Georgia State Route 53
| East end |     SR 24 Bus. in Watkinsville | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Georgia | |||
| Counties | Floyd, Gordon, Pickens, Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Jackson, Barrow, Oconee | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
State Route 53 (SR 53) is a 172.146-mile-long (277.042 km) west-to-east
Route description
Western terminus to Dawsonville
From its western terminus at the Alabama state line, SR 53 travels east through
Dawsonville to eastern terminus
After a brief concurrency with
Traffic
The
In and around Jasper, where SR 53 is concurrent with SR 5/SR 515, the route carries between 14,000 and 24,000 vehicles, before rapidly decreasing again to an average load of around 5,000 while concurrent with SR 108. SR 53 then sees the lowest average vehicle load on its way across north Georgia between Pickens County and Dawson County, where the averages drop to around 2,500 vehicles per day. Traffic picks up again west of Dawsonville, and reaches numbers of around 13,000 where the route feeds Dawson County and Forsyth County traffic to SR 400. Once the route crosses into Hall County and approaches Gainesville, numbers increase yet again to around 23,000 vehicles per day north and into Gainesville, and reach nearly 28,000 vehicles as the route feeds I-985. The averages drop rapidly south of I-985 to around 7,000 as the route approaches Jackson County, and the average only increases again to around 10,000 as SR 53 feeds I-85 and then approaches Winder in Barrow County. South and east of Winder, averages drop down to between 3,500 and 5,000 vehicles per day, but then increase one last time to just under 16,000 in Watkinsville, as the route reaches its eastern terminus.[2]
National Highway System
The following portions of SR 53 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 the southern end of the US 27/SR 1 concurrency, in Six Mile, to SR 1 Loop in the northeastern part of Rome[3]
- From SR 53 Spur, southeast of Calhoun, to the western end of the SR 211 concurrency, in Chestnut Mountain[4][5]
- From the western end of the SR 11 and SR 211 concurrencies, in Winder, to US 29/SR 316, west of Statham[4][5]
History
The first portions of the roadway that is signed as SR 53 today makes its appearance on Georgia state road maps in 1921, which show the portion of the route from south of Calhoun, through Fairmount, and on to Jasper. That entire portion was already signed as SR 53 at the time; however, this designation was also used in 1921 for the road connecting Calhoun with LaFayette and Chattanooga in Tennessee, which is signed as SR 136 today.[6] By 1926, the Calhoun-to-Fairmount portion was shown as having a sand, clay, or topsoil surface, while the Fairmount-to-Jasper portion appeared as being graded but unimproved.[7]
By 1929, the stretch from Rome to Calhoun had been added and signed as SR 53, with the southern half having been finished in a semi-hard surface, and the northern portion being surfaced with one of the soft surface materials. Another large portion of the route, running from Jasper to Dawsonville, on to Gainesville, and continuing to Winder, had also been graded by 1929, but did not appear to be signed yet.[8] By early in 1932, the route had been extended to start at the Alabama state line, with some of the portion from the state line to Cave Spring, and a portion into Rome, appearing to be surfaced with hard cover, and the remainder of the route between the state line and Rome being covered in soft material. About half of the route out of Rome had also been improved to hard surface, and the same was the case for the entire portion between Fairmount and Jasper, as well as more than half of the portion between Jasper and Dawsonville, and part of the stretch between Gainesville and Winder. In addition, the entire existing route, from Rome to Winder, was signed as SR 53 by 1932.[9]
The final stretch of the main route of SR 53 appeared in August 1933, when the portion from Winder to Watkinsville was shown as graded but unimproved for the first time. Very little had changed otherwise, and the road surface conditions had remained static since early in 1932.[10] By early in 1935, the only change of note to the route was the fact that the portion from the Alabama state line to Rome had by then been co-signed with US 411.[11] In 1945, only portions of the route were not yet improved to feature hard surface; namely, the stretches from west of Calhoun to Fairmount, and the portion between Winder and Watkinsville were the only unimproved parts.[12] It was 1953 before the entirety of the route was marked on Georgia highway maps as having been covered with hard surface.[13]
SR 53's routing was changed between 1955 and 1957 on the stretch of the route between Dawsonville and Gainesville, due to the construction of the new
Until 2007, the main route of SR 53 ran through downtown Jasper, following what is today signed as SR 53 Business. In 2006–2007, the route was realigned to follow SR 5/515 and SR 108 south and east around Jasper.[18]
As of 2014, GDOT plans to demolish the steel-truss bridge that carries Georgia 53 over Lake Lanier at the Forsyth/Hall county line. Built when the Chestatee River was flooded to create the lake, the Boling Bridge will be replaced with a much more bland[citation needed][original research?] structure. Because this will destroy the large nests built by ospreys atop the current bridge, new platforms about 30 feet (9 m) high will be installed on and near the new bridge for nesting.[19][20]
