GA 312 first appeared on the state highway system in 1959. Completely unpaved upon commissioning, the paving of the highway was completed relatively quickly. A year after commissioning, the route west of GA 262 was fully paved and by 1961, the highway was completely paved in Decatur County. Two years later, the Grady County section was paved, completing the highway.

GA 312 here extends from Whigham to Bainbridge. GA 262, Old GA 179 and U.S. 27 were shown in the map to better show the location. The red line south of GA 312 is U.S. 84 (1977 GDOT Map).

Apparently, the original purpose for the highway was largely to get the road paved. When GDOT began to evaluate the highway system, which had grown exponentially throughout the 1950's and 1960's, GA 312 was one of the roads axed during the years of the Great Decommissioning. As a result, GA 312 was returned to local control in 1979.