View source for Interstate 985

{{short description|Highway in Georgia}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2008}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox road
| state = GA
| type = I
| route = 985
| alternate_name = Sidney Lanier Parkway<br>Gainesville Connector
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|frame-lat=34.179|frame-long=-83.909|zoom=10|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 985}}}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-985 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 24.04
| length_ref = <ref name="FHWA">{{cite web |last=Starks |first=Edward |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |access-date=September 2, 2022 |work=FHWA Route Log and Finder List |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]] |archive-date=July 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703182115/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| established = 1985<ref name="GDOT 1984">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1984 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1986">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1986 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref>
| spur_type = I
| spur_of = 85
| direction_a = South
| terminus_a = {{jct|state=GA|I|85}} in [[Suwanee, Georgia|Suwanee]]
| junction =
*{{jct|state=GA|US|23|SR|20}} in [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]]
*{{jct|state=GA|SR|347}} in [[Lake Lanier, Georgia|Lake Lanier]]
*{{jct|state=GA|SR|53}} in [[Oakwood, Georgia|Oakwood]]
*{{jct|state=GA|SR|13}} near [[Blackshear Place]]
*{{jct|state=GA|SR|60}} near [[Gainesville, Georgia|Gainesville]]
*{{jct|state=GA|US|129|US-Bus|129|dab2=Gainesville|SR|11}} in [[Gainesville, Georgia|Gainesville]]
| direction_b = North
| terminus_b = {{jct|state=GA|US|23}} in Gainesville
| counties = [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett]], [[Hall County, Georgia|Hall]]
| previous_type = SR
| previous_route = 962
| next_type = SR
| next_route = 1011
| browse = {{ga browse|previous_type=SR|previous_route=417|route=SR 419|next_type=SR|next_route=421}}
}}

'''Interstate&nbsp;985''' ('''I-985''') is a {{convert|24.04|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[auxiliary Interstate Highway]] in [[Northeast Georgia]]. It links the [[Atlanta metropolitan area]] to the city of [[Gainesville, Georgia|Gainesville]] via [[Suwanee, Georgia|Suwanee]]. I-985 is also known as the '''Sidney Lanier Parkway''', after the [[Sidney Lanier|musician and poet]], and is also designated as unsigned '''State Route&nbsp;419''' ('''SR&nbsp;419'''). The roadway was designated as I-985 in 1985. I-985 and [[Georgia State Route 365|SR&nbsp;365]] are [[Concurrency (road)|concurrent]] for I-985's entire length, but only the I-985 signs are displayed. I-985 is also concurrent with [[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|US Route&nbsp;23]] (US&nbsp;23) from exit&nbsp;4 northward. I-985 is the highest-numbered spur route of a north–south Interstate and is second only to [[Interstate 990|I-990]], which serves the town of [[Amherst, New York]].

==Route description==

===Gwinnett County===
In [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]], I-985 begins [[Concurrency (road)|concurrent]] with SR&nbsp;365 at an [[interchange (road)|interchange]] with [[Interstate 85 in Georgia|I-85]] on the southeastern edge of Suwanee. The two highways head northeast to [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]], at an interchange with [[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|US&nbsp;23]]/[[Georgia State Route 20|SR&nbsp;20]] (Buford Drive). Here, US&nbsp;23 joins the concurrency of I-985/SR&nbsp;365.<ref name="Google">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-985+N&daddr=I-985+N+to:I-985+N+to:I-985+N+to:I-985+N+to:I-985+N+to:I-985+N+to:I-985+N+to:I-985+N+to:US-23+N&hl=en&ll=34.191926,-83.903275&spn=0.4822,1.056747&sll=34.219109,-83.861159&sspn=0.482044,1.056747&geocode=FTN1BwIdrcj9-g%3BFUEUCAIda1b--g%3BFV3lCAIdcPv--g%3BFTB9CQId-4n_-g%3BFa40CgIdb0QA-w%3BFfE_CgId11QA-w%3BFbXQCgIdIv0A-w%3BFb8aCwIdUDMB-w%3BFUmSCwIdTX8B-w%3BFQvbCwIdqpUB-w&mra=pr&t=h&z=11|title=Route of Interstate 985|access-date=October 30, 2013}}</ref>

