sr 46 begins at an intersection with us 78 (unsigned sr 4) in downtown heflin. it travels to the east-northeast for approximately before curving to the east-southeast. during this stretch, the highway is only about two blocks south of cleburne county jail. just before intersecting the eastern terminus of haley road, sr 46 curves back to the east-northeast. a short distance later, it curves to the southeast and has a brief due-east routing. just prior to intersecting winstead road, sr 46 curves to the northeast. almost immediately after intersecting chapel hill road, the highway crosses over cane creek; then, it intersects hale road and curves back to the southeast. approximately past happy hill cemetery, sr 46 has an interchange with interstate 20 (i-20). just past this interchange, the highway leaves the city limits of heflin. approximately later, it curves to the south-southeast and then crosses over johnywady creek. after that, it curves to the southeast and intersects the western terminus of county route 62 (cr 62) before a due-south routing change that takes it to the northern terminus of cr 71 before crossing over the tallapoosa river. the highway then curves to the southwest before beginning a fairly sharp curve back to the southeast. along this curve, it intersects the eastern terminus of cr 18. after curving to a nearly due-south direction, sr 46 intersects the eastern terminus of cr 42. after a curve to the southeast, the roadway crosses over verdin creek; then intersects the southern terminus of cr 43. sr 46 passes the wise chapel cemetery. slightly to the west of crumbleys chapel cemetery, it curves to the south-southeast and intersects the northern terminus of cr 63. after that, it curves to the east-southeast just before intersecting the northern terminus of cr 10, northeast of union hill cemetery. approximately past cleburne memorial garden, the highway curves to the southeast. just before entering the city limits of ranburne, it crosses over lost creek. in town, it passes just south of ranburne elementary school and then ranburne high school. the highway widens to four lanes, with two in each direction and curves to the east-northeast just before intersecting the western terminus of pollard street. just over after the curve, the highway intersects the southern terminus of cr 49 (frank ledbetter drive). one block later is the northern terminus of cr 68 (lake street). here, sr 46 begins to curve to the northeast. less than from 3rd avenue north, the highway narrows back to two lanes. the highway continues to the northeast, through rural parts of town and leaves the city limits just before reaching the georgia state line. it is here that sr 46 meets its eastern terminus, and the roadway continues as georgia state route 166. the present purpose of sr 46 is to serve as a connecting route between heflin and communities in western georgia such as bowdon and carrollton. the route travels through rural areas of cleburne county as it leads into georgia. sr 46 is not part of the national highway system, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.