U.S. Route 129 in Georgia

This article is about the current U.S. Highway. For the current state highway, see Georgia State Route 129.
This article is about the section of U.S. Route 129 in Georgia. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 129.

U.S. Highway 129 marker

U.S. Highway 129
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 29
Maintained by GDOT
Length: 376.0 mi (605.1 km)
Existed: 1926-1948 – present
Major junctions
South end: US 129 / SR 100 at the Georgia-Florida state line, south of Statenville
 
North end: US 19 / US 129 at the North Carolina state line, northwest of Blairsville
Location
Counties: Echols, Lanier, Berrien, Irwin, Ben Hill, Wilcox, Pulaski, Houston, Peach, Bibb, Jones, Jasper, Newton, Walton, Barrow, Jackson, Hall, White, Lumpkin, Union
Highway system
  • Georgia State Routes
SR 128SR 129

U.S. Route 129 (US 129) in the state of Georgia is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from the Florida state line south of Statenville, Georgia to the North Carolina state line, near Bellview.

US 129 is signed concurrently with various state routes. Most of the route is concurrent with Georgia State Route 11 at both the southern and northern termini as well as in Central Georgia. However, north of Hawkinsville, and into southern Macon the route runs along Georgia State Route 247. Within Macon itself, it runs along parts of Georgia State Route 87, and later Georgia State Route 49, and from Macon to Gray, it also runs along Georgia State Route 22. Between Gray and Eatonton, it runs along Georgia State Route 44, to the Watkinsville area along Georgia State Route 24, Georgia State Route 15 Alternate from Athens to Arcade, Georgia Connecting Route 11 between Arcade and Jefferson, Georgia State Route 365 and then Georgia State Route 369 southeast of Gainesville, and Georgia State Route 180 within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Concurrencies with US Routes include US 221 through the Lakeland area, US 82 through the Alapaha area, US 319 from Ocilla to Fitzgerald, US 341 through the Hawkinsville vicinity, US 41 north of Sofkee into southern Macon, US Business Route 41 in Macon, US 80 in Macon, US 23 in Macon, US 441 from Eatonton to Athens, US 278 near Madison, US 29-78 in Athens, US 23 again in Gainesville (unsigned with Interstate 985) and US 19 from Turners Corner through the North Carolina state line to Topton.

Route description

Florida State Line through Ray City

U.S. Route 129 begins at the Florida state line south of Statenville at the northwestern terminus of Florida State Road 100. The first intersection within the state is a local dirt road named Strickland Road. The route travels north concurrent with SR 11, and the rural surroundings that were found in northern Florida continue into Georgia. Aside from farmhouses and the fields they reside in, very little resemblance to development can be found until the routes reach downtown. A bi-directional connecting ramp can be found on the southwest corner of the intersection with Georgia State Route 94, while the county court house is on the southeast corner. Not long after this intersection, US 129 descends over the wetlands of Troublesome Creek, and curves to the northeast and re-enters farmland again. At a pair of farm fields, the road curves almost straight north. Along the way, the routes enter the community of Mayday and serves as the western terminus of Georgia State Route 187, whose intersection is shared by a local street named Norman Eva Road. Besides farms, forests and the occasional church, this segment of US 129/SR 11 passes over bridges for Cow Creek, and later Reedy Creek. The routes enter Stockton in the vicinity of Wayne Jones Honey Farm, but then approaches a railroad crossing with a CSX (formerly Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) line just before the eastbound lanes of US 84/SR 38. Shortly after this, it approaches the westbound lanes of US 84/SR 38, which has turning ramps on the northeast and northwest corners. Eventually leaving the city limits, they continue to run straight northeast until the intersection with Bennett Road, where the routes turn northwest, and even more so north of the intersection with Brantley Road. Just before the intersection with Georgia State Route 37C, the routes turn straight north again, only for the street to end at a "T" intersection with Georgia State Route 37, then turns west along SR 37, and encounters the northern terminus of SR 37C, and almost immediately has a wrong way concurrency with U.S. Route 221, which is also shared by State Routes 31 and 122. US 129/221/SRs 11/31/37/122 cross the Captain Henry Will Jones Bridge over the Alapaha River, then crosses another bridge over a tributary to that river named "Big Creek" where it officially enters Lakeland. For such a small city, Lakeland hosts a large cluster of US and state highways, many of which intersect or overlap US 129/11. The first one is North College Street, which serves as the southern (eastern) terminus of Georgia State Route 11 Bypass and the southern terminus of a concurrency with Georgia State Route 135 Bypass. Just two blocks later the wrong-way concurrency with SR 135 Bypass ends when that route makes a left turn onto Oak Street going south. Five blocks after this it has another concurrency with Georgia State Route 135 to the right on North Carter Street, and a mere 121 feet later[1] turns south in the opposite direction on South Valdosta Road, along with southbound US 221. A block and a half later, SR 122 branches off at a fork in the road to the southwest towards Thomasville, while US 129/SRs 11/37 branches off to the northwest. The last group of routes are the northern terminus of Georgia Connecting Route 11 at North Pecan Street and the northern (western) terminus of SR 11 Bypass at West Church Avenue. West of the city limits, one last state route can be found in the county, specifically, the Georgia State Route 122 Connector. All other intersections along US 129/SRs 11/37 are local streets or county roads. Just after the routes cross the Lanier-Berrien County Line, they intersect Johnson Street Extension, and Myers Road, then runs through the forestland surrounding Beaverdam Creek before eventually entering Ray City, where it becomes Main Street, curves almost straight west, and serves as the southwestern terminus of Georgia State Route 64. After a railroad crossing, the concurrency with Georgia State Route 37 ends as US 129/SR 11 starts curving to the north and is joined by another concurrency, this time with Georgia State Route 125.

