R. Allen Parkway (part of US80/SR22), which is the bypass north of Columbus, Interstate75 (I-75) from Byron to Macon, I-16 in Macon, and part of the Scottsboro–Sandersville segment. 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 US80, SR96, SR24, SR88, and US1/SR4,[5] while other parts are separate alignments, such as most of the portion between Scottsboro and Sandersville.
Muscogee County
SR540 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. Route80 (US80) and SR22. The state line is also the western terminus of SR22. On the Alabama side of the state line, US80 (and the unsigned designation Alabama State Route 8) travel on the J.R. Allen Parkway, a freeway into Phenix City. On the Georgia side, US80, SR22, SR540, 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 SR22 Connector (SR22 Conn.; Manchester Expressway). Just over 1,000 feet (300m) later, they meet SR219 (River Road). After an interchange with Bradley Park Drive, they meet Interstate185 (I-185 and its unsigned companion designation SR411) and US27/SR1 (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 US27 Alternate (US27 Alt.) and SR85. They curve to the east-northeast and then meet the eastern terminus of SR22 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 highways continue to the east-northeast and travel just to the north of Box Springs. After beginning to head to the northeast, they cross over Rockmore and Upatoi creeks and intersect the northern terminus of SR355. They curve to an easterly direction and intersect SR41, which joins the concurrency. US80, SR22, SR41, SR540, and the FLF curve to the northeast and enter Geneva. In the central part of the city, US80, SR22, and SR41 make a left turn to the north-northwest at the western terminus of SR96. Here, SR540 and the FLF take the beginning of SR96 to the northeast. Almost immediately, they intersect the western terminus of SR240. The roadway curves to the east-southeast and leaves Geneva. The highways then intersect a former segment of SR96. Then, they begin a gradual curve to the northeast. Right after they begin curving back to the south-southeast, they begin a concurrency with SR90. Approximately 2,000 feet (610m) later, SR90, SR96, SR540, and the FLF intersect another former segment of SR96. The highways then enter Junction City. They curve to the east-southeast and intersect Old Mauk Road, which leads to the main part of Junction City. They curve to the east-northeast and intersect the southern terminus of Buckner Road, which also leads to the main part of the city. At this intersection, SR90 turns right to the south-southeast. The highways curve back to the east-southeast, leave the city limits of the city, and then enter Taylor County.
Taylor County
SR96, SR540, and the FLF travel through the southern part of Howard. Just after beginning a curve to the south-southeast, they intersect the western terminus of Old 96 Road, the former path of SR96 through Butler. The highways travel on a southern bypass of the main part of the city. Just west of the city is an intersection with SR137 (Charing Road). The highways then curve to the east-southeast. Just before an intersection with the northern terminus of Payne Farm Road and the southern terminus of Tower Street, they enter the southern part of Butler. There, they intersect US19/SR3 (South Broad Street). Just after leaving the city limits of Butler, the highways curve to the northeast. After a curve to the east-northeast, they intersect the eastern terminus of SR96's former path through Butler. They curve to the southeast and enter Reynolds just before an intersection with the southern terminus of Hicks Road. They curve to the east and enter the main part of the city. They intersect SR128 (Winston Street). Just west of Collins Street, the highways curve to the east-northeast. They curve to the east-southeast and leave the city limits of Reynolds just to the west of an intersection with the northern terminus of South General John B. Gordon Road. They curve to the southeast and then back to the east- northeast. Then, they cross over the Flint River on the Ward Edwards Bridge. Here, they enter Crawford County.
Crawford and Peach counties
SR96, SR540, 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 2,000 feet (610m) later, they re-enter Peach County. They curve to the northeast and intersect the southern terminus of SR49 Conn. Here, SR96 turns right to the southeast, towards Fort Valley, while SR49 Conn., SR540, 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 US341/SR7 (Hartley Road). They curve to a due-east direction before curving to the southeast, where they intersect SR49. Here, SR49 Conn. ends, and SR540 and the FLF take SR49 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 SR247 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 SR42. At an interchange with I-75 (and its unsigned companion designation SR401), SR540 and the FLF split off of SR49 and follow I-75 to the north. I-75, SR401, SR540, 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 2 miles (3.2km) later is an interchange with Hartley Bridge Road. About 1 mile (1.6km) later, they meet the southern terminus of I-475 (and its unsigned companion designation SR408). They curve to the northeast. At a bridge over Rocky Creek, they enter the city limits of Macon. Immediately, they have an interchange with US41/SR247 (Pio Nono Avenue). Within this interchange, I-75, SR401, SR540, 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 US41 north and SR247 north for the westbound lanes is provided via this interchange. Approximately 2 miles (3.2km) later, they curve to a nearly due-north direction and meet US80/SR22 (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 SR74 (Mercer University Drive). Within this interchange, the highways curve to the northeast. They then meet US41 Bus./SR19 (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 US23/SR87 (Riverside Drive), they meet the western terminus of I-16 (and its unsigned companion designation SR404) at the Major Bobby Jones MD POW–MIA Interchange.
