Route Information, History, Photo and Termini Gallery

The highly unusual GA 20 Spur, formerly GA 294, serves as an access road to Allatoona Dam from GA 20 east of Cartersville. Future plans for the road include a connector toward the south end of the route, which will make a loop from the end of GA 113 to the present northern end at GA 20, opening the area to development.

GA Spur 20/294N and Old GA 294S are all in Bartow County and both locally known as Allatoona Dam Road. The mileage on the northern section totals nearly 4 miles long and the south section was nearly 3 miles long. The area around Allatoona Dam is quite scenic, which thus makes GA 20 Spur scenic in parts as well.

History

When originally commissioned in 1953, this unique highway existed as two segments, GA 294N and GA 294S with the suffixes referring to the proximity of the route north and south of Allatoona Dam. Allatoona Dam had only been completed six years earlier, thus the highways functioned largely for the dam.

In the 1977 map, I-75 was still under construction in the area and GA 294 still existed in two sections with GA 294S coming out of Emerson and GA 294N departing GA 20. Note that GA 113 is not shown on this map and that GA 20 west of Cartersville is shown as GA 344.

In the split of the two routes, GA 294N basically went to the top of the dam and 294S ended at the foot of the dam. It is unknown if GA 294S was signed with the suffix, but GA 294N was simply signed as 294 prior to it's replacement in the mid 1990's with GA 20 Spur.

The final days of GA 294 in 1993. Note that I-75 is complete and GA 113 has been extended to I-75 within a short ways of where GA 294S was.

Today, GA 294 is officially dead, but the northern part of the route lives on with the GA 20 Spur badge. The last vestige of the two GA 294's was changed to this number in 1995. The other part, GA 294S, was eliminated in 1977 upon the opening of the final segment of I-75 in Georgia. At present, the route is now unsigned CR 646.

Twenty years later in 1997, GA 294S is long gone and GA 20 Spur now takes the place of GA 294. Note how GA 20 Spur and GA 113 could be lined up. Will GA 20 Spur still exist in a decade?

Overall, the route has remained intact since the 1995 redubbing of the route. However, the tragedy of 9/11 resulted in the route being permanently barracaded where present-day 20 Spur approaches the dam. A sad occurance, this closure pretty much ended a tradition where visitors could drive right up the dam and park at the parking area to walk out on top of the dam. This was something I used to do all the time growing up, and very much enjoyed. Nevertheless, as Allatoona Lake is so vital to the water supply of the Atlanta area, this is what they felt they had to do to protect it.

Georgia 294 Photo Gallery

Future

Georgia 20 Spur and Old Georgia 294 Termini Gallery

Ends featured here are for both portions of Old GA 294 and for Spur 20, which follows the route of the north portion of the former GA 294.

GA 294N/GA 20 Spur End Photos
Southern Terminus: North of Allatoona Dam
The road used to be open up to the dam, but this barracade has been here ever since, shortening the route and becoming the de facto end of GA 20 Spur. No end signage is posted here no reassurance shields starting in the opposite direction. The barracade here is preceeded by permanent "Road Closed xxx Feet" signs. Photo taken December 30, 2004.
Northern Terminus: GA 20 at I-75 east of Cartersville
The first photo featured is the ends assembly. The second photo is of the directional assembly with I-75 in the backround. The third photo is the first reassurance shield, which once held up a GA 294 sign. Note the "No Outlet" sign, which is a lie since several connecting county roads turn off beforehand. The last photo is a joint junction assembly of GA 20 Spur and I-75. GA 20 Spur ends within feet of I-75, thus the dual signage. Photos taken December 30, 2004.
GA 294S Historic End Photos
Southern Terminus: GA 293 north of Emerson
No Photos Available
Northern Terminus: Foot of Allatoona Dam
No Photos Available
Related Links

Here are links related to sites and information on or near GA 294:
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