Georgia State Route 61

Route description

SR 61 begins at an intersection with SR 166, northeast of Carrollton in Carroll County. It heads north-northeast to the town of Villa Rica. There, it has an interchange with Interstate 20 (Tom Murphy Freeway). This interchange also marks the southern terminus of SR 101. SR 61/SR 101 head north concurrent, to an intersection with US 78/SR 8. At this intersection, SR 101 departs to the north, while US 78/SR 8/SR 61 head concurrent to the east. In the main part of town, SR 61 splits off to continue its north-northeast routing. The highway passes the Mirror Lake Golf Club, cuts across the northwestern corner of Douglas County, and enters Paulding County. In the town of Dallas, it intersects US 278/SR 6/SR 120 (Jimmy Campbell Parkway). The highway heads north on Nathan Dean Boulevard and meets SR 6 Business. SR 6 Business/SR 61 head concurrent to the northwest. Just under 3,000 feet (910 m) later, they meet the southern terminus of SR 381 (East Memorial Drive). Almost immediately, SR 61 departs to the north-northwest, on North Confederate Avenue. It travels through rural areas and crosses into Bartow County. It passes the Cartersville Airport and enters Cartersville. There, it intersects SR 113, which runs concurrent with it into the main part of town. Along the way, they cross over the Etowah River. Also, SR 293 joins the concurrency for a short while. At the end of the concurrency, SR 61 departs to the north, while SR 113 (East Main Street) continues to the east-northeast and SR 293 (South Tennessee Street) heads south. Then, SR 61 has an interchange with US 41/US 411/SR 3/SR 20 (Joe Frank Harris Parkway SE). At this interchange, US 411/SR 20 head concurrent with SR 61 for just over 800 feet (240 m), where SR 20 splits off to the east. US 411/SR 61 head northeast to an interchange with I-75, before leaving Cartersville. They pass through the towns of White and Rydal before intersecting SR 140, just north-northwest of Rydal. Farther to the north-northeast, the concurrency crosses into Gordon County. In the town of Fairmount is a brief concurrency with SR 53. US 411/SR 61 pass through the town of Ranger before meeting the eastern terminus of SR 156. Just before entering Murray County, the concurrency meets an old segment of US 411/SR 61 and intersect SR 136 (Nicklesville Road). Shortly after entering the county, they cross over the Coosawattee River. In the unincorporated community of Ramhurst, they intersect US 76/SR 282. At this intersection, US 76 joins the concurrency, and SR 282 meets its western terminus. US 76/US 411/SR 61 continue to the north-northwest and meet the northern part of the aforementioned stretch of old US 411/SR 61. In Chatsworth, SR 2/SR 52 (East Fort Street) join the concurrency. This intersection also marks the eastern terminus of SR 52 Alternate (West Fort Street). A few miles farther to the north, US 76/SR 52 split off to the west on G.I. Maddox Parkway, while the other three routes continue to the north-northeast. In the town of Eton is the eastern terminus of SR 286. On the way to Cisco, US 411/SR 2/SR 61 pass through Crandall. In Cisco, SR 2 departs to the west. A little ways farther to the north-northeast, they curve to the northwest, pass through the town of Tennga, and curve to the north. On the northern edge of town, they reach the Tennessee state line. Here, SR 61 ends, and US 411 crosses into Tennessee, where Tennessee State Route 33 begins.

SR 61 is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.

History

The portion of SR 61 south of Villa Rica used to be a portion of the route of US 78S and then US 78 Alternate.