Georgia State Route 85

State Route 85
SR 85; mainline in red, alternate routes in blue
Route information
Maintained by GDOT
Length	96.5 mi[1] (155.3 km)
Existed	1930[2][3]–present
Major junctions
South end	US 27 / SR 1 in Columbus
Major intersections	US 27 / US 27 Alt. / SR 1 in Columbus I-185 in Columbus US 80 / SR 22 / SR 540 in Columbus US 27 Alt. / SR 85 Alt. / SR 116 south of Shiloh
North end	I-75 / I-285 in Forest Park
Location
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Counties	Muscogee, Harris, Talbot, Meriwether, Coweta, Fayette, Clayton
Highway system
Georgia State Highway System Interstate US State Special
← I-85 → SR 86

State Route 85 (SR 85) is a 96.5-mile-long (155.3 km) state highway in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. It travels within portions of Muscogee, Harris, Talbot, Meriwether, Coweta, Fayette, and Clayton counties. It connects the Columbus and Forest Park areas, via Manchester, Woodbury, Senoia, Fayetteville, and Riverdale.

GA SR 85 begins at an intersection with US 27/SR 1 in downtown Columbus. It continues to the northwest until it meets the southern terminus of SR 22 Connector. SR 85 then heads east and meets SR 219 before it has a second intersection with US 27/SR 1. At that intersection, US 27 Alt. begins, running concurrent with SR 85, up to the Harris–Talbot county line, where US 27 Alt. north/SR 85 Alt. north/SR 116 west take the left fork at an intersection while SR 85 north and SR 116 east take the right one.

Less than 0.5 miles (0.80 km) into Talbot County, SR 116 splits off to the east, while SR 85 continues to the northeast. Just before entering Manchester, SR 85 intersects SR 41, which begins a short concurrency into Meriwether County and Manchester.

SR 41 and SR 85 intersect the eastern terminus of SR 190 just inside of the Manchester city limits. At 2nd Street, SR 41 departs to the northwest, while SR 85 heads into downtown. Then, SR 85 turns to the east, while SR 85 Spur continues straight ahead. In Woodbury, SR 85 meets SR 18/SR 74/SR 109. At this intersection, SR 74 turns to the north, concurrent with SR 85. They reach the northern terminus of SR 85 Alternate. Farther to the north, in Gay, is the eastern terminus of SR 109 Spur. In the unincorporated community of Alps, they intersect SR 362, which briefly joins the concurrency. Less than 3 miles (4.8 km) later, SR 74 and 85 reach the Meriwether–Coweta county line.

The concurrent highways travel through Haralson and enter the southeast part of Senoia. There, they intersect with SR 16. Less than 2 miles (3.2 km) later, they cross over Line Creek, into Fayette County.

SR 74 and 85 enter Starrs Mill, where SR 74 departs to the northwest, while SR 85 continues to the northeast. In Fayetteville, it intersects SR 92, which forms a concurrency through the city, meeting SR 54 before SR 92 departs to the northwest. Further north, after SR 314 and SR 279 terminate at SR 85, the highway crosses over Camp Creek, into Clayton County.

On the southwestern edge of Riverdale, SR 85 intersects SR 138. Approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) north is the southern terminus of SR 139 (Church Street). Farther to the north is the western terminus of SR 331, which the northbound lanes of SR 85 have to take to access I-75. SR 85's northbound lanes continue for another 3,000 feet (910 m), and then they end at a U-turn to go back to the south. However, the southbound lanes start at a partial interchange with I-75 (which does not have access from I-75 north to SR 85) and I-285, approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) farther to the north-northeast.^[1]

There are two sections of SR 85 that 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 southern terminus to the Muscogee–Harris county line, south-southwest of Ellerslie^[4][5]
• From its intersection with SR 54 in Fayetteville to its northern terminus^[5][6]

This section is missing mileposts for junctions. Please help by adding them.

