U.S. Route 82 in Georgia

Georgetown to Albany

US 82 begins at the Alabama state line concurrent with SR 50. On the Alabama side of the state line, US 82 is concurrent with Alabama State Route 6 (SR 6). On the Georgia side of the state line, US 82/SR 50 head east through Georgetown to an intersection with SR 27/SR 39, where SR 39 begins a concurrency to the southeast. The three highways head southeast until SR 39 splits off to the south. US 82/SR 50 continue to the southeast until they reach an intersection with SR 266, just before entering Cuthbert. In the town, they intersect SR 216. On the east side of town is US 27/SR 1. On the extreme northern edge of Shellman is an intersection with SR 41. Here, they begin a brief concurrency. Just past Graves, SR 45 begins a concurrency until the three routes enter Dawson. In Dawson, there is an intersection with SR 520, where SR 50 ends, the concurrency with SR 45 ends, and the concurrency with SR 520 begins. A short distance later is an intersection with SR 55. The two highways head southeast until they reach Albany.

Albany to Tifton

At the beginning of Albany, the two highways become a freeway known as Liberty Expressway. At the intersection with US 19/SR 3, which join the concurrency, US 19 Business/US 82 Business/SR 520 Business head south into downtown Albany. At the next exit is SR 91/SR 133. SR 133 joins the concurrency at this point. The five highways curve to the south, where US 82/SR 520 head east along with SR 300. Here, US 19/SR 3/SR 133/SR 300 continue south on the expressway. Just east of Albany, SR 300 leaves the concurrency to the northeast. US 82/SR 520 then intersect US 82 Business/SR 520 Business, where they both meet their eastern terminus. The concurrency heads to Sylvester. There, they meet SR 313, SR 33, and SR 112. The two routes continue easterly to Tifton.

Tifton to Waycross

Just after entering Tifton, the two routes meet I-75, before intersecting US 319/SR 35. The two highways join the concurrency for about 3 miles (4.8 km). In the downtown part of the town is US 41/SR 7/SR 125. After leaving the town, US 319/SR 35 leave the concurrency, while US 82/SR 520 continue to the east-southeast. Prior to entering Alapaha, the concurrent highways intersect US 129/SR 11. These highways join the concurrency until they leave in town about 1 mile (1.6 km) later. Farther to the east, in Willacoochee, US 82/SR 520 intersect SR 90 and then have a very brief concurrency with SR 135. In Pearson, the concurrency intersects US 221/US 441/SR 31/SR 64. SR 64 joins the concurrency for less than 1 mile (1.6 km). Just prior to entering Waresboro is an intersection with SR 158. About 5 miles (8.0 km) later, US 1/US 23/SR 4 join the concurrency for about 8 miles (13 km). About 3 miles (4.8 km) after the beginning of the US 1/US 23/SR 4 concurrency is SR 122. Then, the concurrency enters Waycross.

Waycross to eastern terminus

In Waycross, the concurrency meets US 84/SR 38, which join for about 1 mile (1.6 km). Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) later, US 1/US 23/SR 4 depart to the southeast, while US 82/SR 520 head to the east. At this same intersection, US 1 Business/US 23 Business/SR 4 Business head to the northwest. Southeast of Waycross is SR 177, which leads to Laura S. Walker State Park and the Okefenokee Swamp. In Hoboken, is an intersection with SR 15/SR 121. Farther to the east, in Nahunta is US 301/SR 23. In Atkinson is an intersection with SR 259 and a very brief concurrency with SR 110. Approximately 9 miles (14 km) later, US 82/SR 520 meet the western terminus of SR 99. Then, they have an intersection with US 17/SR 25, along with SR 303. This intersection marks the eastern terminus of US 82 and the southern terminus of SR 303, while US 17/SR 25/SR 520 head southeast.

National Highway System

All of US 82 in Georgia from Dawson east to its eastern terminus is part of the National Highway System (NHS), a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility and defense.

Prior to designation

The roadway that would eventually become US 82's routing in Georgia was established in 1920 as SR 32 from Cuthbert to Sylvester and SR 46 from Sylvester to Tifton. In 1921, SR 50 was established along a route from US 82's current western terminus in the west, to at least as far as Waynesville, at an intersection with SR 27, in the east. All of SR 50 was eventually utilized by US 82. By 1926, a portion of SR 50 west of Sylvester was paved. Also, US 84 was designated along the portion of SR 50 east of Waycross. Sometime around 1926, SR 27, at US 82's eastern terminus, was redesignated as SR 25. By January 1932, almost all of SR 50 from Dawson to Tifton was paved, along with a portion west of Waycross, and the entirety of US 84/SR 50 east of Waycross. By May 1933, a portion of SR 50 between Alapaha and Willacoochee was paved. By October 1934, a portion of SR 50 east of Tifton, as well as one west of Alapaha, was paved. By July 1936, all of SR 50 from Tifton to Willacoochee was paved. Also, nearly all of SR 50 east of Pearson was paved. By July 1937, all of the highway that would eventually become US 82 between Dawson and Willacoochee was paved. By October 1939, the last pieces of the highway were paved. In 1948, US 82 entered the state, running concurrent with SR 50 only as far east as Waycross. In addition, SR 50 was extended, and paved, east to Jekyll Island.

After designation

In 1988, SR 520 was designated along its entire current length, with SR 50 from Dawson to Jekyll Island being decommissioned. In 1989, the sections of US 82 and US 84 east of Waycross were swapped, presumably to make travel less confusing for drivers.