===Hall County===
[[File:Georgia I985nb end.jpg|thumb|left|I-985 northbound end just past SR&nbsp;369]] The three routes head northeast into [[Hall County, Georgia|Hall County]] until they meet [[Georgia State Route 347|SR&nbsp;347]]. In [[Flowery Branch, Georgia|Flowery Branch]], they meet Spout Springs Road at the Rankin Smith Interchange, named after the [[Rankin M. Smith Sr.|respective businessperson]]. Then, at exit&nbsp;14 by Martin Road (HF Reed Industrial Pkwy). Then, they enter [[Oakwood, Georgia|Oakwood]] and meet [[Georgia State Route 53|SR&nbsp;53]] (Mundy Mill Road), which does not have any return access from southbound I-985/US&nbsp;23/SR&nbsp;365. Just after, they enter Gainesville, where they intersect [[Georgia State Route 13|SR&nbsp;13]] (Atlanta Highway). Its interchange has access to both SR&nbsp;13 and SR&nbsp;53. Farther into Gainesville is [[Georgia State Route 53 Connector (Gainesville)|SR&nbsp;53 Connector]] (SR&nbsp;53 Conn)/[[Georgia State Route 60|SR&nbsp;60]] (Candler Road/Queen City Parkway). In the main part of the city, [[U.S. Route 129 in Georgia|US&nbsp;129]]/[[U.S. Route 129 Business (Gainesville, Georgia)|US&nbsp;129 Business]] (US&nbsp;129 Bus)/[[Georgia State Route 11|SR&nbsp;11]] (Athens Highway) meet the concurrency. US&nbsp;129/SR&nbsp;11 head south toward [[Jefferson, Georgia|Jefferson]], while US&nbsp;129 joins the concurrency through the rest of the city. Meanwhile, US&nbsp;129 Bus/SR&nbsp;11 head north into the heart of Gainesville. Nearly {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} later US&nbsp;129 departs to the north with [[Georgia State Route 369|SR&nbsp;369]] on Jesse Jewell Parkway. 
[[File:I-985 signage error GA369 East.jpg|left|thumb|An erroneous SR 23 shield previously posted along SR 369 (Jesse Jewell Parkway) east ahead of the diamond interchange with I-985]]
About {{convert|1.4|mi|km}} later, I-985 ends, while US&nbsp;23/SR&nbsp;365 continue north.<ref name="Google" /> Then, US&nbsp;23 enters North Carolina
===National Highway System===
All of I-985 is included as part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name="NHS Georgia">{{cite map |title=National Highway System: Georgia |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/ga_georgia.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/ga_georgia.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NHS Gainesville">{{cite map |title=National Highway System: Gainesville, GA |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/gainesville_ga.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |date=May 9, 2019 |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811010657/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/gainesville_ga.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.

==History==

===1920s===
{{disputed|date=May 2014}}<!-- no way was it built in 1920 -->
The roadway that would eventually become I-985 was built at least as early as 1919 as SR&nbsp;13 from Buford to just northeast of Gainesville, along the same alignment as it runs today.<ref name="GDOT 1920">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1920 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> A reconfiguration of the SR&nbsp;13 and SR&nbsp;15 intersection in the [[Baldwin, Georgia|Baldwin]]–[[Cornelia, Georgia|Cornelia]] area caused the two routes to run concurrently between the two cities.<ref name="GDOT 1920"/><ref name="GDOT 1921">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1921 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> By the end of 1926, a small section in Gainesville was paved.<ref name="GDOT 1921"/><ref name="GDOT 1926">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1926 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> By 1929, US&nbsp;23 was designated along the section from Buford to Gainesville.<ref name="GDOT 1926"/><ref name="GDOT 1929">{{Cite GDOT map |date=1929-10 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref>

===1930s–1940s===
By 1932, US&nbsp;23 was designated along the route all the way to Cornelia. In addition, the entire route, from Buford to the South Carolina state line, was paved.<ref name="GDOT 1929"/><ref name="GDOT January 1932">{{Cite GDOT map |date=1932-01 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> The next month, US&nbsp;23, and possibly SR&nbsp;13 was extended south from Buford.<ref name="GDOT January 1932"/><ref name="GDOT February 1932">{{Cite GDOT map |date=1932-02 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> In 1935, after a long series of improvement projects, the section just south of Buford was paved.<ref name="GDOT April 1935">{{Cite GDOT map |date=1935-04 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT July 1935">{{Cite GDOT map |date=1935-07 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> Between 1946 and 1948, US&nbsp;123 entered the state, being routed on a concurrency with SR&nbsp;13 between [[Toccoa, Georgia|Toccoa]] and the state line.<ref name="GDOT 1946">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1946 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1948">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1948 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> Prior to April 1949, US&nbsp;123's concurrency with SR&nbsp;13 was extended to Cornelia. During this time, US&nbsp;441 was extended along SR&nbsp;15, thus beginning a concurrency with SR&nbsp;13.<ref name="GDOT 1948"/><ref name="GDOT 1949">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1949 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref>

