In November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was enacted, designating the Fall Line Freeway corridor from Columbus to Augusta as the "Middle Georgia Corridor," part of the proposed Interstate 14 Gulf Coast Strategic Highway; however, the route would require substantial upgrades (including several bypasses) to meet interstate highway standards.

The highway is designed to assist the flow of commercial traffic, providing an easier path for freight trucks carrying goods between Columbus and Augusta, avoiding Atlanta.

The route is named for the fall line escarpment it follows, a geographical division between the coastal plain and inland hills.

After an interchange with Bradley Park Drive, they meet Interstate 185 (I-185 and its unsigned companion designation SR 411) and US 27/SR 1 (Veterans Parkway).

After beginning to head to the northeast, FLF crosses over Rockmore and Upatoi creeks and intersects the northern terminus of SR 355.

It curved to the east-southeast and intersects Old Mauk Road, which leads to the main part of Junction City.

It curved to the east-northeast and intersected the southern terminus of Buckner Road, which also leads to the main part of the city.

The FLF curves back to the east-southeast, leaving the city limits and enters Taylor County.

Just after beginning a curve to the south-southeast, it intersects the western terminus of Old 96 Road, the former path of SR 96 through Butler.

It curves to the east-southeast and leaves the city limits of Reynolds just to the west of an intersection with the northern terminus of South General John B. Gordon Road.

The highways reach the Coach Billy Henderson Interchange with Sardis Church Road.

About 1 mile (1.6 km) later, they meet the southern terminus of I-475 (and its unsigned companion designation SR 408).

Just after they travel under a bridge that carries US 23/SR 87 (Riverside Drive), they meet the western terminus of I-16 (and its unsigned companion designation SR 404) at the Major Bobby Jones MD POW–MIA Interchange.

King Jr. Boulevard south of I-16 and Coliseum Drive north of it) at the Phil Walden Memorial Interchange.

Then they curve to the north-northeast and pass the Georgia Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division.

They curve to the east-northeast and enter the northern part of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.

About 1 mile (1.6 km) later, the highways leave East Macon and enter Jones County.

They curve back to the east-southeast, travel just south of Harrisons Lake, and cross over Big Sandy Creek.

Nearly 3,000 feet (910 m) later, the highways begin a curve to the north-northeast and intersect the western terminus of former SR 243 and Maddox Road.

The highways curve back to the southeast and cross over Gumm Creek, entering Washington County.

They curve back to the east-northeast and intersect Deepstep Road, which leads to Oconee Fall Line Technical College.

They cross over Williamson Swamp Creek before intersecting the northern terminus of SR 231 (Tree Nursery Road).

At an intersection with the western terminus of Howard Street, SR 17 departs the concurrency to the north-northwest on Thomson Highway.

They curve to the north-northeast and cross over Brier Creek, entering Richmond County and the city limits of Augusta.

[23][24] In 1983, the J.R. Allen Parkway, the freeway bypass of the main part of Columbus, was proposed along its current path.

The northern bypass of Fort Valley, designated as SR 49 Connector, was proposed on its current path.

[44][45] The highway's final 9-mile-long (14 km) section of new roadway between SR 24 and US 441 south of Milledgeville in Baldwin and Wilkinson counties, as well of the 16-mile-long (26 km) widening of SR 24 to the Sandersville bypass, was awarded to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. of Fleming Island, Florida in January 2013.

[46][47][48] It appears as though GDOT has delayed plans to address the highway's passage through the city of Wrens, where it reduces to a two-lane road through downtown with a center turn lane.

[1][4] GDOT announced to the public that the highway was officially signed as Georgia State Route 540 on September 24, 2018.

[55] The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act designated the Fall Line Freeway as a future extension of I-14, which currently connects Copperas Cove to Belton, Texas.