Originally U.S. 221 followed GA 47 up to GA 150, then turned east on GA 150. That portion of GA 47 is today Roy Parks Road. By 1957, GA 304 was created to cut that corner, taking U.S. 221 off of part of GA 47 and part of 150. GA 304 cut off three miles from the previous route, creating a smoother alignment for U.S. 221 in Georgia. However, in 1987, GDOT saw fit to eliminate the 8.3 mile section of present-day Roy Parks Road from GA 47, relocating GA 47 along parts of GA 304 and 104. It appears that the decommissioning was so that Columbia County could get part of Belair Road commissioned as a state route, which became GA 383 the same time part of GA 47 north of Appling was decommissioned. GA 104 was truncated and 304 was retired with GA 47 taking its place. Old GA 47 became Columbia C.R. 986.

GA 304 and GA 47 before and after in 1987 and 1988. GA 383 is to the right of the last map and is not pictured except for the scanned "S" that is part of the label. While Old GA 47 was not a high volume road, GA 383 carries much traffic as it is part of suburban Augusta.