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Muscogee	Columbus	0.0	0.0	US 27 / SR 1 (Veterans Parkway) / 14th Street east – Cusseta, LaGrange, Macon	Southern terminus; 14th Street continues past the southern terminus; 14th Street provides access to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital.
		2.6	4.2	SR 22 Conn. east (2nd Avenue north) / Manchester Expressway west – West Point, Phenix City	Western terminus of SR 22 Conn.; SR 22 Conn. takes on 2nd Avenue name, while SR 85 turns right, onto Manchester Expressway.
		3.0	4.8	SR 219 (River Road) – LaGrange
		3.5	5.6	US 27 / SR 1 (Veterans Parkway) / US 27 Alt. begins – Hamilton, Ft. Moore, Civil War Naval Museum	Southern end of US 27 Alt. concurrency; southern terminus of US 27 Alt.
		4.8	7.7	I-185 (SR 411) – Ft. Moore, Atlanta	I-185 exit 7
		6.9	11.1	Warm Springs Road Connector	Interchange
		9.1	14.6	Miller Road	Interchange
	Midland	10.3	16.6	US 80 / SR 22 (J.R. Allen Parkway) / SR 540 (Fall Line Freeway) – Phenix City, Macon	Interchange
		14.1	22.7	County Line Road	Interchange
Harris	Ellerslie	17.8	28.6	SR 315 west – Cataula	Southern end of SR 315 concurrency
		18.3	29.5	SR 315 east (Talbotton Road) / Old Warm Springs Road west – Talbotton	Northern end of SR 315 concurrency; eastern terminus of Old Warm Springs Road
	Waverly Hall	24.1	38.8	SR 208 – Hamilton, Talbotton
Harris–Talbot county line	​	31.2	50.2	US 27 Alt. north / SR 85 Alt. north / SR 116 west (Warm Springs Road) – Warm Springs, Shiloh, Roosevelt Rehab. Inst.	Northern end of US 27 Alt. concurrency; southern end of SR 116 concurrency; southern terminus of SR 85 Alt.
Talbot	​	31.6	50.9	SR 116 east (Rush Creek Drive) – Woodland	Northern end of SR 116 concurrency
	​	37.4	60.2	SR 41 south – Talbotton	Southern end of SR 41 concurrency
Meriwether	Manchester	37.8	60.8	SR 190 west (Pine Mountain Highway) – Pine Mountain, F.D. Roosevelt State Park	Eastern terminus of SR 190
		38.3	61.6	SR 41 north (Second Street) – Warm Springs	Northern end of SR 41 concurrency
		38.8	62.4	SR 85 Spur west (Truitt Street north) – Warm Springs	Eastern terminus of SR 85 Spur; SR 85 Spur takes on the Truitt Street name, while SR 85 turns right onto Foster Street.
	Woodbury	48.5	78.1	SR 18 / SR 74 east / SR 109 (Main Street) – Greenville, Zebulon	Southern end of SR 74 concurrency
		49.2	79.2	SR 85 Alt. south (Whitehouse Parkway) – Warm Springs	Northern terminus of SR 85 Alt.
	Gay	56.3	90.6	SR 109 Spur west (Greenville Street) / Caldwell Road east – Greenville	Eastern terminus of SR 109 Spur; western terminus of Caldwell Road
	Alps	61.3	98.7	SR 362 west (Callaway Road) – Greenville	Southern end of SR 362 concurrency
	Alvaton	62.2	100.1	SR 362 east (Griffin Highway) – Griffin	North end of SR 362 concurrency
Coweta	Senoia	71.2	114.6	SR 16 – Turin, Griffin
Fayette	Starrs Mill	74.3	119.6	SR 74 north (Joel Cowan Parkway) / Padgett Road south – Peachtree City	North end of SR 74 concurrency; northern terminus of Padgett Road; SR 74 provides access to Atlanta Regional Airport
	​			Old Highway 85 north	Southern terminus of Old Highway 85; former SR 85 north
	Fayetteville	82.3	132.4	SR 92 south / Ramah Road west – Griffin	Southern end of SR 92 concurrency; eastern terminus of Ramah Road
		83.6	134.5	SR 54 east (Stonewall Avenue) – Jonesboro	Eastbound lanes of SR 54 on one-way pair
		83.6	134.5	SR 54 west (Lanier Avenue) – Peachtree City	Westbound lanes of SR 54 on one-way pair; provides access to Piedmont Fayette Hospital
		84.2	135.5	SR 92 north (Forrest Avenue) / Easterbrook Way east – Fairburn	Northern end of SR 92 concurrency; western terminus of Easterbrook Way
		84.8	136.5	SR 314 north (Jeff Davis Drive) – College Park	Southern terminus of SR 314
	​	88.3	142.1	SR 279 north – College Park	Southern terminus of SR 279
Clayton	Riverdale	91.2	146.8	SR 138 – Union City, Jonesboro
		91.6	147.4	SR 139 north (Main Street) / Valley Hill Road east – College Park	Southern terminus of SR 139; western terminus of Valley Hill Road
	​	95.8	154.2	SR 331 east (Forest Parkway east) to I-75 – Forest Park, Lake City Forest Parkway west to Clark Howell Highway	Western terminus of SR 331; northbound SR 85 traffic must take this intersection to access I-75.
	​	96.4	155.1	U-turn back to southbound SR 85	Northbound lanes are closed, so traffic must U-turn back to the south.
	​	96.8	155.8	I-75 (SR 401) / I-285 (Atlanta Bypass / SR 407)	No entrance ramps from SR 85 north to I-75 or from I-75 north to SR 85; I-75 exit 237A; I-285 exit 58
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

