Georgia State Route 52

State Route 52 (SR 52) is a 124.697-mile-long (200.680 km) state highway that travels west to east through portions of Whitfield, Murray, Gilmer, Dawson, Lumpkin, Hall, Banks, and Jackson counties in the northern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The highway extends from its western terminus at Interstate 75 (I-75) in Dalton to its eastern terminus at SR 98 in Maysville.

State Route 52 marker
State Route 52
Map
SR 52; mainline in red, alternate route in blue
Route information
Maintained by GDOT
Length124.697 mi[1] (200.680 km)
Major junctions
West end I-75 in Dalton
Major intersections
East end SR 98 in Maysville
Location
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountiesWhitfield, Murray, Gilmer, Dawson, Lumpkin, Hall, Banks, Jackson
Highway system
  • Georgia State Highway System
SR 51 SR 53

Route description

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Georgia State Route 52 in Whitfield County, with Grassy Mountain in the background

From its western terminus at exit 333 on I-75 in Dalton, SR 52 runs due east along Walnut Avenue into and through downtown Dalton in Whitfield County, curving northeast at Walnut Square Mall to come to its junction with US 76, where it becomes concurrent with US 76. The two routes continue east into Murray County and the northern parts of Chatsworth, where they briefly become co-signed with US 411/SR 2/SR 61, and all five routes travel south into downtown Chatsworth, where SR 52 and SR 2 depart and together continue east into and through Fort Mountain State Park, where the routes are also called Woody Glenn Highway. The routes climb from around 800 feet elevation to above 2,500 feet, before curving to the southeast, passing into and out of Gilmer County twice for very short portions, before finally crossing and staying in Gilmer County, and forming part of the southern border of the Chattahoochee National Forest, then descending into Ellijay. In Ellijay, the two routes cross the Ellijay River together, then SR 52 splits from SR 2 as the route first crosses the Cartecay River just north of where it and the Ellijay River combine to form the Coosawattee River. The route then crosses SR 5/SR 515 and continues southeast, still parallel with the southern reaches of the Chattahoochee National Forest, and runs through rural portions of Gilmer County and northern Dawson County.[1][2][3]

Just west of Amicalola Falls State Park, the route assumes an easterly routing at the junction with SR 183, and passes into Lumpkin County, soon thereafter leaving behind the Chattahoochee National Forest. To the west of Dahlonega, SR 52 becomes co-signed with SR 9, and the two routes continue east to Dahlonega, bypassing its downtown to the south and east. Shortly after a brief concurrence with US 19 and SR 60, SR 52 departs and continues east. After a brief concurrency with SR 115 southeast of Dahlonega, the route again assumes a southeasterly course and crosses into Hall County. After passing the community of Clermont to its south, and crossing US 129/SR 11, the route makes a brief turn to the northeast, then curves sharply southeast again, crosses US 23/SR 13, and passes through Lula into Banks County, forming part of the county line between Hall County and Banks County. SR 52 continues southeast through Gillsville, and heads to its eastern terminus in Maysville in Jackson County at its intersection with SR 98.[1][2][3]

National Highway System

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The following portions of SR 52 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 its western terminus at I-75 in Dalton to the eastern end of the US 76 and US 411/SR 61 concurrencies in Chatsworth[4]
  • From US 76/SR 2/SR 5/SR 515 in East Ellijay to the eastern end of the SR 115 concurrency east of Dahlonega[5]

Traffic

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The Georgia Department of Transportation average annual daily traffic (AADT) numbers for the year 2011 show a variety of average daily traffic load numbers as the route travels across northern Georgia. Daily vehicle averages start at the western terminus at I-75 with averages ranging from around 19,000 to a high of 27,600 vehicles per day going from I-75 into and through downtown Dalton, where the route represents the most direct route into Dalton. Averages stay around 25,000 and see their route maximum as SR 52 becomes concurrent with US 76 in Dalton, where nearly 29,000 vehicles travel the route on a daily basis. As the routes travel east to Chatsworth, averages come down to between 15,600 and 18,700 vehicles, and reduce further to 13,600 as the routes meet US 411. East of Chatsworth, as SR 52 starts into the Chattahoochee National Forest, and leaves residential areas, numbers drop drastically, going from 4,600 down to a route low of 620 vehicles as the route traverses Gilmer County.[3]

