Georgia State Route 26

State Route 26 is a state highway that travels west-to-east through portions of Chattahoochee, Marion, Schley, Macon, Houston, Pulaski, Bleckley, Laurens, Johnson, Emanuel, Bulloch, Bryan, Effingham, and Chatham counties through the central part of the U.S. state of Georgia. It crosses nearly the entire width of the state, connecting Cusseta, on the southeastern edge of Fort Benning, near Columbus to Tybee Island on the Atlantic coast near Savannah, via Buena Vista, Ellaville, Oglethorpe, Hawkinsville, Cochran, Dublin, Swainsboro, Statesboro, and Savannah.

Route description

Chattahoochee to Houston counties

SR 26 begins at an intersection with US 27/US 280/SR 1/SR 520 in Cusseta, in the southeastern part of Fort Benning, in Chattahoochee County. Just over later, it exits the base's border and crosses over a Norfolk Southern Railway line. It proceeds to the east on Clarke Duncan Highway and travels to the north of Chattahoochee County High School. SR 26 crosses over a Norfolk Southern Railway line once again and re-enters Fort Benning for just over. At that point, the highway exits Fort Benning, Cusseta, and Chattahoochee County, and enters Marion County. South of Glen Alta, SR 26 intersects the southern terminus of SR 355. Farther to the east, in Buena Vista, is an intersection with the southern terminus of SR 41 Conn.. One block later, SR 26 intersects the SR 41 mainline. Just past the Short Street intersection, the roadway begins paralleling a Norfolk Southern Railway line to the southeast. The highway then enters Schley County. Around the northwestern city limits of Ellaville, SR 26 and the Norfolk Southern Railway line take different paths to get to downtown. In downtown is an intersection with the northern terminus of SR 153. The highway curves to the east-northeast direction. Just before leaving the city limits of Ellaville, SR 26 intersects US 19/SR 3. After leaving town, it continues traveling to the east-northeast and enters Macon County. SR 26 travels through rural areas of the county. Southwest of Oglethorpe, it intersects SR 49. This intersection also marks the beginning of a concurrency with SR 49 Truck. The two highways travel to the northeast on the Oglethorpe–Montezuma Bypass, which crosses over a Norfolk Southern Railway line. Just after enter the city limits of Oglethorpe, the bypass ends, and SR 26/SR 49 Truck curves to the east-northeast. They cross over the Flint River and enter Montezuma. At South Dooly Street, southwest of the Flint River Community Hospital, SR 49 Truck departs to the north-northwest, concurrent with SR 90, which joins SR 26 to the east. This intersection is on the northeastern edge of Macon County High School. At Vienna Road, SR 90 departs to the southeast, and SR 224 begins, concurrent with SR 26. They cross over some railroad tracks of CSX on the John T. McKenzie Bridge. Just to the east of the entrance to Dr. C. P. Savage, Sr. Airport, SR 224 departs to the north. A little over farther to the east is the western terminus of SR 329. SR 26 travels to the northeast and curves back to the east just before entering Houston County.

Houston to Laurens counties

SR 26 travels nearly due east and enters Henderson, where it intersects US 41/SR 7. East-southeast of there is an interchange with Interstate 75 at exit 127. The highway travels south-southwest of Elko. It travels to the east and curves to the southeast. After a very brief segment along the Houston–Pulaski county line, it enters Pulaski County proper. SR 26 travels through rural areas of the county as Columbus Highway until it enters Hawkinsville. In the northwestern part of town, it intersects US 129/US 341/SR 11. SR 26 travels to the east-southeast on Commerce Street, until it intersects US 129 Bus./US 341 Bus./SR 11 Bus.. All four highways travel concurrently to the southeast, and then to the east-northeast, on Commerce Street. At Jackson Street, US 129 Bus./SR 11 Bus. leaves the concurrency, and SR 112 joins. Two blocks later, US 129 Alt., which travels along a southbound-only section of Commerce Street that meet the east–west part that US 341 Bus./SR 26/SR 112 travels on. The four highways travel to the south-southeast, skirting along the western edge of Veterans Memorial Park, until they intersect US 341/SR 27/SR 230/SR 257. At this intersection, US 129 Alt.'s southbound lanes and US 341 Bus. both meet their southern terminus, and US 341/SR 27/SR 230/SR 257 joins the concurrency. The seven-highway concurrency travels to the east-southeast and crosses over the Ocmulgee River on the Roger H. Lawson Memorial Bridge. Approximately later, in Hartford, SR 230 departs to the south-southeast on Lower River Road, US 341/SR 27 travels to the southeast on Eastman Highway, and US 129 Alt./SR 26/SR 112/SR 257 travels nearly due north on Cochran Highway. About later, they begin to curve to the northeast and pass northwest of the Hawkinsville–Pulaski County Airport. The concurrency begins a curve to a more north-northeast routing, and SR 257 departs the concurrency on Chicken Road. A few miles later, the concurrency enters Bleckley County. After US 129 Alt./SR 26/SR 112 enters Cochran, they intersect US 23 Bus./SR 87 Bus.. At this intersection, US 129 Alt./SR 112 turns left onto the business routes, while SR 26 continues into downtown. Just past Cedar Hill Cemetery is an intersection with the western terminus of SR 126. Approximately later, the highway intersects US 23/SR 87. SR 26 then travels northwest of Bleckley County Elementary School and Uchee Trail Country Club. The highway travels through rural areas of the county and enters Laurens County.

