Georgia State Route 31


State Route 31 is a state highway that travels south-to-north through portions of Lowndes, Lanier, Clinch, Atkinson, Coffee, Telfair, Wheeler, Dodge, Laurens, and Johnson counties in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The highway connects the Florida state line, south of Clyattville with Wrightsville, via Valdosta, Douglas, and Dublin.
SR 31 formerly had a segment from Homerville to Pearson, but it was later decommissioned. The highway was then incrementally extended in both directions from its resulting Pearson–Douglas segment to its current path.

Route description

Florida to Douglas

SR 31 begins at the Florida state line south-southeast of Clyattville, in Lowndes County, where the roadway continues as State Road 145. Almost immediately, it crosses over the Withlacoochee River. The highway curves to the northwest and back to the north and passes Oris Blackburn Memorial Park. It begins to curve to the northeast and enters Clyattville, where it meets the western terminus of SR 376. The highway continues to the northeast and has an interchange with Interstate 75. Approximately later, it skirts along the southeastern edge of Valdosta Regional Airport. At the intersection with Madison Highway, it turns to the right and becomes known as Inner Perimeter Road, part of an eastern bypass of most of the city. At South Patterson Street, US 41/SR 7 begin a concurrency to the northeast. This intersection also marks the southern terminus of US 41 Bus./SR 7 Bus. The next main intersection is SR 94. Then, it begins to curve to the north and enters the eastern city limits of Valdosta. Right after a slight bend to the north-northwest is an intersection with US 84/US 221/SR 38. At this intersection, US 221 joins the concurrency. After a curve to the northwest, the four highways intersect East Park Avenue. Here, US 221/SR 31 split off to the northeast and then leaves the city. The two highways travel through rural areas of the county, traveling southeast of Moody Air Force Base, and enter Lanier County. They continue to the northeast and gradually curve to the north-northeast. Along the eastern shore of Milltown Bay, they begin a northward routing and meet the western terminus of SR 31 Conn.. Approximately later, they enter Lakeland. After a curve to the north-northwest, where SR 135 joins the concurrency, they enter the main part of town, where they intersect US 129/SR 11/SR 37/SR 122. Here, both concurrencies merge and head to the east-northeast. Immediately, SR 135 departs to the north-northwest on North Carter Street. At Oak Street, SR 135 Byp. joins the concurrency. At North College Street, SR 135 Byp. leaves the concurrency to the north-northwest. This intersection also marks the eastern terminus of SR 11 Byp. The other six highways continue to the east-northeast, crossing over Big Creek before leaving town. Then, they cross over the Alapaha River. After that, US 221/SR 31/SR 122 depart the concurrency to the north-northeast. Just under later, SR 122 splits off, and US 221/SR 31 continue to the north-northeast, intersect SR 168, cut across the northwestern corner of Clinch County, and enter Atkinson County. A little over later, SR 64 joins the concurrency. The three highways continue to the north-northeast and intersect US 441/SR 89. At this intersection, SR 89 reaches its northern terminus, and US 441 joins the concurrency. In fact, US 441 is concurrent for over half of SR 31's total length. The concurrency continues into Pearson. There, they intersect US 82/SR 520. At this intersection, SR 64 turns right onto US 82/SR 520. The other three highways continue to the north-northeast through rural areas of the county. Then, they curve to the north-northwest and enter Coffee County. Immediately, they curve to the north and cross the Satilla River. Then, they pass Pine Forests Memorial Gardens and enter Douglas.

Douglas to Wrightsville

They travel along the eastern edge of Douglas Municipal Airport. Farther to the north is an intersection with SR 135/SR 206. At this intersection, SR 206 reaches its eastern terminus, and US 221 departs the concurrency. Farther to the north, they intersect SR 158. In the main part of town is an intersection with SR 32. On the northern edge of town is an intersection with SR 206 Conn.. US 441/SR 31 curve to the northwest and enter Broxton, where SR 268 briefly joins the concurrency. After they leave town, they continue to the northwest and have a short concurrency with SR 107, a few miles south of Jacksonville. At the end of the concurrency, US 319 joins the concurrency. The three highways cross over the Ocmulgee River on the J.H. Millhollin Memorial Bridge, into Telfair County. Then, they curve to the north-northeast. When the concurrency enters Jacksonville, they intersect SR 117. Just before entering McRae, they meet the northern terminus of SR 149 Conn. Then, they enter town and intersect SR 132 on the southern edge of the city limits. Approximately later, US 280/SR 30 join the concurrency. In the central part of town is an intersection with US 23/US 341/SR 27. The five highways curve to the northeast and cross over the Little Ocmulgee River into Wheeler County. On the southeastern edge of Little Ocmulgee State Park, US 319/US 441/SR 31 depart to the north-northwest and skirt along the eastern edge of the park. They cut across a tiny part of Dodge County before entering Laurens County. The concurrent highways have an intersection with SR 46/SR 126. Northeast of Rentz, they have a second intersection with SR 117, which joins the concurrency. They curve to the north-northeast, pass Oconee Fall Line Technical College, and enter Dublin. Immediately is an interchange with I-16 and pass the Dublin–Laurens County Recreation Center. At the southern terminus of US 441 Byp., SR 117 departs the concurrency. At Joiner Street is the northern terminus of SR 257. In the central part of town, at an intersection with Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, the three highways turn to the left onto South Monroe Street. Then, they intersect US 80/SR 19/SR 26. At this intersection, the two concurrencies merge to the northeast. At Jefferson Street, US 441 departs to the north-northwest, concurrent with SR 29, which joins the concurrency. Also, SR 19 leaves the concurrency The five highways cross over the Oconee River on the Herschel Lovett Bridge, into East Dublin. In the city, US 319/SR 31 depart to the northeast. They travel through rural areas of the county, have a short section along the Laurens–Johnson county line, and enter Johnson County proper. The concurrency enters Wrightsville and curve to the east to an intersection with SR 15/SR 57/SR 78. At this intersection, SR 31 reaches its northern terminus, while US 319 continues to the east, concurrent with SR 78.