Ray City through Pineview

The road moves away from the tracks just before entering Nashville where it is given the name South Davis Street. After the intersection with South Jefferson Street, it curves to the right and runs straight north. Two blocks later, Georgia State Route 76 joins the concurrency with US 129/SR 11/125 at the intersection of Adel Highway and Hazel Avenue. A former section of SR 76 (Adel Highway) can be seen just north of that intersection on the west side as a dead end street. A flood channel also runs under the road where the former intersection used to exist. Further downtown, US 129/SRs 11/76/125 encounter the western terminus of Georgia State Route 168 at East McPherson Avenue. Two blocks later at the NRHP-listed Berrien County Courthouse, the concurrency with Georgia State Route 76 comes to an end as it turns east onto East Marion Avenue, while at the same intersection the concurrency with Georgia State Route 125 comes to an end as it turns west onto West Marion Avenue. From that point US 129/SR 11 becomes North Davis Street and runs through the rest of the city until passing by the Berrien Primary School and later after the intersection with North Magnolia Drive. After leaving the city, the name of the street changes from North Davis Street to Main Street, despite having none of the typical characteristics of such a street name. Instead it serves as a rural two-lane roadway passing through mostly agricultural and forested lands. It's at the intersection of West Lenox Road, which runs southwest, and a private farm road that runs southeast that the routes enter Alapaha. The road runs north-northeast within the town, and a few blocks after the intersection with East Brunswick Street, passes through the former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad right-of-way that was converted into a town green, with the station converted into a firehouse. The road passes by the post office, then the Alapaha Baptist Church, and three blocks later, turns left at US 82/SR 520 (South Georgia Parkway). The concurrency leaves the town limits, and after a local farm supply store, US 129/SR 11 branches off to the northwest onto Alapaha Highway, while US 82 heads west to Albany, Georgetown, Montgomery, Alabama, and ultimately Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Meanwhile, US 129/SR 11 passes by some local farmland along with a dirt road, then after a cemetery enters some wetlands where it makes a slight curve to another northwest angle passing by a fish farm,[2] then curves to the right before the intersection with Berrien County Road 246, then crosses the Captain Henry Will Jones Bridge over the Alapaha River and turns back to the northeast again. At the Berrien–Irwin County Line the road intersects the western terminus of Georgia State Route 158, then north of Tulip Road (Irwin CR 80) crosses a bridge over Reedy Creek. It then turns to the north-northwest between Green Road (Irwin CR 88) and Nash Lane (Irwin CR 265), then turns straight north at Hickory Road (Irwin CR 57). North of Cedar Grove Church Road (Irwin CR 246) the road enters the Ocilla City Limits. US 129/SR 11 curves slightly to the northeast before passing by the Irwin County Detention Center, then crosses a bridge over Stump Creek, and becoming Irwin Avenue as it turns straight north before approaching the intersection with Five Bridge Road and East Boulevard, the latter of which is where Georgia State Route 90 turns from west to north in a concurrency with US 129/SR 11. US 129/SRs 11/90 run north through a mostly residential area, where it passes the Ocilla-Irwin Chamber of Commerce,[3] and north of that the historic Irwin County Courthouse between West First and West Second Street.[4] US 319 and Georgia SR 32 are marked at Fourth Street, where northbound US 319 leaves it's concurrency with eastbound SR 32 to join US 129.

South of Valdosta Lane, US 129/319/SRs 11/90 widens to four lanes with a center left-turn lane. The routes leave the city after the Ocilla Bethel Baptist Church. Between West Cargile and East Frank Roads, signs of an abandoned railroad crossing can be found. North of Aaron Drive, the road gets the name Fitzgerald Highway and serves as the location of sites such as the Ocilla Country Club,[5] and then the Dill's Builder's Supply, but changes its name to Ocilla Highway after crossing a bridge over Willacoochee Creek, and shortly afterwards the Irwin-Ben Hill County Line. At Pine Level Church Road (Ben Hill CR 243), the routes curve from northeast to Northwest, and intersects Ed Ward Road, which leads to the Fitzgerald Municipal Airport[6] and later the Turkey Creek Golf Course and Country Club.[7] The routes officially enter the City of Fitzgerald at the intersection of Georgia State Route 107[8] where US 319 leaves the concurrency by turning right. North of there, US 129/SRs 11/90 pass through standard contemporary commercial zoning with fast food restaurants, shopping centers, and similar businesses as it crosses a railroad line and becomes Grant Street as it curves straight north, then splits into a one-way pair, when the northbound lanes shift onto Sherman Street. Between Cypress and Palm Streets, Sherman Street runs along the west side of Blue and Gray Park. Further downtown, both streets approach Central Avenue, a divided boulevard that provides a link between the northern terminus of Georgia State Route 125 and US 319. One block later, they cross level crossings with a former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad line. North of there, the roads run over flood channels at Chattahoochee Street. Though Grant Street remains straight north of East Ohoopee Street, Sherman Street turns to the northwest where SR 90 leaves the concurrency at West Sultana Drive, and Sherman Street becomes Wilson Avenue. The one-way pair ends as both roads curve to the northeast and becomes Bowens Mill Highway, although a local segment of Wilson Avenue resumes on the Grant Street side of this pair. After passing the Fitzgerald Nursing Home the road curves north again, cutting off a former segment of Bush Road and transforming into a frontage road between Jack Allen Road and Lower Rebecca/Joshlyn Road.

