Route Information, History, Photo and Termini Gallery

Located in the northwestern part of the state in the Cumberland Plateau region, GA 193 is one of Georgia's most scenic routes. Located mostly in the Broomtown and Chattanooga Valleys, GA 193 crosses over the toe of Pigeon Mountain before turning north at the foot of Lookout Mountain, connecting LaFayette to Chattanooga. An area rich in history, recreational opportunities and rural mountain scenery, GA 193 is indeed rewarding.

History

The original route of GA 193 was quite peculiar that in the end ultimately followed what was originally supposed to be part of GA 53 in the 1921 highway plan. When it was first commissioned, however, the route was quite different, and took some study to explain. Older maps from the 1940's did not show it clearly, but by 1950 it was pretty obvious what the route where the original route went.

On the section north of GA 136, GA 193 followed present-day GA 193 to Nickajack Road, followed Nickajack Road to what is now GA 157 (then GA 170) and then extended north along that route via Lula Lake Road to end at the state line in Lookout Mountain. This route was eliminated by 1952, and GA 193 was relocated to its present route with GA 170 extended to take over part of the former route (today GA 157).

South of GA 136, GA 193 consisted of a three-mile mostly unpaved spur. From the 1952 map, it is also concluded that this spur might have followed part of Prospect Road (Walker C.R. 181). The 1954 map does not show this route, but instead shows the route as a two-mile spur extending as a county road along the route of the present route, so it the Prospect Road alignment died early. This newer spur appears to have followed the current route to the intersection of West Cove Road, which was originally a T-intersection with GA 193 making a left turn.

GA 193 along present-day GA 157 (1946 GHD Map)

The original GA 193 along present-day GA 157 (1946 GHD Map).

This map here shows the three mile spur of GA 193 south of GA 143 (now 136), which is believed to have followed partially present-day Prospect Road (1952 GHD Map)

Note the difference in the spur in 1954 including the mileage and direction (1954 GHD Map)
By 1958, the spur south of GA 136 became a complete route, connecting GA 136 to U.S. 27 in LaFayette. The route then made a complete alternate route from LaFayette northward to Chattanooga along the elbow-shaped highway. Additional changes did not come for several more years.
Note the thin line extending south of the spur from 143 on this 1954 map. This all became GA 193 by 1958 (1954 GHD Map)

In the 1970's, plans began to relocate a substandard portion of the route and other improvements were made as well, including truck lanes over Pigeon Mountain. In 1984, construction began to put GA 193 on new location from south of GA 341 in the Flintstone/Eagle Cliff community to the Tennessee State Line. Completed in 1986, this realignment resulted in a large portion of GA 193 now maintained by Walker County to the west of the current route.

The final major event that occured in the history of GA 193 happened in 1989 when GA 193 was extended along what had been GA 136 in LaFayette. Since GA 136 had been relocated to a new by-pass that had opened, GA 193 was extended east with an overlap on U.S. 27 Business to end at the intersection of U.S. 27 and GA 136 east of downtown LaFayette.

Here, GA 193 is under construction east of Eagle Cliff/Flintstone. Also note GA 731, now GA 2 and now decommissioned GA 349 (1986 GDOT Map).

Georgia 193 Photo Gallery

A collection of photos taken along GA 193.

 GA 193 reassurance shield just beyond the intersection with GA 341. Lookout Mountain, part of the Cumberland Plateau, is in the background. Photo taken August 8, 2004.
Panoramic view looking west on northbound GA 193 towards Pigeon Mountain. The bridge i n the distance crosses Dry Creek. Photo taken May 7, 2005.
Extending east from Old GA 193 is Battlefield Parkway, which is not state maintained west of modern GA 193. The road starts out with this trailblazer for both routes, originally installed in 1986. Photo taken May 7, 2005.
Georgia 193 Termini Gallery

All photos below by J.T. Legg.

Southern Terminus: Intersection of U.S. 27/GA 1 and GA 136 east of LaFayette

Photo 1: End signage looking eastbound. Route ahead is GA 136. Photo 3: Looking westbound towards LaFayette. Photo 2: Hideously-made overhead signage indicating GA 193 going west and GA 136 going east and north from the intersection. Photo 3, posted immediately beyond the intersection with U.S. 27 is the first reassurance shield and was taken August 8, 2004. The next photo is the same location taken May 7, 2005 with a very unique and peculiar "BEGIN" banner replacing the previous old-style signage.
Northern Terminus: Tennessee State Line in Chattanooga (TN 17)
The first photo is of the state line signage. The second image is the first reassurance shield, posted at the split where GA 193 forks off to the left and Old GA 193 to the right. The third image is looking back at the Tennessee State Line and entrance into Chattanooga with a cluster of signage including a zero mile marker for TN Secondary State Route 17. The last photo is of the first TN 17 sign posted beyond the state line, which is a ways up in the heart of the St. Elmo community of Chattanooga.
Related Links

Click on any of the llinks below for sites and information on or near GA 193.
©2004-2005 Peach State Roads, a Division of AARoads. All Rights Reserved.