Business Loop I-75 - Valdosta

The southernmost Business Loop for Interstate 75 serves the city of Valdosta east from Exits 16 and 22 in Lowndes County. Heading east from a folded-diamond interchange, the business route overlays U.S. 84-221 and Georgia 38 along Hill Avenue toward Downtown. Once in the business district, the four routes partition into a short one-way couplet of Hill Avenue (east) and Central Avenue (west). Business Loop I-75 splits with U.S. 84 & 221 for an overlap there along U.S. 41 Business & GA 7 Business north.

A second one-way couplet carries northbound motorists along Ashley Street and southbound drivers along Magnolia Street west to Patterson Street south at Downtown Valdosta. Signs for Business Loop I-75 disappear north of this partition as U.S. 41 Business & GA 7 Business follow Ashley Street north to Five Points and Valdosta Road. Valdosta Road expands the route into a four-lane divided highway, as the U.S. 41 & GA 7 mainline, on the western swing back to Interstate 75.

North East

Passing under Interstate 75, motorists along U.S. 84 east & 221 north approach the northbound on-ramp to Tifton, Macon and Atlanta. Photo taken 05/28/05.

Interstate 75 straddles western reaches of the Valdosta city limits north to Georgia 133 by Valdosta Mall. Macon is 148 miles to the north. Photo taken 05/28/05.

2 photos 2 photos

A shield assembly posted after the ramps for I-75 includes the first shield for Business Loop I-75 north. Changes made between 2005 and 2008 removed GA 94 from the overlap with U.S. 84-221 & GA 38. The state route was truncated from Brooks County eastward to Downtown Valdosta and replaced with Georgia 133 from Morven southeastward. Photo taken 05/28/05. Second photo taken 09/28/08.

Norman Drive leads north from Hill Avenue to Valdosta Mall and a number of big box retail centers. An array of traveler services continue along side Business Loop I-75 & U.S. 84-228 east to junction GA 133 (St. Augustine Road). Photo taken 09/28/08.

Business Loop I-75 & U.S. 84-221 next meet the south end of Georgia 133 (St. Augustine Road). Photo taken 05/28/05.

Georgia 133 travels in a northwestern trajectory from Valdosta nearly 83 miles through Moultrie and Albany. Locally the route consists of a commercial arterial north to Valdosta Mall and I-75 at Troupville. Photo taken 05/28/05.

2 photos 2 photos

Sign changes made between 2005 and 2008 reflect the removal of Georgia 94 east from GA 133 along Business Loop I-75 & U.S. 84-221 (Hill Avenue). Photo taken 05/28/05. Second photo taken 09/28/08.

Hill Avenue becomes eastbound only beyond Central Avenue. Business Loop I-75 & U.S. 84-221 enter the business district ahead of U.S. 41 Business & 7 Business (Patterson Street south / Ashley Street north). Photo taken 09/28/08.

Oak Street travels north from the Downtown area to Valdosta State University and south to Madison Highway (former Georgia 31). Photo taken 09/28/08.

Like U.S. 84 & 221, U.S. 41 Business partitions along a one-way couplet through Downtown Valdosta. U.S. 41 Business & GA 7 Business north follow all of Ashley Street from the Jim Beck Overpass to Five Points. Photo taken 09/28/08.

	Eastbound Hill Avenue at the traffic light with Toombs Street. Photo taken 09/28/08.

U.S. 84 east & 221 north next intersect Patterson Street, which carries U.S. 41 Business south from Magnolia Street to the Jim Beck Overpass above two sets of railroad lines. Photo taken 09/28/08.

U.S. 41 Business ventures south along Patterson Street to Madison Highway (former GA 31) south to Valdosta Regional Airport (VLD) and an exit of the city south of Little Miami and Mud Creek. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Although not signed, Business Loop I-75 turns northward onto U.S. 41 Business (Ashley Street) at the next intersection. Photo taken 09/28/08.

North

Traveling north along Ashley Street, U.S. 41 Business approaches Central Avenue, which carries U.S. 84 west & 221 south between Forrest and Wells Streets through Downtown. Photo taken 09/28/08.