North of Fitzgerald, it runs through Queensland then curves to the right and passes through Bowens Mill where it serves as the western terminus of SR 182 and replaces the trajectory of that route running roughly parallel to the Ocmulgee River even as it crosses the Ben Hill-Wilcox County Line, passing a Georgia State Fish Hatchery.[9] Continuing in relatively close proximity to the Ocmulgee the road eventually runs through Abbeville where the street becomes South Broad Street. A long driveway leads to the Wilcox Correctional Institute, then the road curves straight north as it crosses a bridge over a former Seaboard Air Line Railroad line. Four blocks later South Broad Street ends at US 280/SR 30 (Main Street) and the road becomes North Broad Street then curves back to the northwest at Cannonville Road. Curving less to the west, it skirts through the eastern edges of Pineview where Routes 129 and 11 serves as the northern terminus of Georgia State Route 233, and then a bridge over Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Ocmulgee River, followed by an overflow bridge. At Richland Church Road, the routes cross the Wilcox-Pulaski County Line where more farmland surrounds the road than woodland. The exception were the wetlands surrounding a bridge over Bluff Creek and another over Standley Creek. Farmland is reduced slightly but continues along this segment. An abandoned former section can be found on the east side of the road as it approaches the intersection with Georgia State Route 112, which joins US 129/SR 11 in a concurrency north of here.

Hawkinsville through Macon

After the intersection with Fire Tower Road US 129/SRs 11/112 enters the city limits of Hawkinsville, and instantly passes alongside of the Lawrence Bennett Harness Horse Racing Training track. Further into town Abbeville Highway becomes South Jackson Street. US 129/SRs 11/112 run along South Jackson Street as they approach U.S. Route 341/SRs 27/230/257, where US 129/SR 11 turns left. The same intersection is also the southern terminus of US ALT 129, which heads east and US BUS 129, which continues northbound onto Jackson Street, while the concurrency with SR 112 ends and joins US ALT 129. The first sites along this segment are the City Hall and historic Hawkinsville Opera House. SRs 27/SR 257 turns southwest onto McCormick Avenue (Fire Road 600). After Wood Street, SR 230 continues to the west onto Broad Street while US 129/Truck 341/SR 11 takes a sharp turn to the northwest rejoining the Golden Isles Parkway. Three blocks later, the routes encounter the first major intersection, which is SR 26. Just after the culvert over Town Creek, US 129/341/11 mainline leaves the Hawkinsville City Limits, and US BUS 129/341/SR 11 BUS ends at these routes before the main road curves to the northwest and replaces the trajectory of the business routes. The end of the concurrency with US 341 and temporary end of the concurrency with SR 11 begins when US 129 turns north onto Georgia State Route 247. US 129 overlaps SR 247 as they enter Houston County, and later Bibb County before passing Middle Georgia Regional Airport a short distance south-southeast of an intersection with US 41/SR 11/SR 49. The five highways later run through Rutland as they pass over a bridge for a former Central of Georgia Railway line, and then turn north again where they encounter an interchange with Houston Avenue, a former segment of US 41/SRs 11/49. From that point on, the street name along this concurrency is Houston Road. Later the routes enters some marshland which includes bridges with Tobesofkee Creek and Rocky Creek before finally entering Macon, Georgia where it approaches a major intersection. US 41/SR 247 branches off to the northwest onto Pio NoNo Road, Houston Road becomes Houston Avenue and continues straight ahead, and US 129/SRs 11/49 branches off to the northeast onto Broadway, also this time accompanied by US 41 Business.

US 129/BUS 41/SRs 11/49 continuously curve toward the northeast, running close to the same CofG line it passed over in Rutland until it turns straight north between Estaville Avenue and Greter Street. At the intersection with Eisenhower Parkway US 80/SR 22 turns from east to north joining the concurrency with US 129-BUS 41, while Eisenhower Parkway itself continues as an unmarked and unfinished divided highway. After the intersection with Henry Street, the routes curve to the northeast. Houston Avenue ends across from Concord Street, and US BUS 41/80/129/SRs 11/22/49 is renamed Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard. The road runs under a railroad bridge for a former CofG line just south of Ash Street. Further downtown, the road intersects a four-lane divided boulevard known as Poplar Street, which used to be where US BUS 41 turned left to leave the concurrency, then curves to the right to encounter an intersection with Mulberry Street and Fifth Street, the former of which used to be where SR 49 turned left to leave the multiplex. Today, US BUS 41/SRs 22/49 all turn west onto Walnut Street, then US 129/11 crosses under the current and former bridge embankments for some former Southern Railway lines. US 80 continues northbound to cross the Otis Redding Memorial Bridge, while US 129/11 then makes a left turn onto Riverside Drive, joining northbound GA 87 and running under the same railroad bridge that it passed under south of the intersection. The northwest corner of this intersection also contains the Charles H. Jones Gateway Park. Three blocks after this intersection, the road passes under the bridge for SR 22 (Second Street), which only includes access from a south to east loop ramp. Rotary Park can be found across from this loop. West of First Street, a vacant lot that may or may not be part of this park can also be found. The concurrency along Riverside Drive ends at Spring Street (GA 19/49) when SR 87 continues straight northwest along US 23, while northbound US 129/SR 11 turn right along Spring Street (US 23), following the routes in a wrong way concurrency. US 23/129/SRs 11/19/49 then cross the W.L. "Young" Stribling Memorial Bridge (formerly known as the Spring Street Bridge) over the Ocmulgee River, which also includes the previously mentioned former Southern Railway line on the south side and the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail on the north side. Before approaching the interchange with Interstate 16, southbound US 23/SR 19 are channelized into separate lanes, along with the ramps for eastbound and westbound I-16. Northbound US 23/SR 19 (Emery Highway) join US 129/SRs 11/49 across from the south-to-westbound on-ramp to I-16. US Alternate Route 129 ends at US 129 at the intersection of Second Street, but SR 22 resumes it's concurrency with US 129. Over several blocks later, SR 49 leaves the concurrency and turns east onto Shurling Drive.

