Interstate 520

Interstate 520 (I-520) is a 23.34-mile (37.56 km) auxiliary Interstate Highway that encircles most of Augusta, Georgia, and North Augusta, South Carolina, as a three-quarter beltway around the western, southern, and eastern parts of the main part of the Augusta metropolitan area. It begins at I-20 and State Route 232 (SR 232) in the northern part of Augusta, Georgia, and ends at I-20 in the northern part of North Augusta, South Carolina. I-520 is also known as Bobby Jones Expressway and the Deputy James D. Paugh Memorial Highway in Georgia and Palmetto Parkway in South Carolina. On the Georgia side, the road also carries the internal designation State Route 415 (SR 415).

This article is about the current Interstate Highway. For the current state highway, see Georgia State Route 520. For other highways numbered 520, see List of highways numbered 520.

Interstate 520 marker

Interstate 520

I-520 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-20
Length23.34 mi[1] (37.56 km)
Existed1977[2][3]–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-20 / SR 232 in Augusta, GA
Major intersections
East end I-20 in North Augusta, SC
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesGeorgia, South Carolina
CountiesGA: Richmond
SC: Aiken
Highway system
  • Georgia State Highway System
← I-516GA→ SR 520
← SR 413SR 415→ SR 417
← SC 517SC→ US 521

Route description
Lengths
 mikm
GA 15.62 25.14
SC 7.72 12.42
Total 23.34 37.56

The entire length of I-520 is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.[4][5]

Georgia

I-520 begins at an interchange with I-20 (Carl Sanders Highway) and the internal designation of SR 402 in the northern part of Augusta. At this interchange, the roadway continues as SR 232, which takes on the Bobby Jones Expressway name. The Interstate travels to the south-southeast. After passing the Augusta Exchange shopping complex, east of Doctors Hospital, it has an interchange with Wheeler Road and Marks Church Road. After a slight western jog, I-520 continues to the south-southeast and meets Wrightsboro Road, which leads to Augusta Mall. About one mile (1.6 km) later is an interchange with U.S. Route 78 (US 78)/US 278/SR 10 (Gordon Highway). The freeway curves to the southeast, passing by Glenn Hills Middle School and Glenn Hills High School, to an interchange with US 1/SR 4 (Deans Bridge Road) and SR 540 (Fall Line Freeway). It passes by a campus of Augusta Technical College and the Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School, before curving to the east-southeast and meeting an interchange with Windsor Spring Road also with US 25/SR 121 (Peach Orchard Road) and SR 555/SR 565 (Savannah River Parkway). After a curve to the east is an interchange with SR 56 (Mike Padgett Highway), which is east of Southside Elementary School and northeast of East-Central Regional Hospital. I-520 curves to the east-northeast and has an interchange with Doug Barnard Parkway (former State Route 56 Spur (SR 56 Spur)). The Interstate gradually curves to the northeast and has an interchange with Laney Walker Boulevard and SR 28 (Sand Bar Ferry Road). Just over 1,000 feet (300 m) later, it crosses the Savannah River into South Carolina and the city limits of North Augusta.

South Carolina

I-520 curves to the north-northwest, to an interchange with US 1/US 78/US 278 (only signed as "US 1"). The highway curves back to the north-northeast and has an interchange with South Carolina Highway 126 (SC 126; Clearwater Road). During a slight westward shift is an interchange with US 25/SC 121 (Edgefield Road). Just north-northeast of there, I-520 meets its eastern terminus, another interchange with I-20.

Downtown Augusta skyline as seen from the US 1/US 78/US 278 exit in North Augusta (exit 17)

Named portions

In Georgia, I-520 is known as Bobby Jones Expressway for golfer Bobby Jones.[6] In South Carolina, it is known as Palmetto Parkway for the sabal palmetto, the state tree. Between exits 2 and 3, the highway is known as the Deputy James D. Paugh Memorial Highway after a Richmond County sheriff's deputy who was killed at exit 3 when responding to reports of a gunman who was shooting at passing cars.[7] I-520 loses its state route designation in South Carolina, as that state does not co-number its Interstates with state highway numbers.

