This afternoon, Mary and I made a trip to Gwinnett County to see my family, and since the route included driving all the way down Sugarloaf Parkway, I decided to do a little "roadgeeking" and drive the new 2-mile (3.2 km) extension for myself.

About a quarter-mile from Sugarloaf's intersection with GA 20 (Grayson Highway), notice the new GA 20 signs on the right. Instead of just one GA 20 marker with a "JCT" banner above it, it includes the west and eastbound directions. First time I've ever seen that here in Georgia.


In the next photo below, taken right at the intersection itself, notice the same exact signage. IMHO, whoever put up the sign did not need to include the "JCT" banner at this point. If it were me, I would've included a green directional sign pointing the way to Lawrenceville, Grayson, and Loganville.


After crossing the intersection, Sugarloaf Parkway instantly becomes a freeway, as shown in the picture below...


You may have noticed not only are pedestrians and bicycles prohibited, but large trucks are also prohibited as well. I wonder, though, if the truck restriction will be lifted once Sugarloaf Parkway is completed all the way to US 29/GA 316. If so, then it would give Winder and Athens-bound trucks an option to by-pass Lawrenceville altogether.

As shown in this next photo, the Sugarloaf Parkway, the speed limit is 45 MPH (70 km/h).


Given that the road is only 2 miles long at this point, I can understand the lower speed limit, but I do hope that the speed limit is eventually raised to at least 55 MPH when it is completed all the way to 316.

Next, here's a photo of the extension as you travel eastbound toward its current terminus at New Hope Road...


I wasn't able to get a good photo of the "EXIT 1 MILE" sign for New Hope Road, but here's the "EXIT 1/2 MILE" sign photo I got...


Frankly, I'd prefer a true freeway-style big green sign (BGS) like those seen on other limited-access roads in Georgia.

Just after we pass this sign, the left lane ends and traffic merges into one lane on approach to the New Hope exit...


At the exit itself, all we see is just a sign that says "EXIT" under the road name (as opposed to using an arrow)...


Again, since this is a freeway, why not have a standard freeway BGS instead of wimpy little signs? Oh, well.

Meanwhile, here's a closer view showing the ramp as it leads up to New Hope Road...


... and an even closer view as we approach the top of the ramp...


After crossing over the bridge and making a U-turn, here are trailblazer signs for Sugarloaf Parkway...



2 things... I wish that Gwinnett County DOT would've been a little more creative and designed a special Sugarloaf Parkway sign, and that the "EAST" banner and left-arrow marker was covered up.

In the background, there is a white sign stating that heavy trucks are not allowed on Sugarloaf Parkway.

Finally, we get back on Sugarloaf and head west toward GA 20, but before we continue, here's a final closeup photo of the New Hope Road bridge...



After the brief stop to snap this photo, here's a picture of the Sugarloaf Parkway extension heading back toward GA 20...



Overall, I like the fact that Gwinnett County's DOT built this highway up to at least near-Interstate standard, as opposed to how they built Ronald Reagan Parkway back in the early 1990s, and I am looking forward to the day the Sugarloaf extension is complete all the way back to 316. Eventually, the parkway will be built further northward across eastern Gwinnett County and allow traffic from Snellville, Grayson, and Loganville much faster access to both I-85 and I-985. If you get an opportunity to drive the new Sugarloaf Parkway extension, then please do so.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.

 

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