Metro Macon through Athens

Still within Macon, US 129/SRs 11/22 changes from a four-lane undivided highway to a four-lane divided highway named Gray Highway. This continues even as it crosses the Bibb-Jones County Line, just north of the intersection with the southern terminus of Old Clinton Road a former segment of SR 11. That segment ends as Old Gray Highway across from Joycliff Road, and another one named Rock Cliff Road begins across from the intersection of Sand Creek Trail. After this one ends, another former SR 11 segment (Old Macon Road) begins north and across from that at the intersection of Greenwood Road. The north end of Old Macon Road and an entrance to a gated community called "Landfall at Porter" is where the routes enter Gray. From there the road curves more towards the east-northeast when it encounters the beginning of a short multiplex with Georgia State Route 18. A six-mile bypass is also under construction at this location.[10] Closer to downtown Gray, the concurrency with SR 18 ends at Bill Conn Parkway across from Jackson Avenue. The divided highway ends in front of a Harvey's Supermarket, and the road becomes only three lanes wide, with center-left turn lane provisions. This segment remains as such until it reaches the vicinity of the grade crossing of the former Central of Georgia Railway Line. SR 11 leaves US 129 on the west side of the tracks across from the former Gray CofG railroad station, while US 129 makes a sharp left turn along the east side of the tracks at the intersection of Georgia State Route 44. SR 22 continues towards Milledgeville and Comer.

The tracks move to the left of US 129/SR 44 after Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and the street name changes from James Street to Eatonton Highway. After passing the Gray Garden Apartments, the road curves from north-northeast to northeast and leaves the city limits just south of Industrial Boulevard, the last connecting road between SR 11 and US 129, then crosses a bridge over Wolf Creek, and encounters the Gray Bypass again. North of there the road winds through more forestland, most of which is privately owned. Within Ethridge a former section of the road branches off to the northwest at the shared intersection of Old Eatonton Road and Norman Road. From there Old Eatonton Road runs along the west side of the routes even as both roads intersect the shared intersection of Homer Chiles Road and Roosevelt Road. Old Eatonton Road ends at US 129 just north of Homer Chiles Road, but north of there another right-of-way which began at Roosevelt Road ends at US 129/SR 44 later on. It also skirts through the northern segments of Haddock where some abandoned boat repair and tackle shops can be found. The reason for the existence of such businesses is due to the parkland and wetland as it approaches the bridge over Big Cedar Creek, where US 129/SR 44 enters Putnam County, and the name of the street changes to Gray Road Southwest. This parkland Cedar Creek National Wildlife Management Area in Oconee National Forest. The first major intersection within the county is Resseaus Crossroads, which is the blinker-light intersection with Georgia State Route 212. North of that intersection it crosses a bridge over Murder Creek, and later another one named the Horace Gus Layson Memorial Bridge over the Recce Branch. Near Eatonton, the road runs along the southwest corner of a Wal-Mart Super Center, and finally approaches US Route 441/Georgia State Route 24, turning left and joining those routes in a concurrency. Continuing from Gray Road Southwest is US BUS 129/441/SR BUS 24

Throughout much of Central Georgia, US 129/441 follows SR 24 north of Eatonton, and includes an interchange with Interstate 20 at Exit 114 south of Madison. Shortly after this US 129/441/SR 24 will encounter the southern terminus of US BYP 129/441/SR BYP 24 (Madison Bypass), followed by SR 24 Spur which serves as the westbound connector to US 278/SR 12/SR 83. US 129/441/SR 24 will later join these routes in yet another concurrency, although SR 83 leaves at Washington Street. After passing by the Madison Airport, US 129/441/SR 24 leaves the concurrency with US 278/SR 12 at the north end of the Madison Bypass, and turns northeast as it crosses a bridge over a railroad line. West of another section of Oconee National Forest the multiplex runs through communities such as Apalachee, Farmington, and Bishop where it encounters the eastern terminus of Georgia State Route 186.

US 441 Business/Georgia Business Route 24 branch off to the northeast towards Watkinsville, while mainline US 129/441/SR 24 runs along the Watkinsville Bypass, which contains one intersection with New High Shoals Road, a partial cloverleaf interchange with Georgia State Route 58 near the University of North Georgia Oconee Campus, and one other intersection with a small unfinished industrial park. SR 24 ends at Georgia State Route 15 in Woodridge North as does US BUS 441/SR 24, but US 129/441 continues onto SR 15. This concurrency remains in its existing form until all three routes join the Athens Perimeter at US 29/78 (Exit 4). For a short period, the parameter is an eight-highway concurrency, consisting of US 29/US 78/US 129/US 441/SR 8/SR 10 Loop/SR 15/SR 422 (the latter of which is unsigned). Part of this concurrency ends when US 78 leaves at Exit 8. All the while the parameter gradually mores more to the northeast rather than east, as US 29 leaves at Exit 10B, when US 129/441/SR 10 Loop makes a turn on a loop ramp to the northern segment of the perimeter heading west. Evidence of a proposed eastern extension of that segment can be found east of that interchange as a stub at Old Hull Road. US 441/SR 15 leaves the concurrency at Exit 12, and US 129 leaves the Athens Perimeter at Exit 14, joining Georgia State Route 15 Alternate, which actually began at Exit 6.

Athens through Gainesville

After leaving the Athens Perimeter, US 129/SR 15 ALT (Jefferson Road) runs along the west side of the Athens Country Club, which it also ran along the south side of while overlapping the perimeter. As far south as the country club, US 129/SR ALT 15 is flanked by a former Seaboard Air Line Railroad (originally Gainesville Midland Railroad) line hugging along the east side occasionally curving away from it, while the road itself curves at various northwestern trajectories, occasionally running due west. In Attica, the routes encounter the eastern terminus of Georgia State Route 330 then briefly curves straight north. The road curves northwest along some large plot of farmland then northeast in front of a gas station/convenience store and the Attica Sports Complex next door. The road curves slightly to the northwest again before running under a power line right-of-way, then starts to resume it's west-northwest direction just before the intersection with New Kings Bridge Road. In Arcade, SR 15 Alternate leaves at the Arcade Business Route, which was formerly part of US 129 until 2000. From here the road is overlapped by Georgia Connecting Route 11 (Jefferson Bypass) and runs almost west. After the intersection with Georgia State Route 82, it curves back to the northwest. The closest resemblance to a major intersection after this is former Georgia State Route 319 (Etheridge Road). However, Georgia State Route 11 rejoins US 129 at Winder Highway, which itself continues onto Business Route 11 leading to Downtown Jefferson. After this is an intersection with Panther Drive, which serves the Jackson County High School, and a school bus garage US 129/SR 11 then runs along a pair of bridges over the same former SAL Railroad Line that flanked it since it ran past the golf course in Athens, then intersects Holders Siding Road, which leads to the NRHP-listed Holder Plantation.

