14-mile long GA 198 serves as a cutoff between Cornelia and Carnesville in Banks and Franklin Counties. With no direct access to I-85, the highway has little traffic.

The original GA 198 was established in the 1940's. When the route was first commissioned, the road was already paved in Banks County, though pavement ended approximately two miles east of present-day Damascus Road (Old GA 184). The road was fully paved by 1957 or 1958.

Nearly 40 years later, the most significant change to occur on the road began. What occured along the road forever changed the westernmost end of the route. Basically, U.S. 441 had been long proposed for relocation as part of the G.R.I.P. corridor in the area around the Hollingsworth community. By 1997, the Hollingsworth By-Pass was well underway. This new road, which included the upgrade of part of GA 198 as part of the new four-lane, was designated GA 876. The relocation in this case involved placing U.S. 441 over the westernmost two miles of GA 198 upon completion of the four-lane project.

Compare these two maps, published 10 years apart. The first map shows GA 876 proposed tying into GA 198, while the second map shows U.S. 441 relocated to this route. U.S. 441 through Hollingsworth on the left has since been returned to local control as "Historic Old 441" (1993 and 2003 GDOT Maps).

By October 1999, the work to relocate U.S. 441 was completed, resulting in the truncation of GA 198 by two miles at the new route and the old route mostly covered up by U.S. 441, relocated onto completed GA 876. What remains today of the overlaid portion of GA 198 is an extension of Harmony Church Road to the old western end at what is now Old U.S. 441 and an abandoned curve to the side of the new western end.

Georgia 198 Photo Gallery

Photos below were taken at the intersection of GA 198 and Old GA 184. All photos by J.T. Legg.

	GA 198 eastbound with Damascus Road (Old GA 184) crossing in the foreground. Photo taken May 1, 2005.
	Faded LGS on northbound Damascus Road at GA 198. Photo taken September 25, 2004. This photo is also featured on the Georgia page of Alps' Roads.

Western Terminus: U.S. 441/GA 15 southeast of the Hollingsworth community between Baldwin and Homer
Photo 1 is of the end assembly. Photos 2 and 4 are of the directional assembly and junction assembly northbound, respectively. Photo 3 is the first eastbound reassurance shield.
Eastern Terminus: GA 59 west of Carnesville
Photo 1 is of the end assembly across from the roadway itself. Photos 2 and 3 are of the directional and junction assemblies, both southbound on GA 59. Like other Franklin County state routes, no reassurance shield was posted.
Historic Western Terminus: Intersection of Historic Old 441 with Harmony Church Rd. and Apple Pie Ridge Rd.
No photos available

Here are links related to sites and information on or near GA 198:

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