Georgia State Route 53

Infobox road
state=GA
type=
route=53

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length_mi=
length_ref=
length_round=2
established=
direction_a=West
direction_b=East
starting_terminus=Alabama state line west of Cave Spring
junction=
ending_terminus=
previous_route=52
next_route=54

State Route 53 is a west-east state route located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The route travels from the Alabama state line west of Cave Spring northeast, then east, then southeast to State Route 15/State Route 24 Business in Watkinsville.

Routing

Western terminus to Dawsonville

From its western terminus at the Alabama state line, State Route 53 travels east, cosigned with U.S. Route 411. After a brief cosignage with State Route 100 in Cave Spring, U.S. Route 411 and State Route 53 continue northeast to the community of Six Mile. There, the routes become cosigned with U.S. Route 27 and State Route 1, and all four travel north. In Rome, U.S. Route 411 departs to the east, and U.S. Route 27/State Route 1/State Route 53 travel north, joined by State Route 20. Just to the east of downtown, State Route 53 departs from the other routes and travels northeast, running parallel to the Oostanaula River. South of Calhoun, the route arcs to the east, intersecting U.S. Route 41 and Interstate 75 before continuing east. After a brief cosignage again with U.S. 411 and State Route 61 in Fairmount, State Route 53 continues east. West of Jasper, the route becomes cosigned with State Route 5/State Route 515, and they travel southeast to State Route 108. State Route 53 departs State Routes 5 and 515 and continues east, cosigned with State Route 108. State Route 108 ends at Tate at the same crossroads as State Route 53 Business, but State Route 53 continues east to Dawsonville.

Dawsonville to eastern terminus

After a brief cosignage with State Route 9 around the courthouse in Dawsonville, State Route 53 continues to the southeast, intersecting U.S. Route 19/State Route 400 southeast of Dawsonville. State Route 53 continues southeast, then turns to the northeast near the eastern terminus of State Route 306. After crossing the Chestatee River branch of Lake Lanier, the route again turns to the southeast, then crosses over the Chattahoochee River branch of Lake Lanier. West of Gainesville, State Route 53 turns to the south, then, near the community of Oakwood, continues southeast, intersecting Interstate 985. State Route 53 continues southeast, briefly becoming cosigned with State Route 211, intersecting Interstate 85 in Braselton. This sector passes both Road Atlanta and Lanier National Speedway. North of Winder, State Route 53 becomes cosigned with State Route 11 and State Route 211. The three routes continue south into downtown Winder. There, State Route 211 departs to the northwest, and State Route 11 and State Route 53 continue southeast, cosigned with U.S. Route 29 Business and State Route 8. Southeast of downtown Winder, State Route 11 departs, and U.S. Route 29 Business/State Route 8/State Route 53 continue to the junction with U.S. Route 29 and State Route 316, where U.S. Route 29 Business terminates, State Route 8 continues east, and State Route 53 continues southeast. After crossing U.S. Route 78, State Route 53 assumes an easterly routing, crossing U.S. Route 129/U.S. Route 441/State Route 24 before meeting its eastern terminus at State Route 15/State Route 24 Business in downtown Watkinsville.

History

State Route 53 previously ran through downtown Jasper. However, some time between 2002http://www.dot.state.ga.us/DOT/plan-prog/transportation_data/400reports/2002/dpp444_2002.pdf] and 2005http://www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/plan-prog/transportation_data/mapproducts/Documents/Trafficflow_05.pdf] , the route was realigned to follow State Routes 5/515 and 108 around Jasper, while the former routing of State Route 53 became State Route 53 Business.

State Route 53 had a previous alignment from Dawnsonville, GA to Gainseville, GA. This alignment was abandoned to make way for the new Lake Lanier Reservoir in the mid 1950's. [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iYOMIAzXREFVjcYtNagkheasCXwAD8TNMFF01] Dead link|date=March 2008] [ [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1079923/an/0/page/0#1079923 Google Earth Community: Former Alignment GA 53 ] ]

ignificance

State Route 53 is a significant corridor in north Georgia. Most of the route sees an Average Annual Daily Traffic of more than 5,000 vehicles. In addition, some parts of the route, especially those between Rome and Fairmount, as well as around Gainesville, can see an AADT of over 10,000 vehicles.

Banner Routes

State Route 53 has three banner routes:

tate Route 53 Business

State Route 53 Business follows the former routing of State Route 53 in Jasper.

tate Route 53 Connector

State Route 53 Connector connects the State Route 53 mainline with Interstate 985 in Gainesville.

tate Route 53 Spur

State Route 53 Spur connects the State Route 53 mainline southwest of Calhoun with downtown.

Notes