US 129 Business Route/SR 11 BUS end at US 129, which winds through the woods of Jackson County for another mile before encountering the interchange with Interstate 85 at Exit 137. The SAL line approaches the west side of the route until it reaches Pendergrass where it approaches a former segment of the road now partially designated Georgia State Route 332 which is overlapped with US 129/11 until it reaches Talmo. Shortly after the end of this concurrency, US 129/SR 19 narrows down from a four-lane divided highway to a two lane undivided one, as it runs through local farm fields, although Georgia Department of Transportation plans to do away with the narrow segment of the route.[11] A second northbound lane forms after Pond Fork Church Road (Former Georgia State Route 346) as the road begins to climb a hill and make a reverse curve to the northeast, but ends just before the route cross the Jackson-Hall County Line, gaining the name Athens Highway.

The road currently widens to four lanes again just before the western terminus of Georgia State Route 323, then curves off to the northwest again, later running through Bailey. Branching off to the right is a road named Athens Street, a former section of the Athens Highway which runs northwest until it reaches Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard. US 129/SR 11 curves to the left of there and gains the additional name of "E.E. Butler Parkway." Within Gainesville, US 129 once again joins the concurrency with US 23 at Exit 22 on Interstate 985, which is also shared by the southern terminus of US BUS 129, and SR 11 leaves the overlap to follow the business route downtown. At Exit 24 US 129 leaves across from the unmarked Old Cornelia Highway, and I-985 ends, while the US 23/GA 365 concurrency continues north as an at-grade highway that has potential to be upgraded to interstate standards. In the meantime, US 129 briefly turns west along Georgia State Route 369 (Jesse Jewell Parkway), before turning right onto Limestone Parkway, and is joined by SR 11 once again. North of Georgia State Route 284 the road curves west to encounter the northern terminus of GA Business Route 11, and Cleveland Highway continues north onto US 129/SR 11, which narrows down to two lanes with a center-left turn lane running north-northwest.

Gainesville through the North Carolina State Line

Running under power lines, the surrounding become rural and increasing mountainous. Center-left turn lanes are provided almost continuously until the Old River Pointe cluster development where the road narrows down to two lanes just before the bridge over the Chattahoochee River, followed by a Georgia State Patrol station, where the center lane begins again and it takes a sharp curve to the northeast. The south side of this segment contains mostly light commercial development, while the north side, though containing one gas station is either residential or vacant. One local street leads to Little River Park[12] After passing a cemetery, it curves to a more northerly direction before it crosses the Bells Mill Bridge over the East Fork of the Little River at Lake Lanier. Route 129 climbs around the hills of northern Hall County cutting through two former sections of the road, one of which is abandoned, and the other a local street named Indian Trail Road. Later it passes a mobile home park below an embankment and runs between two churches across from each other in Beaver Pond. The road makes a reverse turn after Honeysuckle Road, then becomes a four-lane divided highway. However, the only intersections that are served by this divided section are the shared intersection with Jim Hill Road and Nopone Road. US 129 takes a turn to the northwest and the divided section comes to an end before the road passes through Whitmire. North of the intersection with Georgia State Route 52, more local businesses identify themselves as being in the Town of Clermont, though the road doesn't officially enter the town limits until further north. Along this segment it curves to the northeast. Nearly immediately after it does though, the road has another intersection with SR 284, and merely 0.6 miles (0.97 km) later another one with Georgia State Route 283.[13] After the intersection with Georgia State Route 254, and a Shell gas station on the northeast corner, US 129/SR 11 crosses the Hall-White County line.

The route enters the City of Cleveland, just before the intersection with Donald E. Thurmond Parkway,[14] then US 129/SR 11 curves to the northwest just before the southern terminus of the unfinished US Bypass 129, where the existing US 129/SR 11 turns right onto South Main Street. Branching on from the southeast is a street named Old Highway 75 South, where at one time a concurrency with Georgia State Route 75 began. The road makes a slight curve to the northwest at Boulevard Street, then heads straight north again at Hood Street, then passes by the White County Courthouse north of Underwood Street, while the Old White County Courthouse comes closer into the driver's view. Though seeming to terminate at Georgia State Route 115, the northbound and southbound lanes move around the former courthouse at Courthouse Square, until they reach East Jarrard Street, and the routes become North Main Street, which runs straight north until it curves away to the northwest at Church Street. The next intersection is Naccochee Road, which is unmarked Georgia State Route 75 Spur, and one block later, Georgia State Route 75, as well as the beginning of an overlap with Georgia State Route 75A The northern terminus of US Bypass 129 is proposed to end diagonally across from the intersection of Hulsey Road. East of US 129, the Cleveland Bypass is intended to continue along the north side of Hulsey Road to SR 75.[15] Other than this the route passes by the White County High School, and an RV dealership and supply store. Georgia State Route 75A branches off to the northeast towards the Smithgall Woods Center, and Helen, Georgia. From there, US 129/SR 11 winds further and further northwest as it meanders through the farmlands at the foot of the North Georgia mountains, occasionally passing some camps of various types along the way.