The final reference of Business Loop I-75 appears along Ashley Street north ahead of Central Avenue west for U.S. 84 west & 221 south. The southbound direction of the business loop officially follows Patterson Street south to Central Avenue, one block to the west. Photo taken 09/28/08.

	Entering the signalized intersection with Central Avenue west on Business Loop I-75 & U.S. 41 Business (Ashley Street) north. U.S. 84 & 221 travel in tandem between Valdosta and Quitman, where U.S. 84 continues to Thomasville and 221 leads south to Greenville, Florida. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Reassurance shields posted for U.S. 41 Business & Georgia 7 Business along Ashley Street north after U.S. 84 west & 221 south (Central Avenue). Business Loop I-75 is unsigned from this point northward. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Leaving Downtown, U.S. 41 Business (Ashley Street) turns more northward from Valley Street to East Park Avenue. This stretch, and East Park Avenue, originally carried U.S. 221 and Georgia 31. Photo taken 09/28/08.

U.S. 41 Business (Ashley Street) meets Gordon Street and Williams Street north at a five-way intersection. Williams Street veers northwest to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium and Drexel Park. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Three blocks further north along Ashley Street at Ann Street. Photo taken 09/28/08.

College Street heads west from Lee Street across U.S. 41 Business to Valdosta State University at Patterson Street (Georgia 7 Alternate). Photo taken 09/28/08.

Moore Street follows at the next signal, joining U.S. 41 Business with residential areas east to Onemile Branch and west to Georgia 7 Alternate. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Nearing the former split of U.S. 41 and 221 north at Park Avenue, a shield assembly advises motorists bound for Bemiss Road (Georgia 125) north to remain in the right lane. GA 125 begins a 74-mile route to Fitzgerald immediately north of Park Avenue. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Park Avenue carried U.S. 221 and Georgia 31 east from U.S. 41 (Ashley Street) until the completion of Inner Perimeter Road (the at-grade bypass loop of Valdosta). The pair travel along side the U.S. 41 & GA 7 mainline north from Hill Avenue to Lakeland Highway. Photo taken 09/28/08.

A small span-wire supported sign references Georgia 7 Business only at the split with Georgia 125 (Bemiss Road) north. GA 125 joins Valdosta with Bemis, Moody Air Force Base and Barretts in northern Lowdnes County. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Georgia 125 south (Bemis Road) ends opposite Rosedale Place at U.S. 41 Business (Ashley Street). The state route meets U.S. 41 again at Tifton. Photo taken 09/28/08.

A mileage sign remains in use from when U.S. 221 used to split with U.S. 41 south of Bemis Road. Hahira is an 11-mile drive north along Old Highway 41 from Mineola. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Woodrow Wilson Drive links Georgia 125 (Bemis Road) to the east with Georgia 7 Alternate (Patterson Street) just south of South Georgia Medical Center. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Cowart Avenue, at the next traffic light, is the main entrance to South Georgia Medical Center via U.S. 41 Business (Ashley Street) north. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Ashley Street becomes more commercialized from Northside Drive north into Five Points. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Connell Road mirrors the course of Northside Drive east from U.S. 41 Business (Ashley Street) to Georgia 125 (Bemis Road) at Highland Heights. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Smithbriar Drive arcs west from U.S. 41 Business to provide access to Patterson Street (GA 7 Alternate) south and Oak Street south at Five Points. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Oak Street was made discontinuous by the realignment of U.S. 41 onto a four-lane divided highway (Valdosta Road) west from Five Points. The street continues north and then east to GA 125 (Bemiss Road) from this signal. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Turning westward, U.S. 41 Business (Valdosta Road) prepares to merge with U.S. 41 from Inner Perimeter Road. Country Club Road, the pre-1961 alignment of U.S. 41, branches northward ahead of the merge. Photo taken 09/28/08.

U.S. 41 overtakes Valdosta Road from the north end of Inner Perimeter Road west to Interstate 75. Photo taken 09/28/08.

End shields for both U.S. 41 Business and Georgia 7 Business reside at the intersection of Valdosta Road north at Inner Perimeter Road east. Photo taken 09/28/08.