Vehicle load remains well below 1,400 until the route approaches Ellijay, where numbers climb to just above 8,000 vehicles, going to a high of 10,500 as the route crosses SR 5. East of SR 5 the vehicle load drops quickly again down to around 2,700 vehicles as the route crosses into Dawson County, and falls further to just below 1,000 vehicles east of SR 183. As SR 52 crosses into Lumpkin County and approaches Dahlonega, averages again increase to around 2,000 west of Dahlonega, rapidly increasing to just over 10,000 vehicles where the route is concurrent with SR 9. Numbers again drop to around 6,000 east of US 19, then again rapidly drop to around 1,500 into Hall County. Vehicle load increases once more around US 23 to reach 4,000 vehicles per day, drop back down to 1,000 vehicles in Banks County, and see numbers of just over 3,000 at the route's eastern terminus in Maysville.[3]

History

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The first portion of the roadway that is signed as SR 52 today makes its appearance on Georgia state road maps in 1920, when the 13.4 miles (21.6 km) portion of the current route from its western terminus to Chatsworth, which is concurrent with US 76, was already in existence, and signed as part of SR2.[6] In 1921, a roadway designated as SR 52 is mapped - covering what today is signed as SR 28 in the Augusta area in east-central Georgia (excluding the portion of SR 28 in northeastern Georgia today). In addition, the 15.6 miles (25.1 km) portion of the current route from Dahlonega, southeast to where it intersects today with US 129, was extant and signed as SR 43 at the time.[7] By the beginning of 1932, the western portion of the route was extended to now feature a new 22.6 miles (36.4 km) section from Chatsworth to Ellijay, also signed as SR 2. In addition, the part of the route between Dahlonega and US 129 was improved to be covered in hard surface, and the part of the route between Dalton and Chatsworth was partially improved at the time.[8] By mid-1932, another major addition had been graded, namely the portion of the route between Ellijay to southwest of Dahlonega. This section was also designated as SR 43, which meant that between the portions of SR 2 and SR 43 that correspond to today's routing, the entire stretch from its western terminus to US 129 in the vicinity of Clermonth was extant.[9]

The roadway around Augusta, which had carried the designation of SR 52, had been re-signed as SR 28 by the middle of 1938.[10] However, it was not until early in 1942 that the section of the route from Ellijay east to Dahlonega, and continuing to US 129, had been re-designated as SR 52, the first appearance of this designation in northwestern and northern Georgia. In addition, a 6.2 miles (10.0 km) portion of roadway had been graded and designated as part of SR 52, running southeast from US 23/SR 13 in Lula to Gillsville in Banks County. As far as road conditions were concerned, hard surface had been added to the portion of the route between Dalton and Chatsworth, and for portions of the route west of SR 183 and west of Dahlonega.[11] The remaining gaps in the route were closed in 1948, when the section of the route between US 129 near Clermont, and US 23/SR 13 in Lula, was graded, and the route was extended from Gillsville to Maysville. With the exception of the new portion between Clermonth and Lula, and small section of the route in Gilmer and Dawson counties, the route had been finished in hard surface at the time.[12] It was then just one more year before the portion of the route between Dalton and Ellijay was re-designated as SR 52, completing the routing and designation of this state highway.[13]

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
WhitfieldDalton0.0000.000  I-75 (SR 401) / Walnut Avenue west – Atlanta, ChattanoogaWestern terminus; roadway continues as Walnut Avenue.
5.7229.209  
 
  US 41 / US 76 west / SR 3 (Dalton Bypass) – Calhoun, Ringgold
Western end of US 76 concurrency
7.14611.500 
 
SR 286 east (Lower Dawnville Road) – Eton
Western terminus of SR 286
Murray9.23814.867 
 
SR 52 Alt. east – Chatsworth
Western terminus of SR 52 Alt.
Chatsworth10.91417.564  SR 225 – Calhoun
14.00622.540 
 
 
 
 
 
US 411 north / SR 2 west / SR 61 north (Hill Street) – Eton
Western end of US 411/SR 61 and SR 2 concurrencies
15.41224.803 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US 76 east / US 411 south / SR 61 south (3rd Avenue) / SR 52 Alt. west (West Fort Street) – Fairmount, Dalton, Southern Highroads Trail
Eastern end of US 411/SR 61 and US 76 concurrencies; eastern terminus of SR 52 Alt.
GilmerEllijay40.15164.617 
 
SR 2 east (1st Avenue) – Chatsworth
Eastern end of SR 2 concurrency
 
 
 
 
Greenfield Road north to SR 5 / SR 515 (US 76 / SR 2) – Jasper, Blue Ridge, Southern Highroads Trail, Chieftains Trail
Southern terminus of Greenfield Road
Dawson63.088101.530 
 