Here, SR540 and the FLF split off of I-75/SR401 and begin a concurrency with I-16/SR404. The highways travel to the east-southeast. Immediately, they cross over the Ocmulgee River. They curve to the southeast and then have an interchange with US23/US129/SR49 (Spring Street). Within this interchange, the roadway curves to the south-southeast. Almost immediately is a westbound-only interchange with SR22 (Second Street). About 0.3 miles (0.48km) later, they meet US80/SR87 (known as M.L. King Jr. Boulevard south of I-16 and Coliseum Drive north of it) at the Phil Walden Memorial Interchange. Here, SR540 and the FLF split off of I-16 and begin following US80/SR87. They travel to the northeast and pass the Macon Coliseum. Then they curve to the north-northeast and pass the Georgia Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division. An intersection with the appropriately-named Hospital Drive leads to Coliseum Medical Centers. Approximately 1,000 feet (300m) later, they intersect US23/US129 Alt./SR19 (Emery Highway). Here, US80, SR87, SR540, and the FLF turn right onto the other highways. The six highways (plus Emery Highway and the FLF) travel due east. They curve to the east-northeast and enter the northern part of Ocmulgee National Monument. They reach the main entrance to the monument. This is also the southern terminus of Jeffersonville Road, which leads to Bowden Golf Course. The highways curve to the southeast and temporarily leave the monument boundary. Almost immediately, they re-enter the monument boundary. They cross over Walnut Creek, leave the monument boundary, leave the city limits of Macon and enter East Macon. Approximately 3,000 feet (910m) later, they begin a curve to the east. Right after this, US23, US129 Alt., and SR87 resume their southeasterly course, while US80, SR19, SR540, and the FLF split off to the east. The highways curve to a northeasterly direction. They intersect the northern terminus of SR87 Conn. (Ocmulgee East Boulevard) and the southern terminus of Jeffersonville Road. After a gradual curve to the east-southeast, they intersect the western terminus of SR57 and the southern terminus of Hitchcock Road. Here, US80 and SR19 turned right to the south-southeast, while SR540 and the FLF take SR57 to the east-northeast. About 1 mile (1.6km) later, the highways leave East Macon and enter Jones County.
Jones, Twiggs, Wilkinson, and Baldwin counties
SR57, SR540, and the FLF curve to the east-southeast. After beginning a curve to the southeast, they enter Twiggs County. They curve back to the east-southeast, travel just south of Harrisons Lake, and cross over Big Sandy Creek. Just before an intersection with the northern terminus of New Haven Church Road and the southern terminus of Old Griswoldville Road, they begin a curve to the east-northeast and travel north of Birdsong Pond. After this curve, they cross over Clear Creek. A short distance later, they enter Wilkinson County. Nearly 3,000 feet (910m) later, the highways begin a curve to the north-northeast and intersect the western terminus of SR243 and Maddox Road. Here, SR57 turns right onto Maddox Road to the east-southeast, and SR540 and the FLF take the beginning of SR243 to the north-northeast. They function like a bypass of the main part of Gordon. They curve to the northeast and cross over Little Commissioner Creek. Just northwest of the city, the highways intersect SR18 (Gray Highway). They curve to the east-southeast and enter the northern part of Gordon. They temporarily leave Gordon and curve to the east-northeast. They skirt through the extreme northeastern part of the city. When they again leave Gordon, they enter Ivey. The highways curve to the north-northeast and then cross over Lake Tchukolaho on the McCook Bridge. At a crossing over Beaver Creek on the O.L. "Red" Brooks Memorial Bridge, the highways leave Ivey. They begin a curve to the east-northeast to an intersection where SR243 turns left onto Pennington Highway to the north-northeast, while SR540 and the FLF continue to the east-northeast. A short distance later, they clip the southern corner of Baldwin County. The highways re-enter Wilkinson County. They curve to the northeast and cross over Black Creek. They curve back to the east-northeast to an interchange with US441/SR29. SR540 and the FLF curve to the north-northeast and re-enter Baldwin County. They curve back to the northeast. Just after beginning to curve back to the north-northeast, they meet SR112. The cross over Reedy Creek and curve to the northeast. They cross over the Oconee River at a point just southeast of the southeastern point of Milledgeville. They curve to the east-northeast and then to the southeast. They then begin a concurrency with SR24. SR540 and the FLF take SR24 to the south-southeast. They curve back to the southeast and cross over Town Creek just after a curve to the east-southeast. The highways curve back to the southeast and cross over Gumm Creek, entering Washington County.
