Ronald Reagan Parkway

Ronald Reagan Parkway is an expressway stretching 7.01 miles northwest from SR 124 (Scenic Highway) and Pinehurst Road in the city of Snellville to Pleasant Hill Road outside Lilburn. One of a handful of county-maintained limited access roads in Georgia, Ronald Reagan Parkway was constructed by Gwinnett County in the mid-1990's.1

Ronald Reagan Parkway was envisioned by then Gwinnett County chairman Wayne Mason. Mason had economic development interests in the eastern part of Gwinnett County and planned to build a shopping mall in the area. An obstacle to those plans however was the lack of direct access to Interstate 85. So Mason spearheaded the idea for a freeway between Pleasant Hill Road and SR 124 (Scenic Highway).1

Wayne Mason was later voted out of office and his mall never realized. However the short freeway he advocated was eventually built. During construction, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) assigned the temporary and unsigned designation of State Route 864 to Ronald Reagan Parkway.1

Pleasant Hill Road links Ronald Reagan Parkway with Interstate 85, 2.87 miles to the north, in lieu of a high speed connection. Though discussion arose to build the missing link, wetlands and a substantial reduction in funds for the project ultimately prevented any progress for extending the expressway northward.1

References:

  1. J.T. Legg

Photo Credits:

Connect with:

Page Updated Tuesday March 22, 2022.