National Highway System

The following portions of SR 31 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:
SR 31 was established at least as early as 1919, from SR 38 in Homerville north-northwest to Pearson, and then on current path to SR 32 in Douglas. At this time, part of SR 26 was established in the Dublin area, and part of SR 30 was established in the northeastern part of the McRae area. By the end of September 1921, the Homerville–Pearson segment was decommissioned. SR 15 was extended on SR 26 from Dublin east-northeast to North Dublin, and then north-northeast to Wrightsville. Between October 1929 and June 1930, the southern terminus of SR 31 was extended southwest to US 84/SR 38 east-northeast of Valdosta. Between November 1930 and January 1932, the southern terminus was shifted west-southwest, into Valdosta. US 280 was designated on SR 30 in the McRae area. In January 1932, the northern terminus of SR 31 was extended to McRae. In early 1935, the northern terminus was extended again, to SR 117 south-southwest of Dublin. At the end of 1939, the southern terminus was extended south-southwest to the Florida state line south-southwest of Valdosta. In 1942, the entire path of SR 31 that existed at the time, and what would eventually be designated as part of it, SR 171 in the Dublin area and SR 15 from Dublin to Wrightsville, had a "completed hard surface".
Between January 1945 and November 1946, US 319 was designated on SR 31, from south-southeast of Jacksonville to south-southwest of Dublin; SR 117, from south-southwest of Dublin to that city; US 80/SR 26/SR 29, from Dublin to North Dublin; and SR 15, from North Dublin to Wrightsville. Between February 1948 and April 1949, US 441 was designated on SR 31 from south-southwest of Pearson to Dublin. Between July 1957 and June 1960, the northern terminus of SR 31 was extended north-northeast on US 319/US 441 to Dublin, truncating SR 117; east-northeast on US 80/US 319/SR 26/SR 29 to North Dublin; and on US 319 to Wrightsville, since SR 15 was shifted eastward. In 1989, SR 822 was established from just south of the CSX railroad tracks in Dublin north-northwest to US 80/US 319/SR 26/SR 29/SR 31. An unnumbered road was proposed from US 319/US 441/SR 31 and SR 19 east-northeast to the southern terminus of SR 822. In 1992, the path of SR 31 in Dublin was shifted east-southeastward, off of US 319/US 441/SR 19 and US 80/US 319/SR 26/SR 29, and onto the unnumbered road and replaced SR 822. In 1994, part of Inner Perimeter Road was established from US 41/SR 7 southeast of Valdosta to US 221/SR 31 in the northeast part of the city. In 2006, this road was extended southwest to SR 31. SR 31 and US 41/SR 7 were shifted out of downtown, and onto it. US 221 was also rerouted in the eastern part of the city, onto US 41/SR 7/SR 31 as it currently does.

Major intersections

Special routes

Lakeland connector route (1965–1980)

State Route 31 Connector was a short connector route of SR 31 that existed entirely within the city limits of Lakeland. Between June 1963 and January 1966, it was established on US 129/SR 11/SR 37/SR 122, from where SR 122 split off of Main Avenue, east-southeast to US 221/SR 31/SR 135. Between January 1974 and the beginning of 1981, it was decommissioned.

Lakeland connector route

State Route 31 Connector is a connector route that exists entirely within the southeastern part of Lanier County. It is located just south of Lakeland and is known as Murray Boulevard for its entire length.
It begins at an intersection with US 221/SR 31. It travels due east to meet its eastern terminus, an intersection with SR 135.
SR 31 Conn. is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
Between January 1998 and January 2010, it was established on its current path.

Douglas spur route

State Route 31 Spur was a short-lived spur route of SR 31 that existed entirely within the city limits of Douglas. Between June 1963 and January 1966, it was established from SR 135 north and east-northeast to US 221/US 441/SR 31. In 1968, it was decommissioned.