Special routes of U.S. Route 78
At least 15 special routes of U.S. Route 78 have existed.
Mississippi
Red Banks business loop
Hickory Flat business loop
Alabama
Hamilton–Graysville alternate route
Carbon Hill–Jasper alternate route
Birmingham–Irondale alternate route
Birmingham truck route
Leeds truck route
Anniston business loop
Alabama–Georgia
US 78N
U.S. Route 78N was a northern divided U.S. highway that comprised the current mainline of US 78 from Heflin, Alabama, to Villa Rica, Georgia.The road that would eventually become US 78N was established in 1920, as SR 8 from the Alabama state line to Villa Rica. By the end of the third quarter of 1926, US 78 was established, being designated along a local roadway from Heflin to the state line, and SR 8 from the state line to Villa Rica. The next year, US 78 split into two divided routes, with US 78N being designated from Heflin to Villa Rica, on the northern segment of SR 8. In 1928, Alabama State Route 4 was designated along US-78N. By May 1933, US 78N/SR 8 were paved from Bremen to Villa Rica. Later that month, US 78N/SR 8 were paved from east of the Alabama state line to Bremen. The next month, US 78N/SR 8 were paved west to the Alabama state line. By November 1934, US 78N was redesignated as part of mainline US 78.
US 78S
U.S. Route 78S was a southern divided U.S. highway that comprised the current length of Alabama State Route 46 from Heflin, Alabama, to the Georgia state line, SR 166 from the state line to Carrollton, and SR 61 from Carrollton to Villa Rica.The road that would eventually become US 78 was established in 1920 as part of SR 34 from Carrollton to Villa Rica. By the end of the third quarter of 1921, SR 16 was designated from the Alabama state line, west of Bowdon to Carrollton. By late 1926, SR 16 and SR 34 were redesignated as a southern branch of SR 8. In 1927, US 78 split into two divided routes, with US 78S being designated from Heflin to Villa Rica, via Bowdon and Carrollton, on the southern branch of SR 8. In 1928, Alabama State Route 4 and SR 61 from there to Villa Rica.
Heflin–Villa Rica alternate route
U.S. Route 78 Alternate was an alternate route of US 78 in northeast Alabama and northwest Georgia. It comprised the current length of Alabama State Route 46 from Heflin, Alabama, to the Georgia state line, SR 166 from the state line to Carrollton, and SR 61 from Carrollton to Villa Rica.The road that would eventually become US 78 Alternate was established in 1920 as part of SR 34 from Carrollton to Villa Rica. By the end of the third quarter of 1921, SR 16 was designated from the Alabama state line, west of Bowdon to Carrollton. By late 1926, SR 16 and SR 34 were redesignated as a southern branch of SR 8. In 1927, US 78 split into two divided routes, with US 78S being designated from Heflin to Villa Rica, via Bowdon and Carrollton, on the southern branch of SR 8. In 1928, SR 4 was designated along US-78N, while SR 46 was designated along US-78S. By 1932, US 78S/SR 8 were paved from Carrollton to just southwest of Villa Rica. By the end of 1934, US 78S/SR 8 were paved from the Alabama state line to a point near Bowdon. By November 1934, US 78S was redesignated as US 78 Alt. By the beginning of 1948, the southern branch of SR 8 was redesignated as SR 8 Alternate. By the beginning of 1953, US 78 Alt. was decommissioned. By the middle of 1954, SR 8 Alternate was redesignated as SR 166 from the Alabama state line to northeast of Carrollton) and SR 61 from there to Villa Rica.
Georgia
Athens business loop
U.S. Route 78 Business in the Athens – Clarke County metropolitan area is a Bannered U.S. Highway that is concurrent with Georgia State Route 10 for its entire length. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US 29/SR 8/SR 316 and US 78/SR 10, southeast of Bogart in Oconee County. Its eastern terminus is at US 29/US 78/US 129/US 441/SR 8/SR 10 Loop/SR 15. The roadway continues as US 78/SR 10.All of US 78 Bus. in Clarke County is included as part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
Prior to the completion of the Athens Perimeter Highway, and SR 316, the Broad Street and Atlanta Highway portions of US 78 Business carried US 29/US 78 through Athens' downtown and commercial west side. US 29 entered Athens via North Avenue and Thomas Street, joining US 78 at the Broad Street–Thomas Street–Oconee Street intersection downtown. The combined highways continued to the Pepsi bottling plant in Bogart, where US 78 turned left onto the Moina Michael Highway and US 29 continued straight into Bogart.
When SR 10 Loop was completed, US 29 was routed along the north side of the loop, while US 78 was routed along the south side, with US 78 Bus. being established inside the loop. North Avenue and Thomas Street had their state route designation removed. SR 316 had been completed only up to Moina Michael Highway, so the stretch of highway from there to SR 10 Loop continued to carry US 29/US 78. Once SR 316 was completed to SR 10 Loop, US 29/US 78 were moved to SR 316, and US 29 was switched from the north side of the loop to the south side of the loop while US 78 Bus. was extended over Atlanta Highway and Moina Michael Highway to its present state.
Washington business loop
U.S. Route 78 Business is a business route of US 78 that exists entirely within the south-central part of Wilkes County. Nearly its entire length is within the city limits of Washington. It is concurrent with State Route 10 Business for its entire length.The concurrency begins at an intersection with US 78/SR 10, northwest of Washington. The business routes are known as Lexington Avenue. They travel to the southeast until they enter the city limits; then, they curve to the east-southeast. Just past Recreation Drive, they enter the Washington Historic District. They intersect SR 44. At the eastern terminus of Callow Drive, US 78 Bus./SR 10 Bus. curve to an east-southeast direction and are known as West Robert Toombs Avenue, named for Robert Toombs, a U.S. Representative and senator from Georgia, as well as a Confederate general and Confederate Secretary of State. At Depot Street, they are about one block north of the northern terminus of the Georgia Woodlands Railroad line. Spring Street marks the beginning of a concurrency with SR 47. Between Spring Street and Cheney Parkway, the three highways pass by the town square. At the corner of East Liberty Street, they pass by the historic Washington Presbyterian Church, just before passing the Robert Toombs House. A short distance later, they intersect SR 17 Bus., which joins the concurrency. Immediately after that intersection, the four highways curve to the southeast and pass the Washington–Wilkes Historical Museum. US 78 Bus./SR 10 Bus./SR 17 Bus./SR 47 intersect East Street, which leads to Washington–Wilkes Elementary School. They continue to the southeast, before intersecting US 78/US 378/SR 10/SR 17. At this intersection, US 78 Bus./SR 10 Bus./SR 17 Bus. end, while SR 47 continues, concurrent with the beginning of US 378. US 78 Bus. is not part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.
In 1970, US 78 and SR 10 were routed along SR 10 Loop in the northern part of Washington, with the former routing becoming US 78 Bus.. In 1986, SR 10 Loop was decommissioned.