The highway briefly curves northeast as it passes over some Norfolk Southern Railway lines, then turns north again at a partial interchange with Tech Parkway Northwest.

Leaving the vicinity of Georgia Tech, it splits from US 41/SR 3 after traveling through Downtown Atlanta and turns right onto on 14th Street, which is also the western beginning of SR 9.

The one-way pair ends at the vicinity of a complex interchange with SR 13 and the Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta Campus, just south of a crossing over I-85, which includes historic Peachtree station.

The road turns north again where it utilizes a short causeway over Wellborn Branch, a tributary of the Nottely River before intersecting the northern terminus of Pat Haralson Memorial Drive.

The road enters Canal Lake where another short causeway that makes a pond leading to Stevens Branch Creek.

[7] In 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) concluded a two-year study of the proposal, which found that extending I-185 would "be inconsistent with existing comprehensive land use plans; would have a negative impact on prime agricultural land, forests and cultural assets; and could have a detrimental impact on poverty and minority populations".

[8] GDOT announced it would instead focus on upgrading and improving other key arterial highways in southwest Georgia, including SR 133 between Albany and Valdosta.