Future
SR 53 is planned to be widened in two phases. First from the intersection with Mars Hill Road/Hog Mountain Road to its interchange with
SR 53 at SR 316 is planned to become an interchange as part of making SR 316 a
Major intersections
| County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western terminus at the Alabama state line; continues as US 411 and SR 25 into Alabama; western end of US 411 concurrency | |||||
| Cave Spring | 4.447 | 7.157 |   SR 100 north (Fosters Mill Road) – Livingston | Western end of SR 100 concurrency | |
| 5.089 | 8.190 |  SR 100 south (Mill Road) – Cedartown | Eastern end of SR 100 concurrency | ||
SR 1 (Cedartown Highway/Rome Highway) – Cedartown | Western end of US 27/SR 1 concurrency | ||||
| Western end of SR 20 concurrency; eastern end of US 411 concurrency | |||||
| 20.423 | 32.868 |  SR 101 south (Rockmart Highway) – Silver Creek | Northern terminus of SR 101 | ||
| 21.756 | 35.013 |     SR 1 north (Old Summerville Road) / SR 20 west (Shorter Avenue) – Summerville | Eastern end of US 27/SR 1 and SR 20 concurrencies | ||
| 21.942 | 35.312 |   SR 293 east (Kingston Highway) – Kingston | Western terminus of SR 293 | ||
| 24.376 | 39.229 |  SR 1 Loop | |||
| Shannon | 32.372 | 52.098 |  SR 140 (Turkey Mountain Road / Adairsville Road) – Armuchee, Adairsville | ||
SR 53 Spur north – Calhoun | Southern terminus of SR 53 Spur | ||||
| 40.046 | 64.448 |   US 41 (Wall Street) / SR 3 – Adairsville, Resaca | |||
| 40.221 | 64.729 |  Atlanta | I-75 exit 310 | ||
US 411 south / SR 61 (Salacoa Avenue) – Cartersville | Western end of US 411/SR 61 concurrency | ||||
| 58.923 | 94.827 |   US 411 north / SR 61 – Chatsworth | Eastern end of US 411/SR 61 concurrency | ||
SR 136 Conn. north – Talking Rock | Southern terminus of SR 136 Conn. | ||||
| Jasper | 75.555 | 121.594 |   SR 5 north / SR 515 – Talking Rock | Western end of SR 5/SR 515 concurrency | |
| | 80.144 | 128.979 | SR 5 south / SR 515 – Ball Ground | Eastern end of SR 5/SR 515 concurrency | |
SR 53 Bus. north – Jasper | Southern terminus of SR 53 Bus. | ||||
| Dawson | | 99.085 | 159.462 |  SR 183 north (Elliott Family Parkway) – Juno | Southern terminus of SR 183 |
| Dawsonville | 101.617 | 163.537 |  SR 9 south – Silver City | Western end of SR 9 concurrency | |
| 101.724 | 163.709 | SR 9 north – Dahlonega | Eastern end of SR 9 concurrency | ||
| | 108.219 | 174.162 |   US 19 / SR 400 – Cumming | ||
| Forsyth | | 113.894 | 183.295 |  SR 306 south (Keith Bridge Road) – Coal Mountain | Northern terminus of SR 306 |
SR 53 Conn. east – Gainesville | Western terminus of SR 53 Conn. | ||||
| 124.738 | 200.746 |  SR 369 west (Browns Bridge Road) – Coal Mountain | Eastern terminus of SR 369 | ||
| (Lanier Parkway) | I-985 northbound exit 16; I-985 southbound exit 17 | ||||
| 129.658 | 208.664 |  SR 13 (Atlanta Highway) – Gainesville | |||
| Chestnut Mountain | 133.949 | 215.570 |  SR 211 south (Old Winder Highway) – Braselton | Western end of SR 211 concurrency | |
| 134.311 | 216.153 | SR 211 north (Tanners Mill Road) | Eastern end of SR 211 concurrency | ||
Atlanta | I-85 exit 129 | ||||
| 140.617 | 226.301 |  SR 124 east (Lewis Braselton Boulevard) | Western end of SR 124 concurrency | ||
| 140.642 | 226.341 | SR 124 west (Broadway Avenue) | Eastern end of SR 124 concurrency | ||
| Hoschton | 141.615 | 227.907 |  SR 332 north (Pendergrass Road) – Pendergrass | Southern terminus of SR 332 | |
| Barrow | Winder | 149.051 | 239.874 |  SR 11 east / SR 211 east (Jefferson Highway) – Jefferson, Statham | Western end of SR 11 and SR 211 concurrencies |
| 149.966 | 241.347 |  SR 82 east (Broad Street) | Western terminus of SR 82 | ||
| 150.530 | 242.255 | SR 211 west (W Athens Street) | Eastern end of SR 211 concurrency | ||
| 150.701 | 242.530 |    | Western end of US 29 Bus./SR 8 concurrency | ||
| 151.563 | 243.917 | SR 11 south (Monroe Highway) – Monroe | Eastern end of SR 211 concurrency | ||
| | 155.341 | 249.997 |   | Eastern end of US 29 Bus./SR 8 concurrency; SR 316 exit 27 | |
| Oconee | | 161.568 | 260.018 |   US 78 / SR 10 (Monroe Highway) – Monroe, Athens | |
| Watkinsville | 171.421 | 275.875 |    US 129 / US 441 / SR 24 (Macon Highway/Watkinsville Bypass) – Madison, Athens | ||
| 172.146 | 277.042 | SR 24 Bus. (North Main Street) | Eastern terminus | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
Special routes
SR 53 Spur in Calhoun
State Route 53 Spur | |
|---|---|
| Location | Calhoun |
| Length | 4.489 mi[1] (7.224 km) |
State Route 53 Spur (SR 53 Spur) is a 4.489-mile-long (7.224 km) spur route of SR 53 that is partially within the city limits of Calhoun. It continues north and northeast into downtown Calhoun as the mainline of SR 53 makes a sharp turn to the east and southeast and bypasses most of Calhoun to its south. The spur terminates at an intersection with US 41/SR 3 (Wall street) in the heart of Calhoun. On the east side of this intersection is the Gordon County Courthouse. In 2021, SR 53 Spur was extended all the way to the S Calhoun Bypass. The western end used to be at a junction with Belmont Drive and SR 53 Spur.