SR 183 south (Elliot Family Parkway) – Dawsonville
Northern terminus of SR 183
Lumpkin73.863118.871 
 
SR 9 south (Dawsonville Highway) – Dawsonville
Western end of SR 9 concurrency
Dahlonega78.218125.880 
 
 
 
 
 
  US 19 south / SR 60 south (South Chestatee Street) to SR 400 – Gainesville, Univ of N Georgia
Western end of US 19/SR 60 concurrency; Dr. John H. Owen Intersection; provides access to Chestatee Regional Hospital
78.962127.077 
 
 
 
US 19 Bus. north / SR 60 Bus. west (East Main Street)
Southern terminus of US 19 Bus.; eastern terminus of SR 60 Bus.
79.237127.520 
 
 
 
 
 
US 19 north / SR 9 north / SR 60 north (Morrison Moore Parkway) – Suches, Blairsville
Eastern end of US 19/SR 60 and SR 9 concurrencies
83.791134.849 
 
SR 115 west (Long Branch Road) – Cumming
Western end of SR 115 concurrency; Jean Anderson Intersection
85.968138.352 
 
SR 115 north (Dahlonega Highwaycity1=Cleveland)
Eastern end of SR 115 concurrency; Dean Bryant Intersection
Hall90.735146.024 
 
SR 283 south (Mt. Vernon Road)
Western end of SR 283 concurrency
91.069146.561 
 
SR 283 north (Clermont Highway)
Eastern end of SR 283 concurrency
93.327150.195  US 129 (SR 11 / Cleveland Highway) – Gainesville, Cleveland
94.906152.736  SR 284 (Clarks Bridge Road) – Gainesville, Cleveland
 
 
SR 283 south – Clermont
Northern terminus of SR 283
104.347167.930   US 23 / SR 365 – Gainesville, Cornelia, Clarkesville, Jaemor Farms
Lula105.680170.075 
 
SR 51 east (Old Cornelia Highway) – Lula, Homer
Western terminus of SR 51
112.289180.712 
 
SR 323 west (Gillsville Highway) – Gainesville
Western end of SR 323 concurrency
Gillsville113.505182.669 
 
SR 323 east – Homer
Eastern end of SR 323 concurrency
Banks
No major junctions
JacksonMaysville124.697200.680 
 
SR 98 east (Maysville Road east) – Commerce
 
 
SR 98 north (Homer Street) – Homer
Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Special routes

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Chatsworth alternate route

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State Route 52 Alternate
LocationChatsworth
Length5.320 mi[1] (8.562 km)

State Route 52 Alternate (SR 52 Alt.) serves as an alternate route from just west of Chatsworth into the heart of the city, while the mainline takes drivers through the northern and western parts of the city. It travels from the SR 52 mainline just east of the WhitfieldMurray county line southeast to SR 225, then east into downtown Chatsworth, where it ends at the concurrency of US 76/US 411/SR 2/SR 52/SR 61. The highway also passes by the Chief Vann House Historic Site.

The entire route is in Murray County.

LocationmikmDestinationsNotes
   US 76 / SR 52 – DaltonWestern terminus
  SR 225 – Calhoun, Cleveland, Chieftains Trail, Vann House Historic Site
Chatsworth 
 
 
 
US 76 east / US 411 south (SR 61 south / 3rd Avenue) – Fairmount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  US 76 west / US 411 north / SR 2 west / SR 52 west (SR 61 north / 3rd Avenue) – Eton
 
 
 
 
SR 2 east / SR 52 east (Fort Street) – Ellijay, Chieftains Trail, Fort Mountain State Park
Eastern terminus; US 76 west/US 411 north/SR 2 west/SR 52 west/SR 61 north provides access to Murray Medical Center.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "County GIS Base map shapefiles/geodatabases (varies by county)". Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Overview map of SR 52" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Geographic Transportation Reporting Analysis and Query System (GeoTRAQS) (Map). Georgia Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  4. ^ National Highway System: Dalton, GA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  5. ^ National Highway System: Georgia (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 8, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  6. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (1920). System of State Aid Roads as Approved Representing 4800 Miles of State Aid Roads Outside the Limits of the Incorporated Towns (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  7. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (1921). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  8. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1932). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  9. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (May 1932). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  10. ^ Georgia State Highway Board (August 1, 1938). State Highway System of Georgia (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  11. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1, 1942). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC 5673161. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  12. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (1948). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC 5673161. Retrieved January 18, 2013. (Corrected to February 28, 1948.)
  13. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (1949). System of State Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC 5673161. Retrieved January 18, 2013. (Corrected to April 1, 1949.)
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