US highway endpoints in Midway, GA1956-present
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US 84 was not routed through Midway until 1989. Prior to that, US 82 was the original east-west US route to serve the town, starting in 1956. That was before I-95 was built through the area, so US 82 ended right in Midway, at its junction with US 17:
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This is a photo of that junction as seen from southbound US 17; the sign for westbound US 84 points the way to what was once the east beginning of US 82:
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Karners, Jan. 2017
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This photo shows that same intersection from the perspective of a driver at the historic east end of US 82:
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Nasiatka, July 2004
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That remained the case for over 20 years. During that time, the road ahead did not exist. In order to continue east towards Sunbury, a driver would have to turn left at that junction, cross Cay Creek via US 17, and then turn east again on Martin Road. I-95 was completed through this area in about 1976, but US 82 was not immediately extended to the Midway interchange. The road ahead was constructed as GA 707, and as soon as it was complete in 1979, the US 82 designation was extended east to I-95's exit 76:
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c. 1979, GDoT
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c. 1982, GDoT
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Here is that approved agenda item from the minutes of AASHTO's meeting in June of that year (note that SR 707 was mistyped as "70"):
Then in 1989 a new bypass was built around Waycross GA. In order for the entire bypass to carry the US 1-23-82 designations, it was necessary to switch the US 82 and US 84 designations east of Waycross. So from that time on, US 84 has ended at Midway. These photos were taken looking east at that interchange; at the time "End" assemblies were posted both before and after the overpass:
Williams, 2000
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Osbaldeston, March 2002
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Ahead is a county road serving the communities of Sunbury and Halfmoon Landing. Neither of those "End" signs remained as of 2006, but by 2012 a new assembly had been posted:
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Laney, Dec. 2012 (unchanged as of 2017)
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That was the east end of US 82 until 1989. These photos were taken from I-95; the old ground signs were later replaced with overhead signage:
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Nasiatka, Aug. 2002
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Nasiatka, Mar. 2009
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Karners, Jan. 2017
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From about 1981 to 1989, that exit was signed for US 82, not US 84. If a traveler takes that exit and turns west, they soon see the first westbound confirming marker:
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Nasiatka, July 2004
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Research and/or photo credits: Karin and Martin Karner; Keith Laney; J.P. Nasiatka; Alex Nitzman; Greg Osbaldeston; Dale Sanderson; Steve Williams
Page originally created 1999;
last updated Mar. 22, 2020.
last updated Mar. 22, 2020.
