Interstate 20
Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs 1,539 miles (2,477 km) beginning at an interchange with I-10 in Scroggins Draw, Texas, and ending at an interchange with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina. Between Texas and South Carolina, I-20 runs through northern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The major cities that I-20 connects to include Dallas, Texas; Shreveport, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; and Columbia, South Carolina.
Interstate 20 | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length | 1,539.38 mi[1] (2,477.39 km) |
| Existed | 1957–present |
| Major junctions | |
| West end | I-10 in Scroggins Draw, TX |
| |
| East end | I-95 / I-20 BS in Florence, SC |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| States | Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina |
| Highway system | |
From its terminus at I-95, the highway continues about two miles (3.2 km) eastward into the city of Florence as Interstate Business 20.
Route description
| mi[1] | km | |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 636.08 | 1023.67 |
| LA | 189.87 | 305.57 |
| MS | 154.61 | 248.82 |
| AL | 214.7 | 345.5 |
| GA | 202.61 | 326.07 |
| SC | 141.51 | 227.74 |
| Total | 1539.4 | 2477.4 |
I-20 runs from Texas to South Carolina serving major southern economic hubs such as Dallas–Fort Worth and Atlanta.[2]
Texas
I-20 begins in Scroggins Draw at a fork with I-10. From there, the highway travels east-northeastward through Odessa, Midland, and Abilene before turning eastward toward Dallas–Fort Worth. The La Entrada al Pacifico corridor runs along I-20 between U.S. Route 385 (US 385) and Farm to Market Road 1788 (FM 1788). Between Monahans and I-10, I-20 has an 80 mph (130 km/h) speed limit.
From the highway's opening in the 1960s through 1977, I-20 originally went through the heart of the Metroplex via the Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike. This old route is now signed I-30 (Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike and from US 80/I-30 intersection at Mesquite to downtown Dallas), US 80 (former stretch between I-635 and Terrell), and State Highway Spur 557 (Spur 557, bypass around Terrell). In 1977, I-20 was rerouted to go through the southern sections of Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Dallas, and Mesquite. It split off from the old route initially at I-820 in west Fort Worth the later on at its current junction near Aledo in Parker County. It rejoins the old route near Terrell. Part of I-20 in Dallas used to be signed as I-635 and shares the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway name with the remainder of I-635. Parts on the south side of Fort Worth were originally signed as I-820.[3]
I-20 continues eastward from Terrell, bypassing Tyler, Longview, and Marshall before crossing the Louisiana border near Waskom.
Louisiana
In Louisiana, I-20 roughly parallels US 80 through the northern part of the state.
Entering the state from near Waskom, Texas, the highway immediately enters the Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area, intersecting I-49 near downtown Shreveport and passing close to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City.
I-20 traverses mainly rural, hilly terrain, bypassing Minden, Grambling, and Ruston before reaching Monroe.
From Monroe, I-20 enters flatter terrain as it approaches the Mississippi River. Before crossing the Mississippi, the highway passes Tallulah. At the Mississippi River, I-20 leaves Louisiana and enters Vicksburg.
Mississippi
Upon entering Mississippi by crossing the Mississippi River, I-20 immediately enters Vicksburg. Between Edwards and Clinton, the highway mostly follows the original two-lane routing of US 80. In Jackson, I-20 sees a short concurrency with both I-55 and US 49. Also in Jackson is an unusually expansive stack interchange, at the junction of I-20, I-55 North, and US 49 South. The interchange replaces a former directional interchange at I-55 North and a cloverleaf at US 49. From the Stack, I-20 continues eastward to Meridian, where it begins the nearly 160-mile (260 km) overlap with I-59.
The route of the Mississippi section of I-20 is defined in Mississippi Code § 65-3-3.
Alabama
I-20 (along with I-59) crosses the Alabama state line near York, and it stays conjoined as it passes through western Alabama and Tuscaloosa. At Birmingham, the two highways pass through downtown together before splitting at exit 130 just east of the Birmingham airport. I-20 continues eastward through Oxford/Anniston, Alabama, and the Talladega National Forest, passing by the Talladega Superspeedway in the process, which is visible from the highway.