Laurens to Bryan counties

Approximately after entering the county, SR 26 has an interchange with I-16 at exit 39. The highway then enters Bender, where it intersects US 80/SR 19. The three highways travel concurrently to the east. US 80 and SR 26 are concurrent for the rest of their length. In Dudley, the concurrency intersects SR 338. The three highways travel south of the W. H. 'Bud' Barron Airport and enter Dublin just before they intersect US 441 Byp./SR 117. In the main part of the city, they intersect US 441/SR 29. At this intersection, SR 19 departs the concurrency to the south, while SR 29 joins. The concurrent highways circle around the Laurens County Superior Court. At Washington Street, US 319/SR 31 also joins the concurrency. The five highways cross over the Oconee River on the Herschel Lovett Bridge and enter East Dublin. US 319/SR 31 departs the concurrency to the northeast on Wrightsville Avenue. Almost immediately after that, SR 29 departs the concurrency to the southeast on Soperton Avenue. US 80/SR 26 crosses over a Norfolk Southern Railway line and travel through rural areas of the county before entering Johnson County. US 80/SR 26 travels through Scott and then enters Adrian. Just east of Kelly Street, they enter Emanuel County. In the main part of town, they intersect SR 15/SR 78. Immediately afterward, the concurrency crosses back into Johnson County. They curve to a north-northeast direction and cross over the Ohoopee River on the William H. Brantley Jr. Bridge and re-enter Emanuel County. The concurrent highways curve to the east-southeast and make a gradual curve to the northeast. They intersect US 221/SR 171 before crossing over the Little Ohoopee River. Just prior to entering the city limits of Swainsboro, they intersect US 1/SR 4/SR 57. Immediately to the east of the intersection, they enter Swainsboro and are known locally as West Main Street. At Tyson Street, SR 56 joins the concurrency through the city. Approximately later, they intersect US 1 Bus./SR 4 Bus.. After crossing over a Norfolk Southern Railway line, SR 56 departs the concurrency. US 80/SR 26 curves to the east-southeast and enters Twin City. There, they have intersections with SR 192 and SR 23. They travel through George L. Smith State Park and intersect SR 121 just before entering Bulloch County. After traveling through Portal, US 80/SR 26 intersects US 25/SR 67 in Hopeulikit. The four highways travel concurrently to the southeast, toward Statesboro. Just before entering the city limits, they intersect the northern terminus of US 25 Byp./SR 67 Byp., a partial bypass of the city. In the main part of Statesboro, they intersect US 301/SR 73. At this intersection, US 25/SR 67 departs the US 80/SR 26 concurrency. The two highways curve to the southeast and pass Eastside Cemetery just before intersecting the southern terminus of SR 24. Approximately before leaving the city limits, they intersect US 301 Byp./SR 73 Byp.. US 80/SR 26 travels through Brooklet, to the east of Southeast Bulloch High School. In Stilson, they intersect the northern terminus of SR 119 Conn. They travel to the southeast and have a brief concurrency with SR 119 just before entering Bryan County.

Bryan to Chatham counties

US 80/SR 26 enters Blitchton, where they intersect US 280/SR 30. At this intersection, US 280 meets its eastern terminus, while SR 30 joins the concurrency. The three highways cross over the Ogeechee River into Effingham County. After traveling through Eden, they cross over the Little Ogeechee River. Just before entering Chatham County, they intersect SR 17. At this intersection, SR 30 departs the concurrency, and SR 17 joins it. US 80/SR 17/SR 26 enters Bloomingdale. There, they have an intersection with the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway where SR 17 departs. In Pooler, the concurrent highways have an interchange with Pooler Parkway and then the eastbound and westbound lanes split into one-way streets. The lanes come back together just before the interchange with I-95 at exit 102. Along the Pooler–Garden City city line is an intersection with SR 307. After crossing over some Norfolk Southern and CSX railroad lines, they intersect the southern terminus of SR 26 Conn. US 80/SR 26 curves to the southeast and enter Savannah, paralleling I-516/SR 21/SR 25. Farther to the southeast, they intersect SR 25 Conn.. US 80/SR 25 Conn./SR 26 travels south-southwest on Collins Street, then turn left onto Augusta Avenue, to travel southeast to a partial interchange with I-516/SR 21/SR 25. Here, SR 25 Conn. meets its southern terminus. A short distance later, I-516/US 80/SR 21/SR 25/SR 26 crosses over various railroad tracks and have an incomplete interchange with West Gwinnett Street. Almost immediately is an interchange with I-16/US 17. At this point, US 17 joins the concurrency. A short distance later, the concurrency crosses over some railroad tracks of CSX and have an incomplete interchange with Tremont Road. At Ogeechee Road, US 17/SR 25 departs the concurrency to the southwest, while US 80/SR 26 departs to the northeast. The two highways cross over some railroad tracks of CSX and have an incomplete interchange with Stiles Avenue. They turn right onto Victory Drive. At Abercorn Street, they intersect the former SR 204. They skirt along the northeastern edge of Daffin Park. They meet the Harry S. Truman Parkway at an interchange. Then, they leave Savannah and travel through Thunderbolt, crossing over the Wilmington River and the Intracoastal Waterway. They cross over Gray Creek and then intersect the western terminus of Johnny Mercer Boulevard, the path of former SR 367. US 80/SR 26 also meets Islands Expressway, part of their former routing in the area. They have an intersection with the eastern terminus of Johnny Mercer Boulevard. Then, they cross over the Bull River and enter the property of the Fort Pulaski National Monument. US 80/SR 26 curves to the southeast and passes the entrance to the fort. The concurrency enters Tybee Island and meet their eastern terminus, an intersection with Butler Avenue, Tybrisa Street, and Inlet Avenue.