As the route crosses the White-Lumpkin County Line, it enters the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest,[16] and is given the name "Turners Corner Road," which somehow starts to curve southwest until it runs past a local convenience store and garage and runs west in front of them before curving northwest an encountering the intersection with US Route 19 in Turners Corner, which joins the routes in another concurrency. This is also a reunification, because US 129 actually begins at US 19 in Chiefland, Florida. The three routes climb over and descend the North Georgia mountains and continues north, just as US 129/SR 11 were already doing without US 19 with randomly located hill-climbing lanes. Along the way it passes by the Mountain View Campground and Trading Post. Other campgrounds include the Desoto Falls Recreation Area and the Chestatee Knoll Campground. Somewhere along the way it gains the name "Gainesville Highway," where it winds around the east side of Blood Mountain. It also passes through a divide within the mountains known as Neels Gap along the Lumpkin-Union County Line, after which it passes by the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center, which also contains the Appalachian Trail. A runaway truck ramp can be seen just before the entrance to Vogel State Park, which itself ran along the west side of US 19/129/SR 11 since the routes entered Union County. North of the park, Georgia State Route 180 (Wolf Pen Gap Road) joins this concurrency, where the routes encounter such sites as the Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center,[17] a local grocery store[18] and a gift shop diagonally across from where SR 180 leaves the concurrency at Bald Mountain Road.

Eventually leaving the parkland US 129/19/SR 11 is surrounded by more farms and ranches, though still exists as a mountain road. In Owltown, random trading posts, flea markets and some restaurants are found along the road, one of which uses an oversized chair as a promotional tool. Some campgrounds still exist along this segment as well. Evidence that a more urban setting is to come can be found around the intersection of US Truck Route 129 (Glenn Gooch Bypass), where the name of the street changes to Cleveland Avenue. A former segment of the road named "Pruitt Circle" branches off to the right, and later both roads officially enter Blairsville. Pruitt Circle comes back to US 19/129 just south of and across from the intersection with Stone Road. From there the road descends along a hill towards the historic center of town. US 19/129/SR 11 circles around the Union County Courthouse, but rather than resume the trajectory onto the northbound Pat Haralson Memorial Drive, they turn west onto Blue Ridge Street, then turn northwest onto Murphy Highway just before they intersect US Route 76/SR 515, also marking the northern terminus of US Truck Route 129.

Northwest from there, US 19/129/SR 11 passes the southwest border of the Butternut Creek Golf Course before entering Youngstown. The road turns north again where it utilizes a short causeway over Wellborn Branch, a tributary of the Nottely River before intersecting the northern terminus of Pat Haralson Memorial Drive, and across from this a local marina with a gas station/convenience store, small bait & tackle store and gift shop before the intersection with Pat Colwell Road. Random current and former boating and automotive-related businesses can be found along the way even as the road enters Canal Lake where another short causeway that makes a pond leading to Stevens Branch Creek, and is served by the Nottely Marina. Between and antique store and a furniture store, a power line right-of-way crosses from southeast to northwest as it heads over a mountain, and the road runs along the east side of that power line. Moving further away from those power lines, the road passes by a Cott Beverages production facility.[19] A third causeway that creates a pond for Ivylog Creek, whereas further north a small culvert over Conley Creek is not used as a dam. Flashing lights on the top and bottom of the two signal crossing signs are an indication the routes are about to enter Ivylog where the eastern terminus of Georgia State Route 325 can be found across from Ivy Log Road. North of the heart of Ivy Log, the Ivy Log Cemetery can be found hidden away in a driveway among more residential zoning. The rest of the surroundings are primarily farm and ranch land even as it runs under another power line right-of-way running from southwest to northeast south of T Chapel Road. The last two intersections in the State of Georgia are local roads, the first named Tate Road and a dead end street named B. King Lane which leads to an antique store. A gas station and strip mall can be found on the southwest corner of the North Carolina state line, where SR 11 meets its northern terminus, while US 19 continues towards Erie, Pennsylvania and US 129 continues towards Knoxville, Tennessee.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
Echols0.000.00 US 129 south / SR 100 southSouthern terminus at the Florida State line, continues south as US 129/SR 100, begin concurrency with US 129
Statenville SR 94 Valdosta, Fargo
SR 187 north Homerville
LanierStockton US 84 / SR 38 Valdosta, Homerville
SR 37 Conn. west (Frontage Road)Eastern terminus of SR 37 Connector
SR 37 east HomervilleEastern terminus of SR 37 concurrency
SR 37 Conn. east (Frontage Road)Western terminus of SR 37 Connector
US 221 north / SR 31 north / SR 122 east Pearson, WaycrossNorthern terminus of US 221 and SR 31 concurrencies
Eastern terminus of SR 122 concurrency
Alapaha RiverCaptain Henry Will Jones BridgeCrossing over the Alapaha River
Lakeland SR 11 Byp. north / SR 135 Byp. north (North College Road)Northern terminus of SR 135 Bypass concurrency; Southern terminus of SR 11 Bypass.
SR 135 Byp. south (South Oak Street) ValdostaSouthern terminus SR 135 Bypass concurrency
SR 135 north (North Carter Street) WillacoocheeSouthern terminus of SR 135 concurrency
US 221 south / SR 31 south / SR 135 south (South Valdosta Road) Valdosta, Quitman, NaylorNorthern terminus of US 221, SR 31, and SR 135 concurrencies
SR 122 west (West Main Street) HahiraWestern terminus of SR 122 concurrency
SR 11 Conn. south (North Pecan Street)Northern terminus of SR 11 Connector
SR 11 Byp. south (West Church Avenue)Northern terminus of SR 11 Bypass
SR 122 Conn. southNorthern terminus of SR 122 Connector
BerrienRay City SR 64 east (Samuel Street) Pearson
SR 37 west (Main Street) / SR 125 south (Patton Avenue) Adel, ValdostaWestern end of SR 37 concurrency; Southern end of SR 125 concurrency
Mayday SR 187 east HomervilleWestern end of SR 187
Nashville SR 76 west (Adel Road) AdelSouthern terminus of SR 76 concurrency
SR 168 east (McPherson Avenue) Homerville
SR 125 north (West Marion Avenue) / SR 76 east (East Marion Avenue) Tifton, WillacoocheeNorthern terminus of SR 125/SR 76 concurrency
Alapaha US 82 east / SR 520 east WillacoocheeEastern terminus of US 82/SR 520 concurrency
US 82 west / SR 520 west TiftonWestern terminus of US 82/SR 520 concurrency
BerrienIrwin
county line
SR 158 east DouglasWestern terminus of SR 158
IrwinOcilla SR 90 east (East Boulevard) WillacoocheeSouthern terminus of SR 90 concurrency
US 319 south / SR 32 / SR 35 south (4th Street) Tifton, Sycamore, DouglasSouthern terminus of US 319 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 35
Ben HillFitzgerald US 319 north / SR 107 (Benjamin H. Hill Drive)Northern terminus of US 319 concurrency
Central AvenueFormer northern terminus of US 319 concurrency
SR 90 west (West Sultana Drive) RebeccaNorthern terminus of SR 90 concurrency
SR 182 east (River Road)
WilcoxAbbeville US 280 / SR 30 (Main Street) Rochelle, Rhine
SR 233 south RochelleNorthern terminus of SR 233
Pulaski SR 112 west (Finbeyson Road) RochelleSouthern terminus of SR 112 concurrency
Hawkinsville
US 129 Alt. / US 341 north / SR 27 / SR 230 east / SR 257 east (Broad Street) Cochran, Eastman, Empire
SR 112 east (Jackson Street) Cochran
Northern terminus of SR 112 concurrency; southern terminus of US 341/SR 27/SR 230/SR 257 concurrency
SR 27 south / SR 257 south (McCormick Avenue) Vienna, CordeleNorthern terminus of SR 27/SR 257 concurrency
SR 230 west (Broad Street) UnadillaNorthern terminus of SR 230 concurrency
SR 26 (Commerce Street) Montezuma, Cochran