In 1930, SR 85 was established from Columbus to SR 41 in Warm Springs, with the Muscogee County portion and a small portion just slightly north of the Muscogee–Harris county line having a completed hard surface.^[2][3] By the middle of 1933, the portion of the highway from about Ellerslie to Warm Springs had a "sand clay or top soil" surface.^[7][8] The next year, the segment of the highway just south-southwest of Warm Springs was shifted westward to a curve into the city.^[9][10] In 1935, SR 85 was extended southeast on SR 41 to Manchester and then north-northeast through Woodbury and Senoia and into Fayetteville.^[11][12] At the end of 1936, two segments were under construction: around Shiloh and just west-southwest of Warm Springs.^[13][14] A few months later, SR 85 was extended north-northeast to US 19/US 41/SR 3 in Hapeville.^[14][15] By the middle of the year, a portion from approximately halfway between Waverly Hall and Shiloh to Warm Springs was under construction.^[15][16] Near the end of the year, the entire highway from Columbus to just south-southwest of Waverly Hall had a completed hard surface. A portion north-northeast of Waverly Hall was under construction, while the rest of the Waverly Hall–Warm Springs segment had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[16][17] In 1938, a portion about halfway between Woodbury and Gay was under construction. A portion south of the Meriwether–Coweta county line under construction, as well. The portion just north-northeast of Riverdale was under construction, while the rest of the Riverdale–Hapeville segment had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[18][19] By mid-1939, a small portion just south of Waverly Hall had a completed hard surface.^[19][20] Near the end of the year, a small portion just north-northeast of Senoia had a completed hard surface.^[20][21] The year ended with the segment from Waverly Hall to Warm Springs having a completed hard surface.^[21][22]