North

U.S. 41 & Georgia 7 (Valdosta Road) make their final push outward from Valdosta ahead of the Withlacoochee River. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Country Club Drive heads north from U.S. 41 to Country Club Road (old U.S. 41) at Valdosta Country Club and south to Eager Road. Photo taken 09/28/08.

U.S. 41 curves northward and overtakes Country Club Road, the former U.S. 41 alignment, on the exit of Valdosta. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Now north of the Withlacoochee River, U.S. 41 turns west again beyond the intersection of Val Del Road north. Photo taken 09/28/08.

U.S. 41 continues west along Valdosta Road to merge with Interstate 75 north to Hahira while Old Highway 41 remains as a local road through Minneola and Tillman. Photo taken 09/28/08.

West of Old Highway 41, U.S. 41 sees a shield and mileage sign assembly. Hahira is seven miles to the north, followed by Adel in 17 miles and Tifton in 41 miles. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Coleman Road intersects U.S. 41 (Valdosta Road) as unsigned Business Loop I-75 prepares to meet Interstate 75. Photo taken 09/28/08.

U.S. 41 & Georgia 7 combine with Interstate 75 north from Valdosta Road (Exit 22) north to Exit 29. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Valdosta Road becomes Shiloh Road west from the parclo interchange with Interstate 75. Photo taken 09/28/08.

South

Valdosta Road winds east as a four-lane divided highway across the Withlacoochee River into northern reaches of the Valdosta city limits. The route splits with the mainline bypassing the city via Inner Perimeter Road while U.S. 41 Business & Georgia 7 Business continue Valdosta Road south to Ashley Street. Photo taken 09/18/06.

South

Reassurance shields for U.S. 41 Business & Georgia 7 Business reside immediately east of the split with U.S. 41. Country Club Road, a former alignment of U.S. 41 & GA 7, ties in from the north at the assembly. Photo taken 09/18/06.

Oak Street south intersects U.S. 41 Business & GA 7 Business (Valdosta Road) at Five Points. Oak Street continues south, but from Smithbriar Drive west of forthcoming Patterson Street (Georgia 7 Alternate). Photo taken 09/18/06.

U.S. 41 Business & GA 7 Business split with Patterson Street at Five Points. Patterson Street doubles as Georgia 7 Alternate to Downtown. Photo taken 09/18/06.

Magnolia Street carries Business Loop I-75, U.S. 41 and GA 7 south one block west from Ashley Street to Patterson Street. Photo taken 09/18/06.

Patterson Street travels north as Georgia 7 Alternate back to Five Points while southbound continues the business loop three blocks to U.S. 84 west & 221 south. Photo taken 09/18/06.

The first reassurance marker for Business Loop I-75 appears on the block of Patterson Street between Magnolia and Jackson Streets. The business route could be considered a spur given its lack of signage to the north. Photo taken 09/18/06.

Patterson Street flows southward with two lanes as U.S. 41 Business & GA 7 Business to the Jim Beck Overpass above sets of Georgia and Florida Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. Photo taken 09/18/06.

South from Valley Street, Business Loop I-75 parts ways with U.S. 41 Business & GA 7 Business (Patterson Street) to join U.S. 84 west & 221 south along Central Avenue. Photo taken 09/18/06.

U.S. 84 & 221 share 20.6 miles of pavement west from Inner Perimeter Road in east Valdosta to the Brooks County seat of Quitman. Photo taken 09/18/06.

South West

An erroneous Business Loop I-75 north shield precedes the southbound turn of the business route from Patterson Street (U.S. 41 Business) onto Central Avenue (U.S. 84 west & 221 south). Photo taken 09/28/08.

U.S. 84 & 221 reassurance shields posted between Patterson and Toombs Streets along Central Avenue west. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Toombs Street leads north from Business Loop I-75 (Central Avenue) to Valdosta State University and south to Olympic Park and Old Clyattville Road. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Business Loop I-75 south meets Oak Street again at the next Central Avenue traffic light. Photo taken 09/28/08.

Central Avenue veers southward to combine with Hill Avenue as a five-lane arterial beyond Oak Street. The final Business Loop I-75 shield is posted along this transition. Photo taken 09/28/08.