The entire length of SR 53 Spur 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.[4]
The entire route is in Calhoun, Gordon County.
| mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.000 | 0.000 |   SR 53 (South Calhoun Bypass east / Rome Road west) to Atlanta | Western terminus of SR 53 spur and the southern Calhoun bypass; roadway continues as Rome Road South West (SR 53 west); SR 53 takes on the Rome Road South West name | ||
| 4.278 | 6.885 |  SR 136 Conn. west (South River Street) – LaFayette | Western end of SR 136 Conn. concurrency | ||
| 4.489 | 7.224 | Main Street (US 41/SR 3) | Eastern end of SR 136 Conn. concurrency; eastern terminus of SR 53 Spur and SR 136 Conn. | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
SR 53 Business in Jasper
State Route 53 Business | |
|---|---|
| Location | Jasper |
| Length | 6.434 mi[1] (10.355 km) |
State Route 53 Business is a 6.434 miles (10.355 km) business branch of SR 53, which continues east into downtown Jasper as the main route of SR 53 turns southeast, concurrent with SR 5 and SR 515. In the heart of Jasper, SR 53 Bus turns southeast and utilizes what used to be the original routing of SR 5 through Jasper, which was re-designated as SR 5A in 1982.[26] SR 53 Business meets the main SR 53 route again in Tate, where SR 53 is concurrent with SR 108. SR 53 Bus follows the original routing of SR 53 through Jasper.
SR 53 Connector in Gainesville
State Route 53 Connector | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gainesville |
| Length | 3.9 mi[1][27] (6.3 km) |
State Route 53 Connector (SR 53 Conn.) is a 3.9-mile-long (6.3 km)
The entire length of SR 53 Conn. 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.[28]
The entire route is in Gainesville, Hall County.
| mi[27] | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | SR 53 (Dawsonville Highway north / McEver Road south) – Oakwood, Dawsonville | Western terminus | ||
| 1.8 | 2.9 |  SR 60 north / SR 369 (Jesse Jewell Parkway) – Oakwood, Cornelia | Western end of SR 60 concurrency | ||
| 2.3 | 3.7 |   To SR 11 Conn. (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) | Former SR 11 Conn. | ||
| 3.7 | 6.0 |  | I-985 exit 20 | ||
| 3.9 | 6.3 | SR 60 south (Candler Road) – Candler | Eastern end of SR 60 concurrency; eastern terminus | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "County GIS Base map shapefiles/geodatabases (varies by county)". Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ a b c Geographic Transportation Reporting Analysis and Query System (GeoTRAQS) (Map). Georgia Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ National Highway System: Rome, GA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ a b c National Highway System: Georgia (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 8, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ a b National Highway System: Atlanta, GA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (1921). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (October 1926). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (October 1929). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1932). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (August 1933). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1, 1935). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- OCLC 5673161. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- OCLC 5673161. Retrieved January 9, 2013. (Corrected to September 1, 1953.)
- OCLC 5673161. Retrieved January 9, 2013. (Corrected to June 1, 1955.)
- OCLC 5673161. Retrieved January 9, 2013. (Corrected to July 1, 1957.)
- OCLC 5673161. Retrieved January 14, 2013. (Corrected to June 1, 1960.)
- ^ Georgia Department of Transportation (1986). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1986–1987 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Georgia Department of Transportation (2007). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ "GDOT to build osprey homes as part of bridge project". Atlanta Business Chronicle. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "DOT plans to build new home for osprey as part of Boling Bridge project". Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "GDOT GA-53 Widening (Phase II)". GDOT. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ "GDOT GA-53 Widening (Phase III)". GDOT. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ "GDOT Mars Hill Road Widening (Phase I)". GDOT. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ "Eleven Georgia counties make Census list of nation's fastest growing counties". SaportaReport. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- ^ "State Route 316 Corridor Study" (PDF). GDOT. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ Georgia Department of Transportation (1982). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- ^ a b Google (October 27, 2023). "Route of SR 53 Connector" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ National Highway System: Gainesville, GA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.