In 1940, SR 163 was built from Warm Springs to Woodbury. From Manchester to approximately halfway between it and Woodbury, as well as the Gay–Oakland and Clayton County portions, SR 85 was under construction. From approximately halfway between Woodbury and Gay into Gay, SR 85 had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[23][24] By the middle of 1941, SR 163's segment just northeast of Warm Springs was under construction.^[25][26] At the end of the year, a portion of SR 85 just east-northeast of Manchester, as well as a segment from the Fayette–Clayton county line to Riverdale, had a completed hard surface. At this time, a portion of the highway from south of Woodbury had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[26][27] In 1942, a portion of SR 163 northeast of Warm Springs, as well as the Fayette County portion of the Fayetteville–Riverdale segment of SR 85, had completed grading, but was not surfaced. SR 85, from north-northeast of Starrs Mill to Fayetteville was under construction.^[27][28] The next year, a portion northeast of Manchester had a completed hard surface.^[28][29] In 1944, a portion south of Woodbury had a sand clay or top soil surface. Also, the Gay–Alvaton segment had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[29] By the end of 1946, SR 85 was shifted eastward to a more direct path between Columbus and Manchester. Its old path between south of Shiloh and Warm Springs was redesignated as a southerly extension of SR 163. SR 85 Spur was built in Manchester from SR 41 to SR 85. The entire length of SR 85 from Columbus to Chalybeate Springs had a completed hard surface. A small portion north-northeast of Chalybeate Springs had a sand clay or top soil surface; the portion from there to Woodbury had a completed hard surface.^[30][31] Between 1946 and 1948, the Chalybeate Springs–Woodbury and Starrs Mill–Hapeville segments had a completed hard surface, while the Woodbury–Senoia segment had a "sand clay, top soil, or stabilized earth" surface.^[31][32] The next year, from Woodbury to just north-northwest of Gay, SR 85 had a completed hard surface.^[32][33]

By the middle of 1950, US 27 Alt. was designated on SR 85 between Columbus and a point south of Shiloh and on SR 163 from there to Warm Springs. The segment of SR 85 from just north-northwest of Gay to Starrs Mill had a completed hard surface.^[33][34] By 1952, SR 163 was redesignated as SR 85W.^[34][35] That year, SR 85W's segment south of Warm Springs was reverted to being designated as SR 163.^[35][36] The next year, this was undone. Also, the segment of SR 85W from Warm Springs to Woodbury had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[36][37] By the middle of 1955, this segment was hard surfaced.^[38][39] Two years later, SR 85 from south of Shiloh to Woodbury was redesignated as SR 85E.^[39][40]

Between 1960 and 1963, US 27 Alt. was shifted eastward onto SR 85E from south of Shiloh to Manchester.^[41][42] Between 1963 and 1966, the northern terminus was truncated to its current location in the extreme western part of Forest Park.^[42][43] About thirty years later, SR 85W was redesignated SR 85 Alt., while SR 85E was redesignated as part of the SR 85 mainline again.^[44][45]

When I-75 was first constructed, both directions of SR 85 connected to it at a partial Y interchange, just south of the interchange with I-285. Eventually, it became clear that the on-ramp carrying northbound SR 85 and the off-ramp for I-285 east were too close together, causing weaving on northbound I-75. Therefore, by the late 1970s, the entrance ramp to I-75 was relocated to diverge from nearby SR 331. The preexisting northbound ramp from SR 85 to I-75 was then truncated to end in the current U-turn. The area where the old ramp once stood is now covered over with trees.

This section needs expansion with: a route description. You can help by adding to it. (December 2019)

State Route 85 Alternate
Location	South of Shiloh to Woodbury
Length	18.7 mi[46] (30.1 km)
Existed	1995[44][45]–present

State Route 85 Alternate (SR 85 Alt.) is a 18.7-mile-long (30.1 km) alternate route of SR 85 that connects the Shiloh and Woodbury areas, via Warm Springs. From its southern terminus to Warm Springs, it is concurrent with U.S. Route 27 Alternate (US 27 Alt.).^[46]

The highway that would eventually become SR 85 Alt. was established in 1930, SR 85 was established from south of Shiloh to SR 41 in Warm Springs, with the Muscogee County portion and a small portion just slightly north of the Muscogee–Harris county line having a completed hard surface.^[2][3] By the middle of 1933, the portion of the highway from about Ellerslie to Warm Springs had a "sand clay or top soil" surface.^[7][8] The next year, the segment of the highway just south-southwest of Warm Springs was shifted westward to a curve into the city.^[9][10] At the end of 1936, two segments were under construction: around Shiloh and just west-southwest of Warm Springs.^[13][14] By the middle of the year, a portion from approximately halfway between Waverly Hall and Shiloh to Warm Springs was under construction.^[15][16] Near the end of the year, the entire highway from Columbus to just south-southwest of Waverly Hall had a completed hard surface. A portion north-northeast of Waverly Hall was under construction, while the rest of the Waverly Hall–Warm Springs segment had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[16][17] By mid-1939, a small portion just south of Waverly Hall had a completed hard surface.^[19][20] The year ended with the segment from Waverly Hall to Warm Springs having a completed hard surface.^[21][22]

