Georgia State Route 316 varies between an at-grade expressway and limited access highway from Interstate 85 near Lawrenceville east to the Athens Perimeter Highway (SR 10 Loop). Long range plans along the 40.01 mile long highway include upgrading the remainder of SR 316 to freeway standards. The Transforming State Route 316 Reconstruction Projects upgrade several at-grade intersections to interchanges.
The western 5.36 miles of SR 316, from I-85 to SR 120 (Duluth Highway) is a freeway. U.S. 29/SR 8 combine with SR 316 across the north side of Lawrenceville east to Dacula in Gwinett County. The three routes proceed east into Barrow County, bypassing the city of Winder to the south through the town of Bethlehem. Shifting southward from the city of Statham, SR 316 enters Oconee County ahead of Bogart. U.S. 78 joins U.S. 29/SR 8-316 east from Monroe Highway to SR 10LO outside Athens.
A 2004 proposal by the Parkway Group called for the implementation of tolls to help pay for the conversion of SR 316 to limited access standards. Estimated to cost $1 billion, toll rates considered at the time outlined as much as $4.70 for a one way trip at a rate of 12 cents per mile1
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) previously sought to include SR 316 from I-85 to SR 120 west of Lawrenceville into the Interstate System, and SR 316 from SR 120 to U.S. 29/SR 8 as a future addition. The request was denied, with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) writing on June 20, 1984:
East
The distributor roadway along I-85 north from Pleasant Hill Road to SR 316 includes an exit ramp for Boggs Road. Boggs Road constitutes a minor arterial running 2.18 miles south from SR 120 (Duluth Highway) to Old Norcross Road.
01/27/05
Advancing east to Gwinnett Technical College, SR 316 meets Sugarloaf Parkway at a parclo interchange.
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Sugarloaf Parkway is a major arterial heading northwest to Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and southeast to SR 20 (Grayson Highway), where it becomes a limited access expressway around Lawrenceville.
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Sugarloaf Parkway encircles Lawrenceville to the southwest and leads northwest to Duluth.
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An array of warehouses and distribution centers appear alongside SR 316 east from Sugarloaf Parkway to the diamond interchange with Riverside Parkway.
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Riverside Parkway meanders 2.73 miles north from Old Norcross Road and an adjacent industrial park to Lawrenceville Suwannee Road.
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SR 316 proceeds one mile east from Riverside Parkway to a diamond interchange with U.S. 29/SR 8 and SR 120 (Duluth Highway).
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U.S. 29/SR 8 were realigned onto SR 316 to bypass Lawrenceville in 2018. Formerly extending southeast onto Pike Street to Downtown Lawrenceville, SR 120 (Duluth Highway) was truncated west to Lawrenecville-Suwanee Road.
01/27/05
The exit for Duluth Highway departs SR 316 (University Parkway) east by Gwinnett Medical Center. U.S. 29/SR 8 dog leg west to Lawrenceville-Suwannee Road, where they turn south along a controlled access arterial bypass of Lawrenceville. SR 120 travels northwest to Duluth and Alpharetta.
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West
SR 316 (University Parkway) advances southwest below U.S. 29/SR 8 (Lawrenceville-Suwannee Road) to a diamond interchange with Riverside Parkway.
10/03/10
Riverside Parkway was extended south from River Exchange shopping center to SR 316 and Old Norcross Road in 1996.
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Sugarloaf Parkway, which previously began from U.S. 29/SR 316 along an expressway bypass of Lawrenceville, returns to University Parkway north to Sugarloaf Mills mall and Duluth.
10/03/10
An auxiliary lane opens along SR 316 westbound from Riverside Parkway to Sugarloaf Parkway.
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Construction underway in 1999 replaced the previous diamond interchange at Sugarloaf Parkway with a parclo.
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SR 316 continues west from Sugarloaf Parkway to Interstate 85 beyond Lee Daniel Creek.
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A flyover separates from SR 316 west for the c/d roadway joining I-85 southbound with Pleasant Hill Road by Gwinnett Place Mall.
10/03/10
The former HOV-2 lanes along Interstate 85 were converted to tolled Express Lanes.
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Interstate 85 travels northeast from Atlanta to Greenville, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina.
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The entrance ramp for I-85 north departs ahead of the Boggs Road overpass. I-985 branches northeast from I-85 to Gainesville in 6.7 miles.
10/03/10
Traffic on SR 316 west partitions with a left exit for the Express Lanes and the c/d roadway for Pleasant Hill Road.
10/03/10
The end shield for SR 316 west was removed by 2011.
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Page Updated Monday March 21, 2022.