Washington County
Approximately 2,000 feet (610m) later, SR24, SR540, and the FLF curve to the east-southeast and intersect the northern terminus of SR272. They cross over Bluff Creek and then curve back to the east-northeast. Along the way to Sandersville, they cross over Buffalo Creek. Just west of the city, the highways intersect the eastern terminus of SR68 (Tennille–Macon Road) and the southern terminus of SR24 Spur (Yank Brown Road). SR24, SR540, and the FLF travel on a northern bypass of the main part of the city. They curve to the northeast and cross over Limestone Creek. Then they intersect the western terminus of SR242 (West Church Street). They curve back to the east-northeast and intersect Deepstep Road, which leads to Oconee Fall Line Technical College. This intersection is on the edge of the city limits of Sandersville. Almost immediately, the highways enter the northern part of the city. They then intersect Linton Road, which leads to the Linton community, T.J. Elder Middle School, and Brentwood School. The highways curve to the southeast and intersect SR15 (Sparta Road). A short distance later, they leave the city limits of the city. They curve to the east-northeast and intersect Ridge Road. Here, SR24 turns right to the south-southwest, while SR540 and the FLF take the beginning of SR88 to the east-northeast. They cross over Williamson Swamp Creek before intersecting the northern terminus of SR231 (Tree Nursery Road). Then, they cross over the Ogeechee River to enter Jefferson County.
Jefferson County
After curving to the north-northeast, they enter the Grange community. There, they intersect SR171 (Grange Road). Then, the highways cross over Rocky Comfort Creek. After that, they curve to the northeast. Just before an intersection with the southern terminus of Hadden Pond Road, they curve back to the east-northeast. SR88, SR540, and the FLF cross over Duhart Creek, curve to a northeasterly direction, and intersect SR296. They cross over Big Creek and curve back to the northeast. After beginning a curve to the east-southeast, they enter Wrens. They intersect US1, US221, SR4, and SR17 (Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway). SR88, SR540, and the FLF turn left onto the other highways. US1, US221, SR4, SR17, SR88, SR540, and the FLF travel to the north-northeast, into the main part of the city. At an intersection with the western terminus of Howard Street, SR17 departs the concurrency to the north-northwest on Thomson Highway. In downtown Wrens, they intersect SR80 (Broad Street), where SR88 departs the concurrency to the east-northeast. They curve to the northeast and intersect the eastern terminus of SR47. Here, US221 departs the concurrency, with it and SR47 traveling to the north-northwest. After leaving Wrens, US1, SR4, SR540, and the FLF cross over Reedy Creek on the Floyd L. Norton Memorial Bridge. They curve to the north-northeast and cross over Brier Creek, entering Richmond County and the city limits of Augusta.
Richmond County
US1, SR4, SR540, and the FLF curve to the east-northeast and cross over Boggy Gut Creek. After curving back to the northeast, they cross over Sandy Run Creek. Then, they curve to the east, before curving to the east-northeast. The highways enter the city limits of Blythe. They intersect the western terminus of Church Street, which leads to Blythe city hall, a U.S. Post Office, and Blythe Elementary School. They begin a curve to the northeast. On this curve they intersect SR88 and the southern terminus of Hoods Chapel Road. They leave Blythe and re-enter Augusta. They curve to the north-northeast and cross over South Prong Creek. The concurrency begins to curve back to the northeast. On this curve, they cross over Spirit Creek. This crossing is just south of Gordon Lakes Golf Course. They intersect the northern terminus of Willis Foreman Road before an interchange with Tobacco Road. They cross over Butler Creek and curve to the east-northeast to an intersection with the northern terminus of Meadowbrook Drive and the southern terminus of Barton Chapel Road. The roadway begins a curve back to the northeast. At an interchange with I-520 (Bobby Jones Expressway; and its unsigned companion designation SR415), both SR540 and the FLF end, while US1 and SR4 continue into the heart of Augusta.