US 129 Bus. south / US 341 Bus. south / SR 11 Bus. east (Progress Avenue)
US 341 north / SR 11 north (Perry Highway/Golden Isles Parkway) PerryNorthern terminus of US 341/SR 11 concurrencies; southern terminus of SR 247
Houston SR 247 Spur southNorthern terminus of SR 247 Spur
Kathleen SR 127 westEastern terminus of SR 127
Bonaire SR 96 Fort Valley, Jeffersonville
Warner Robins SR 247 Conn. west (Watson Boulevard) CentervilleEastern terminus of SR 247 Connector
BibbSofkee US 41 south / SR 11 south / SR 49 south (Industrial Highway)Southern end of US 41 & SR 11/SR 49 concurrencies; no access to US 41/SR 11/SR 49 south from US 129/SR 247 north
Macon
US 41 Bus. north / US 41 north / SR 247 north
Southern terminus of US 41 Business; northern end of US 41 & SR 247 concurrencies
US 80 / SR 22 (Eisenhower Parkway)

US 41 Bus. north / SR 22 east / SR 49 north (Walnut Street) Gray, Milledgeville
Eastern end of US 41 Business/SR 22/SR 49 concurrencies
US 80 east / SR 87 south (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard)Northern end of US 80 concurrency; southern end of SR 87 concurrency
SR 22 (2nd Street)Access only from southbound 2nd Street loop ramp
US 23 north / SR 87 north (Riverside Drive) / SR 49 south (Spring Street)North end of SR 87 concurrency; south end of US 23/SR 49 concurrency
Spring Street Bridge over the Ocmulgee River
I16 (SR 404) to I75 Atlanta, Dublin, SavannahI-16 east exit 1A; no access from SR 49 south to I-16 east
US 23 south / SR 19 south (Emery Highway)Northern end of US 23 & SR 19 concurrencies; no left turn southbound

US 129 Alt. south / SR 22 west (Second Street) to I16
Northern terminus of US 129 Alternate; southern end of SR 22 concurrency
SR 49 north (Shurling Drive) MilledgevilleEastern end of SR 49 concurrency
JonesGray SR 18 west (Dames Ferry Road) ForsythWestern end of SR 18 concurrency
SR 18 east (Bill Conn Parkway) GordonEastern end of SR 18 concurrency
SR 11 north (Atlanta Road) MonticelloEastern end of SR 11 concurrency
SR 44 south (James Street) / SR 22 east (East Clinton Street) Gordon, MilledgevilleNorthern terminus of SR 22 concurrency; Southern terminus of SR 44 concurrency;
Cedar CreekUnnamed bridge over Cedar Creek, marking the Jones–Putnam county line
PutnamResseaus Crossroads
(inside Oconee National Forest)
SR 212 (Kinderhook Road) Milledgeville, Monticello
Eatonton US 441 / SR 24 south (Milledgeville Road)

US 129 Bus. north / US 441 Bus. north / SR 24 Bus. north (Oak Street)
Southern end of US 441/SR 24 concurrencies; southern end of US 129 Business/US 441 Business/SR 24 Business concurrency
SR 16 (Monticello Road) Monticello, Sparta

US 441 Bus. south / SR 24 Bus. south (North Jefferson Avenue)
Northern terminus of US 441 Business/SR 24 Business
MorganMadison I20 (Carl Sanders Highway) Atlanta, AugustaI-20, exit 114

US 129 Byp. north / US 441 Byp. north / SR 24 Byp. north / US 278 Truck east / SR 12 Truck east (Brooks Pennington Memorial Highway)
Southern terminus of US 129 Bypass/US 441 Bypass/SR 24 Bypass; Southern terminus of US 278 Truck/SR 12 Truck concurrency

SR 24 Spur north / US 278 Truck west / SR 12 Truck (Ward Road)
Southern terminus of SR 24 Spur; Northern terminus of US 278 Truck/SR 12 Truck concurrency
US 278 west / SR 12 west / SR 83 south (Eatonton Highway)Southern end of US 278/SR 12/SR 83 concurrency
SR 83 north (Washington Street) MonroeNorthern end of SR 83 concurrency

