Jenkins to get Scenic Byway designation
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

This map notes the location of the state's nine Scenic Byways. Jenkins County will soon become home for the 10th Scenic Byway designation.

Although it has been almost five years in the making, the wait has finally paid off. Jenkins County will soon receive the state's 10th "Scenic Byway" designation.

In 2002, the Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce (JCCC) and Millen Better Hometown began working on Scenic Byway designation for Cotton Avenue, portions of State Routes 23 and 17 and a number of county roadways just north of Millen. Word was received last week that the Georgia Department of Transportation, the agency that administers the program, has approved the designation.

"We are very excited that this project has finally been completed, and we feel the Scenic Byway designation will be a great asset as a tourism attraction to Jenkins County," commented Art Johnson, Millen Better Hometown manager, and Paula Herrington, JCCC executive director.

A Georgia Scenic Byway is defined as "any designated highway, street, road or route that features certain intrinsic qualities that should be protected or enhanced." These qualities may be scenic, historical, natural, archeological, cultural or recreational. To obtain the designation, a local sponsor must complete a multi-stage process that includes identifying the route, submitting an application that develops a Corridor Management Plan (CMP) and receiving approval of the State Transportation Board.

This map shows the route of Jenkins County Scenic Byway as it travels along Cotton Avenue, State Routes 23 and 17 and several county roads north of Millen.

The local route begins along Cotton Avenue in downtown Millen and heads north along State Route 23. From there, it moves west along a network of county roads before leading to State Route 17 and back to Millen.

The route is rich in history, according to the CMP, and also possesses diverse scenic qualities that include woodlands, pasture lands, historic farmhouses and a natural outcropping of hanging rocks located on Hanging Rocks Plantation along SR 23.

The benefits of the Scenic Byway designation include the placement of the byway on state maps and in travel magazines, which may attract travelers who would otherwise use alternate routes, as well as providing access to state, federal and private funding sources for programs and projects.