History
1920s to 1960s
The roadway that would eventually become SR540 (Fall Line Freeway) was established at least as early as 1919 as part of SR22 in the northern part of the Columbus area, SR49 from Fort Valley to Byron, SR24 in the western part of the Sandersville area, and an unnumbered road from Wrens to Augusta.[3] By the end of 1921, SR22 was shifted southward to travel between Columbus and Geneva. SR19 was established from Macon to East Macon. SR57 was established between East Macon and Gordon. SR24 was placed on the Wrens–Augusta segment.[3][6] By October 1926, US80 was designated on the Columbus–Geneva segment. US1 was designated on the Wrens–Augusta segment.[6][7] By October 1929, SR24 was removed from the Wrens–Augusta segment and was replaced with SR4.[7][8] In 1931, SR96 was established between Geneva and Reynolds.[9][10] In 1937, SR96 was shifted to the southeast, onto the Reynolds–Fort Valley segment.[11][12] Between January 1945 and November 1946, SR243 was designated between Gordon to south-southwest of Milledgeville.[13][14] Between June 1960 and June 1963, I-75 was proposed in the Byron area. An unnumbered road was built from SR171 northwest of Louisville to Wrens.[15][16] By 1966, I-75 was completed from Byron to the I-475 interchange and proposed from there to the I-16 interchange. I-16 was proposed in Macon. SR88 was established on the Sandersville–Wrens segment.[16][17] In 1966, I-16 was completed in Macon.[17][18] The next year, US80/SR22 was proposed to be shifted southward in the Macon area.[18][19]
1970s and 1980s
In 1970, I-75 was completed just south of I-16.[20][21] The next year, I-75 was completed in the Macon area.[21][22] In 1983, the J.R. Allen Parkway, the freeway bypass of the main part of Columbus, was proposed along its current path.[23][24] By the beginning of 1986, this freeway was under construction from the Alabama state line to just east of US27/SR1. A southeastern bypass of Macon, designated as SR758, was proposed from US80/SR22 at US41 Bus./US129 Alt./SR11 in the southern part of the city east-northeast, northeast, and north-northeast to US23/US80/US129 Alt./SR19/SR87 east of Ocmulgee National Monument in what is now East Macon.[24][25] In 1988, it was completed, with US80/SR22 shifted onto it. The northern bypass of Fort Valley, designated as SR49 Connector, was proposed on its current path. Also, the northern bypass of Sandersville, designated as SR816, was proposed from Deepstep Road northwest of the city to SR88 east-northeast of it.[26][27] In 1989, SR816's proposed path was extended westward to SR24 west of Sandersville.[27][28]
1990s and 2000s
In 1991, the Sandersville bypass was completed and redesignated as a westward extension of SR88.[29][30] The next year, SR49 Conn. was completed.[30][31] In 1993, a southern bypass of Butler, designated as SR827, was proposed from SR96 west-northwest of the city to SR96 east of it.[31][32] In 1997, the western part of SR758 was completed.[33][34] In 1999, this bypass's proposed designation, SR827, was canceled.[35][36] In 2000, all of SR758, except for the completed portion, was canceled. At this time, the Butler bypass was completed, but no route number was designated.[36][37] In 2004, a new roadway, from SR243 north-northeast of Ivey to SR24 southeast of Milledgeville, was proposed. Also, SR758 was re-proposed on its previous path.[38][39] The next year, SR758's proposed path was again canceled. Also, the proposed roadway between Ivey and Sandersville was also canceled.[39][40] In 2006, SR96 was shifted onto the Butler bypass. Also, SR758 was decommissioned.[40][41]
2010s
Between 2011 and 2013, SR243 was extended southward as a western bypass of Gordon.[42][43] The highway's final 9-mile-long (14km) section of new roadway between SR24 and US441 south of Milledgeville in Baldwin and Wilkinson counties, as well of the 16-mile-long (26km) widening of SR 24 to the Sandersville bypass, was awarded to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. of Fleming Island, Florida in January 2013.[44][45][46] It appears as though GDOT has delayed plans to address the highway's passage through the city of Wrens, where it reduces to a two-lane road through downtown with a center turn lane. According to GDOT's GRIP maps, the section through Wrens is considered complete.[1] Other documents suggest that GDOT has entertained the idea of a Wrens bypass, however.[47] The highway was estimated to cost $75.3 million.[48] Between 2013 and 2015, a new road was built from SR243 south-southwest of Scottsboro and US441/SR29 south-southeast of that community.[43][49] The segment between the Scottsboro and Sandersville areas was completed and opened to traffic in October 2016.[50] Between August 2017 and July 2018, the highway was completed.[4][1] GDOT announced to the public that the highway was officially signed as Georgia State Route 540 on September 24, 2018.[2] In October 2018, GDOT began installing SR540 shields in Columbus.[51]
Future

The Fall Line Freeway, including  portions of US80 is proposed to be included in an extension of I-14, which currently extends from Copperas Cove to Belton, Texas and may be extended to Augusta.[52]
Major intersections


See also
Route map: Attached KML Error: KML file not foundTemplate:Attached KML/Main PageKML is not from Wikidata
 Geographic data related to  at OpenStreetMap
Georgia (U.S. state)portal
U.S. roadsportal
Savannah River Parkway
Interstate 3