History

The highway that would become I-520 was under construction between May 1963 and January 1966 from its western terminus to just south of the US 1/SR 4 interchange in Augusta. Also, it was proposed to be an extension of SR 232, at least as far as US 25/SR 121.[8][9] In 1966, the highway was open and signed as SR 232 from I-20 to Wrightsboro Road. It was under construction from US 1/SR 4 to Doug Barnard Parkway.[9][10] In 1974, SR 232 was open from Wrightsboro Road to US 1/SR 4.[11][12] In 1977, the highway was redesignated as I-520.[2][3] The next year, it was open from US 1/SR 4 to Doug Barnard Parkway.[3][13] In 1986, the highway was under construction from Doug Barnard Parkway to SR 28.[14][15] In 1998, this segment was opened.[16][17] The next year, it was proposed to be extended to the South Carolina state line.[17][18] In 2004, this extension was opened.[19][20] In 2010, the highway was extended to its current eastern terminus in the northern part of North Augusta.[21][22]

In January 2015, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) of I-520 were expanded to three lanes in each direction after work started in February 2012 for a cost of $33 million.[23]

Exit list

In accordance with MUTCD guidelines for auxiliary Interstates, exit numbering is continuous across the state line and does not reset.

StateCountyLocationmi[24]kmExitDestinationsNotes
GeorgiaRichmondAugusta0.00.01
 I-20 (Carl Sanders Highway / SR 402) / SR 232 west (Bobby Jones Expressway west) – Atlanta, Columbia, Martinez		Western end of unsigned SR 415 concurrency; western terminus of I-520 and unsigned SR 415; eastern terminus of SR 232; signed as exits 1A (west) and 1B (east) eastbound; SR 232 takes on the Bobby Jones Expressway name; I-20 exit 196
0.40.641CWheeler RoadWestbound ramps connect to Marks Church Road.
1.93.12Wrightsboro Road – Daniel Field, Augusta University, Paine College
3.15.03 US 78 / US 278 / SR 10 (Gordon Highway) – Fort GordonDeputy James D. Paugh Memorial Interchange
5.38.55
 US 1 / SR 4 (Deans Bridge Road) / SR 540 west (Fall Line Freeway) – Wrens, Augusta		Eastern terminus of SR 540 (Fall Line Freeway); Henry L. Howard Memorial Interchange
7.211.67 US 25 (Peach Orchard Road / SR 121 / Savannah River Parkway / SR 555 / SR 565) / Windsor Spring RoadSplit diamond interchange
8.714.09 SR 56 (Mike Padgett Highway)
9.915.910 Doug Barnard Parkway – Augusta Regional AirportFormer SR 56 Spur
14.523.316 SR 28 (Sand Bar Ferry Road) / Laney Walker Boulevard – FairgroundsSplit diamond interchange
Savannah River15.6225.14Georgia–South Carolina state line; eastern end of unsigned SR 415 concurrency; eastern terminus of SR 415 and Bobby Jones Expressway; western terminus of Palmetto Parkway
South CarolinaAikenNorth Augusta17.4128.0217 US 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway / US 78 / US 278) – Aiken, North Augusta
20.6033.1521 SC 126 (Clearwater Road)
22.2135.7422

 US 25 Conn. to US 25 / SC 121 – North Augusta, Edgefield
23.3437.56— I-20 (J. Strom Thurmond Freeway) – Atlanta, ColumbiaEastern terminus of I-520 and Palmetto Parkway; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-20 exit 6
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. Adderly, Kevin (January 30, 2018). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as of December 31, 2017". Route Log and Finder List. Washington, D.C: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  2. Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1977). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1977–1978 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  3. Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1977). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1977–1978 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  4. National Highway System: Augusta-Richmond County, GA--SC (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  5. National Highway System: Augusta-Richmond County, GA--SC (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  6. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 21. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  7. "2011-2012 Regular Session - HR 1103: Deputy James D. Paugh Memorial Highway; Richmond County; dedicate" (PDF). Atlanta: Georgia State Senate. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  8. State Highway Department of Georgia (1963). State Highway System and Other Principal Connecting Roads (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. OCLC 5673161. Retrieved December 27, 2016. (Corrected to June 1, 1963.)
  9. State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1966). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  10. State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1967). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  11. Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1974). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1974–1975 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  12. Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1975). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1975–1976 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  13. Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1978). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1978-79 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  14. Georgia Department of Transportation (1986). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1986–1987 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  15. Georgia Department of Transportation (1987). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1987–1988 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  16. Georgia Department of Transportation (1998). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1998–1999 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  17. Georgia Department of Transportation (1999). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1999–2000 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  18. Georgia Department of Transportation (2000). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (2000–2001 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  19. Georgia Department of Transportation (2004). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (2004–2005 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  20. Georgia Department of Transportation (2005). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (2005–2006 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  21. Georgia Department of Transportation (2009). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (2009–2010 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  22. Georgia Department of Transportation (2011). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (2011–2012 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. OCLC 770217845. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  23. "I-520 Lane Expansion and Interchange Project Complete". August, GA: WRDW-TV. January 22, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  24. "Highway Logmile Report (I-520)". South Carolina Department of Transportation. December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
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