US 129 Byp. north / US 441 Byp. north / SR 24 Byp. north / US 278 Truck west / SR 12 Truck west (Madison Bypass)
US 278 east / SR 12 east (Greensboro Road)
Northern terminus of US 129 Bypass/US 441 Bypass/SR 24 Bypass; northern end of US 278/SR 12 concurrency; eastern end of US 278 Truck/SR 12 Truck Route
Apalachee RiverCrossing over the Apalachee River, marking the Morgan–Oconee county line
Oconee SR 186 west (High Shoals Road) Good HopeEastern terminus of SR 186

US 129 Bus. north / US 441 Bus. north / SR 24 Bus. north (Macon Highway)
Southern terminus of US 129 Business/US 441 Business/SR 24 Business
SR 53 (Experiment Station Road) Winder, Watkinsville

US 129 Bus. south / US 441 Bus. south / SR 24 Bus. south / SR 15 south (North Main Street)
Northern terminus of US 129 Business/US 441 Business/SR 24/SR 24 Business; southern end of SR 15 concurrency
ClarkeAthens US 29 south / US 78 west / SR 8 west / SR 10 Loop inner (SR 422 inner) to SR 316 / Timothy RoadSouthern terminus of US 29 / US 78 / SR 8 / SR 10 Loop / SR 422 concurrency; SR 15 south follows exit 4A
6 SR 15 Alt. north (Milledge Avenue)Southern terminus of SR 15 Alt.
7College Station Road - University of Georgia
8
US 78 east / US 78 Bus. west / SR 10 (Oconee Street / Lexington Road)
Eastern terminus of US 78 Bus., northern end of US 78 concurrency
Peter Street / Olympic Driveinterchange under construction
10AOld Hull Roadno exit number southbound
10D US 29 north (SR 8 east) Danielsville, HartwellNorthern end of US 29/SR 8 concurrency; no exit number northbound; SR 15 follows exit 10B (northbound) and 10C (southbound)
11North Avenue / Danielsville Roadsigned as exits 11A (Danielsville Road) and 11B (North Avenue) southbound
12 US 441 north / SR 15 north (Dr. M.L. King Parkway/Commerce Drive)Northern end of US 441 / SR 15 concurrencies
13Chase Street
14 SR 10 Loop west / SR 15 Alt. south (Prince Avenue)Northern end of SR 10 Loop / SR 422 concurrency; SR 15 Alt. not signed here
JacksonAttica SR 330 StathamEastern terminus of SR 330
Arcade
US 129 Bus. north / SR 15 Alt. north / SR 11 Conn. north
Southern terminus of US 129 Business/SR 15 Alternate; southern terminus of SR 11 Connector
SR 82
Jefferson SR 11 south / SR 11 Bus. north (Winder Highway)Southern terminus of SR 11 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 11 Connector; southern terminus of SR 11 Business

US 129 Bus. south / SR 11 Bus. south
Northern terminus of US 129 Business/SR 11 Business
I85 Atlanta, GreenvilleI-85 exit 137
Pendergrass SR 332 south (North Old Gainesville Highway) HoschtonSouthern terminus of SR 332 concurrency
Talmo SR 332 west (Main Street) OakwoodNorthern terminus of SR 332 concurrency
Hall SR 323 east GillsvilleWestern terminus of SR 323
Gainesville22
I985 south / US 23 / SR 11 / US 129 Bus. north (Athens Highway)
Southern end of I-985/US 23/SR 365 concurrencies; southern terminus of US 129 BUS
24 I985 north / US 23 north (Jesse Jewell Parkway) / SR 369 west Gainesville, Cleveland, CummingNorthern end of I-985/US 23/SR 365 concurrencies; eastern terminus of SR 369; southern terminus of SR 369; concurrency

US 129 Bus. south / SR 11 south / SR 369 west
Northern terminus of US 129 BUS; southern terminus of SR 11 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 369 concurrency
SR 284 (Clarks Bridge Road) Clermont
SR 11 Bus. south (NE Cleveland Highway) GainesvilleNorthern terminus of SR 11 Business
SR 52 Dahlonega, Lula
Clermont SR 284 Clermont, Brookton
SR 283 (Holly Springs Road)
SR 254 (Old Cleveland Road)
WhiteCleveland
US 129 Byp. north
Southern terminus of US 129 Bypass
Old Highway 75 South - Mossy Creek Golf Course, Skitt Mountain Golf CourseFormer Georgia State Route 75
SR 115 (Kytle Street) Dahlonega, Clarkesville
SR 75 Spur north (Nacoochee Road)Southern terminus of SR 75 Spur
SR 75 north / SR 75 Alt. south HelenSouthern terminus of SR 75; southern terminus of SR 75 Alternate; southern terminus of SR 75 Alternate concurrency

US 129 Byp. south
Proposed northern terminus of US 129 Bypass; Proposed Cleveland Bypass to extend east to SR 75 circa 2019.[15]
SR 75 Alt. north Chattahoochee-Oconee National ForestNorthern terminus of SR 75 Alternate concurrency
LumpkinChattahoochee-Oconee
National Forest
US 19 south / SR 9 south DahlonegaSouthern terminus of US 19 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 9
Union SR 180 west (Wolf Pen Gap Road)Southern terminus of SR 180 concurrency
SR 180 east (Bald Mountain Road)Northern terminus of SR 180 concurrency

US 129 Truck north (Glenn Gooch Bypass)
Blairsville
US 76 / SR 2 / SR 515 / US 129 Truck south (Zell Miller Parkway) Blue Ridge, Hiawassee
Ivy Log SR 325 south (Nottely Dam Road) MorgantonNorthern terminus of SR 325; continues east as Ivylog Road
US 19 north / US 129 north MurphyNorthern terminus at the North Carolina state line; road continues as US 19/US 129 North
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

External links

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