In 1940, SR 163 was built from Warm Springs to Woodbury.^[23][24] By the middle of 1941, SR 163's segment just northeast of Warm Springs was under construction.^[25][26] In 1942, a portion of SR 163 northeast of Warm Springs had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[27][28] By the end of 1946, SR 85 was shifted eastward to a more direct path between Columbus and Manchester. Its old path between south of Shiloh and Warm Springs was redesignated as a southerly extension of SR 163.^[30][31] By the middle of 1950, US 27 Alt. was designated on SR 163 from south of Shiloh to Warm Springs.^[33][34] By 1952, SR 163 was redesignated as SR 85W.^[34][35] That year, SR 85W's segment south of Warm Springs was reverted to being designated as SR 163.^[35][36] The next year, this was undone. Also, the segment of SR 85W from Warm Springs to Woodbury had completed grading, but was not surfaced.^[36][37] By the middle of 1955, this segment was hard surfaced.^[38][39] Between 1960 and 1963, US 27 Alt. was shifted eastward off of SR 85W and onto SR 85E.^[41][42] About thirty-three years later, SR 85W was redesignated as SR 85 Alt.^[44][45]

County	Location	mi[46]	km	Destinations	Notes
Harris–Talbot county line	​	0.0	0.0	US 27 Alt. south / SR 85 / SR 116 east – Columbus, Manchester	Southern terminus; southern end of US 27 Alt. and SR 116 concurrencies
Harris	Shiloh	1.8	2.9	SR 116 west / Ashmore Road east – Hamilton	Northern end of SR 116 concurrency; western terminus of Ashmore Road
Talbot	No major junctions
Meriwether	​	5.0	8.0	SR 190 (Pine Mountain Highway) – Pine Mountain, Manchester, F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain Trail
	Warm Springs	8.5	13.7	US 27 Alt. north / SR 41 (Spring Street) – Greenville, Manchester, Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery, Roosevelt Rehab. Inst.	Northern end of US 27 Alt. concurrency
	​	12.9	20.8	SR 173 south (Raleigh Road) – Raleigh	Northern terminus of SR 173
	Woodbury	17.1	27.5	SR 18 / SR 109 (Main Street) – Greenville, Molena
		18.7	30.1	SR 74 / SR 85 (Oakland Road) – Thomaston, Gay	Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

This section needs expansion with: a route description. You can help by adding to it. (December 2019)

State Route 85 Spur
Location	Manchester
Length	0.8 mi[47] (1,300 m)
Existed	1946[30][31]–present

State Route 85 Spur (SR 85 Spur) is a spur route of SR 85 that exists completely within the city limits of Manchester. It connects SR 41 (North 5th Avenue) with the SR 85 mainline. It is used to bypass downtown Manchester.^[47]

By the end of 1946, SR 85 Spur was built in Manchester from SR 41 to SR 85.^[30][31]

The entire route is in Manchester, Meriwether County.

mi[47]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.0	0.0	SR 41 (Fifth Avenue) – Woodland, Warm Springs	Western terminus
0.8	1.3	SR 85 (Truitt Street south / Foster Street east) – Pine Mountain, Waverly Hall, Woodbury	Eastern terminus; SR 85 takes on Truitt Street name.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

• Georgia (U.S. state) portal
• U.S. roads portal

• Media related to Georgia State Route 85 at Wikimedia Commons

• Georgia Roads (Routes 81 - 100)
• Georgia State Route 85 on State-Ends.com