Georgia State Route 4
State Route 4 is a state highway in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. Except for its portion north of U.S. Route 78, it is completely concurrent for its entire length with U.S. Route 1. It traverses south-to-north through portions of Charlton, Ware, Bacon, Appling, Toombs, Emanuel, Jefferson, and Richmond counties in the southeastern and east-central parts of the state. The highway begins at the Florida state line, on US 1/US 23/US 301/SR 15 at the St. Marys River. It travels to its northern terminus at the South Carolina state line, on the Augusta–North Augusta, South Carolina city line, on US 25 Business at the Savannah River.
Route description
Charlton County
SR 4 begins at the Florida state line, at a bridge over the St. Marys River, which is south-southeast of Folkston. This is where US 1/US 23/US 301 enter Georgia from Florida. US 1, US 23, US 301, SR 4, and SR 15 travel north as the Public Safety and Veterans Highway through rural parts of Charlton County. They curve to the northwest for a brief portion. Just before entering Folkston, where they use the Second Street name, they resume their north direction. They have an intersection with the southern end of Third Street, a former portion of US . They intersect with. One block later is Love Street, a former portion of SR 252. Just north of Garden Street, they curve to the northeast. They then intersect SR 23/SR 121, which join the concurrency. This is one of a few seven-highway concurrencies in the state. The seven highways continue to the northeast. Just after curving back to the northwest, they intersect the western end of SR 40 Connector. At this intersection, they pass the Charlton County Library. They then use the Okefenokee Trail as their path. They cross over Clay Branch just before intersecting Bowery Lane and Homeland Park Road. They leave Folkston and enter Homeland. US 301 and SR 23 split and continue to the north, while US 1, US 23, SR 4, SR 15, and SR 121 curve to the northwest on the Woodpecker Trail. They overpass railroad tracks, pass Dogwood Lane, leave Homeland and, resume through rural parts of the county. They cross over Little Spanish Creek and then Winding Branch. They intersect Crews Road and Old Dixie Highway, a former portion of US 1. Just after this intersection is a crossing over Spanish Creek. They curve to the northwest. They cross over Melton Branch. Then, in Racepond, SR 15/SR 121 splits off to the northeast, while US 1, US 23, and SR 4 continue to the northwest and enter Ware County.Ware County
US 1, US 23, and SR 4 cross over Gum Slough and then curve more to the northwest. They travel through the Dixon Memorial State Forest. They curve to the north-northwest and then intersect SR 177. They cross over Mill Creek before entering the southeastern part of Waycross.Immediately, they pass an office of the Georgia Department of Corrections. Just before an intersection with Osburn Road, they curve back to the northwest. Just past The Mall at Waycross, they curve to the west-northwest. Just before an intersection with City Boulevard, they curve back to the north. They intersect the southern end of US 1 Bus./US 23 Bus./SR 4 Bus. and US 82/SR 520. US 1/US 23/SR 4 turn left onto US 82/SR 520 and travel concurrently with them. The five-highway concurrency travels to the northwest. An intersection with Wilkerson Street leads to Memorial Stadium. The next street, Blackwell Street. Between an intersection of Amanda Street and Morton Avenue, they cross over the city's drainage canal. Pass an intersection with Lee Street leads to the downtown business district. Pass the intersection with Brunel Street which leads to Obediah's Okefenok and Swamp Road. At the intersection with Stephenson Street, the five highways curve to the northwest. On this curve, they travel on a bridge over Haines Avenue, some railroad tracks, and US 84/SR 38. Immediately after this bridge, they curve back to the west-northwest. At McDonald Street, US 84 and SR 38 join the concurrency. The seven highways, US 1, US 23, US 82, US 84, SR 4, SR 38, and SR 520, continue to the northwest. At the intersection with Nicholls Street, they curve to the west-northwest and travel on a bridge over railroad tracks. Just pass this bridge, they curve to the northwest. At Victory Drive, US 84 and SR 38 depart. Past this intersection, there is one with South Augusta Avenue. Here, the highways pass South Georgia State College's Waycross campus. Between an intersection with University Boulevard and Anita Street, they leave the city limits of Waycross.
West of Anita Street, they curve back to the west-northwest. They cross over Kettle Creek. A short distance later, they curve north. They intersect SR 122. They curve to the northeast and travel on a bridge over some railroad tracks. Immediately afterward, they travel on a bridge over Albany Avenue. the highways curve to the northwest and come to an intersection with Scapa Road. Here, US 1, US 23, and SR 4 turn right to the northeast, while US 82 and SR 520 continue straight ahead. Almost immediately, they intersect with Fulford Road, which leads to the Ware County Sheriff's Office, the Southland Waste Transfer Station, the Ware County Emergency Management Agency, and the Waycross Regional Youth Detention Center. The three highways curve to the northwest and pass the Waycross–Ware County Industrial Park West. They curve to the west-northwest for a short distance and then curve northeast. They intersect US 1 Bus./US 23 Bus./SR 4 Bus.. The mainline highways head to the northwest and cross over Cox Creek. Almost immediately, they cross over the Satilla River on the Charles Ray King Memorial Bridge. They curve due north. On a curve back to the northwest, they cross over Dryden Creek. They curve to the north and travel through Dixie Union. They curve to the northeast and travel on a bridge over Crawley Road and some railroad tracks. At an intersection with Jamestown Road and Alma–Waycross Highway, they enter Bacon County.