===1950s–1970s===
Between 1955 and 1957, a freeway (presumably I-85) was under construction from northeast Atlanta northeast to Suwannee, paralleling US&nbsp;23/SR&nbsp;13.<ref name="GDOT 1955">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1955 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1957">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1957 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> Between 1957 and 1960, I-85 was completed as far north as what is now known as [[Georgia State Route 317|SR&nbsp;317]], which is located just southwest of what is now the southern terminus of I-985/SR&nbsp;365,<ref name="GDOT 1957"/><ref name="GDOT 1960">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1960 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> and, by 1966, it was completed northeast of Atlanta within the state.<ref name="GDOT 1963">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1963 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1966">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1966 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> In 1966, SR&nbsp;365 was being projected as a freeway from its current southern terminus northeast and curving around the southeastern side of Gainesville.<ref name="GDOT 1966"/><ref name="GDOT 1967">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1967 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> In 1969, the whole freeway section, with the exception of the southernmost portion from I-85 to US&nbsp;23/SR&nbsp;20, was completed. Also, the entire completed section was designated as SR&nbsp;365.<ref name="GDOT 1969">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1969 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1970">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1970 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> The next year, the southernmost segment was completed.<ref name="GDOT 1970"/><ref name="GDOT 1971">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1971 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> By 1979, the SR&nbsp;365 freeway was listed as "under construction" from the northern terminus of the freeway northeast to US&nbsp;23/[[U.S. Route 441 in Georgia|US&nbsp;441]]/[[Georgia State Route 15|SR&nbsp;15]] near Cornelia.<ref name="GDOT 1977-1978">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1977 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1979">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1979 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref>

===1980s–1990s===
Between 1980 and 1982, SR&nbsp;365 was extended along the "under construction" section, but it was not a freeway. Also, US&nbsp;23/SR&nbsp;13 from Gainesville to Cornelia were moved onto this new highway.<ref name="GDOT 1980">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1980 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1982">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1982 |access-date=October 30, 2013 }}</ref> By 1986, the entire freeway segment was designated as I-985.<ref name="GDOT 1984"/><ref name="GDOT 1986"/>

==Exit list==
{{jcttop|exit|state=GA|length_ref=<ref name="Google"/>}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=Buford
|lspan=2
|mile=0.0
|exit=—
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=GA|I|85|dir1=south|SR|365|dir2=begins|city1=Atlanta}}
|notes=Southern terminus of I-985 and SR&nbsp;365; southern end of SR&nbsp;365 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-85 exit 113
|county=Gwinnett
|cspan=2}}
{{GAint|exit
|mile=3.5
|exit=4
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=GA|US|23|dir1=south|SR|20|name2=Buford Drive N.E.|city1=Cumming|city2=Buford}}
|notes=Southern end of US&nbsp;23 concurrency
}}
{{GAint|exit
|county=Hall
|cspan=9
|location=none
|mile=8.0
|exit=8
|road={{jct|state=GA|SR|347|name1=Friendship Road / Lanier Islands Parkway|location1=[[Lake Lanier]]}}
}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=Flowery Branch
|mile=11.4
|exit=12
|road={{jct|state=GA|road|Phil Niekro Boulevard|road|Spout Springs Road|city1=Flowery Branch}}
|notes=Rankin Smith Interchange
}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=14.0
|exit=14
|road={{jct|state=GA|road|H.F. Reed Industrial Parkway}}
|notes=
}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=Oakwood
|mile=15.7
|exit=16
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=GA|SR|53|name1=Mundy Mill Road|city1=Oakwood|city2=Dawsonville}}
|notes=Northbound exit ramp to SR&nbsp;53 only; no southbound exit 16
}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=Gainesville
|lspan=5
|mile=16.0
|exit=17
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=GA|SR|13|name1=Atlanta Highway|city1=Gainesville}}
|notes=Northbound exit ramp to SR&nbsp;13 only: southbound exit includes separate ramps to SR&nbsp;13 and SR&nbsp;53.
}}
{{GAint|exit
|mile=19.7
|exit=20
|road={{jct|state=GA|SR|60|SR-Conn|53|SR-Bus|365|dab2=Gainesville|dir2=north|name2=Candler Road / Queen City Parkway|city1=Gainesville|city2=Dawsonville}}
|notes=Southern terminus of SR&nbsp;53 Conn./ SR 365 Bus.
|type=concur
}}
{{GAint|exit
|mile=21.3
|exit=22
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=GA|US|129|SR|11|US-Bus|129|dab3=Gainesville|dir1=south|dir3=north|name3=Athens Highway|city2=Jefferson|city3=Gainesville}}
|notes=Southern end of US&nbsp;129 concurrency; southern terminus of US&nbsp;129 Bus.
}}
{{GAint|exit
|mile=23.7
|exit=24
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=GA|US|129|dir1=north|SR|369|dir2=west|name2=Jesse Jewell Parkway|city1=Gainesville|city2=Cleveland|city3=Cumming}}
|notes=Northern end of US&nbsp;129 concurrency; eastern terminus of SR&nbsp;369
}}
{{GAint|exit
|mile=25.1
|exit=—
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=GA|US|23|SR|365|dir2=north|dir3=north|name2=Cornelia Highway}}
|notes=Northern terminus of I-985; northern end of US&nbsp;23 and SR&nbsp;365 concurrencies
}}
{{Jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==See also==
*{{portal-inline|Georgia (U.S. state)}}
*{{portal-inline|U.S. roads}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110607174845/http://www.state-ends.com/georgia/041900/ Georgia State Route 419 / Interstate 985 on State-Ends.com]

{{3di|85}}

[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|85-9]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Georgia (U.S. state)|85-9]]
[[Category:Interstate 85|9]]
[[Category:Transportation in Gwinnett County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Hall County, Georgia]]