Also in Birmingham, the intersection of I-20 / I-59 and I-65 was known as a Malfunction Junction because of the interchange's somewhat-confusing design, and the number of traffic accidents that occurred there. This section of the Interstate and its interchanges have since been reconfigured.[4][5]
Georgia
I-20 enters Georgia near Tallapoosa and after passing through western Georgia, it enters the Atlanta metropolitan area. On clear days, eastbound motorists get their first view of downtown Atlanta as they come over the top of the Six Flags Hill. The Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park is easily visible off exit 46 eastbound. The highway then passes through the center of Atlanta, meeting with I-75 and I-85, which share a common expressway (the "Downtown Connector"). It continues through Metropolitan Atlanta eastward and through the eastern half of Georgia until it exits the state, crossing the Savannah River at Augusta.
Throughout the state, I-20 is conjoined with unsigned State Route 402 (SR 402). Also, I-20 from the Alabama state line to I-285 in Atlanta is named the "Tom Murphy Freeway", but it is called the "Ralph David Abernathy Freeway" within I-285. The Interstate Highway is also named the Purple Heart Highway from I-285 in DeKalb County to US 129/US 441/SR 24 in Madison, Georgia, and it is called the Carl Sanders Highway from US 129/US 441/SR 24 to the South Carolina state line.
South Carolina
Upon leaving Augusta, I-20 crosses the Savannah River and enters the Palmetto State and heads northeastward, bypassing Aiken and Lexington before reaching the state capital of Columbia, which can be reached most directly by taking I-26 east at exit 64 ("Malfunction Junction"), then, almost immediately, I-126/US 76.
At Columbia, I-20 bypasses the city to the north and again turns northeastward, bypassing Fort Jackson and Camden. After crossing the Wateree River, it turns due east, passes by tiny Bishopville, before reaching the Florence area. It is near Florence where I-20 sees its eastern terminus at I-95. However, for about two miles (3.2 km), the highway continues into Florence as I-20 Bus.
I-20 in the Palmetto State is known as either the J. Strom Thurmond Freeway or John C. West Freeway. The first section to be completed was the bridge over the Savannah River in 1965; the last, the section between US 401 and I-95 (including the business spur), opened in August 1975.
History
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I-20 was built in 1957 connecting Texas to the east coast running through Shreveport La, Ruston La, and Monroe La making it their first Interstate.[citation needed]
I-20's exit numbers in Georgia were changed in 2000.[6]
Future
In 2003, the North Carolina Department of Transportation proposed extending I-20 eastward from Florence to Wilmington at the behest of North Carolina Governor Mike Easley and his 'Strategic Transportation Plan' for the southeast portion of the state.[7][8] The proposed route would follow US 76 east from Florence to Whiteville, North Carolina, then parallel US 74/US 76 into Wilmington.[9] Part of this route is already designated the future eastern extension of I-74. As part of the 2005 SAFETEA-LU transportation legislation, North Carolina received $5 million for a feasibility study for this extension.[7] While this extension has considerable support among towns in southeastern North Carolina, the South Carolina DOT has stated that they have no interest in upgrading their portion of US 76 to an Interstate. Instead, South Carolina is concentrating their efforts on plans to build I-73 that will terminate near Myrtle Beach. This proposed extension is currently unfunded.[10]
Junction list
- Texas
- I-10 at Scroggins Draw
- US 285 in Pecos
- US 385 in Odessa
- US 87 in Big Spring
- US 84 east of Roscoe. The highways travel concurrently to the Tye–Abilene city line.
- US 83 / US 277 in Abilene
- US 283 in Baird
- US 183 in Cisco
- US 281 south-southeast of Brazos
- US 180 in Hudson Oaks
- I-30 northeast of Aledo
- I-820 in Fort Worth
- Chisholm Trail Parkway in Fort Worth
- US 377 in Benbrook
- I-35W in Fort Worth
- I-820 / US 287 in Fort Worth. I-20/US 287 travels concurrently to Arlington.
- Pres. George Bush Turnpike in Grand Prairie
- US 67 in Dallas
- I-35E on the Dallas–Lancaster city line
- I-45 on the Dallas–Hutchins city line
- US 175 on the Dallas–Balch Springs city line
- I-635 in Balch Springs
- US 69 in Lindale
- US 271 south-southeast of Winona
- US 259 northeast of Kilgore. The highways travel concurrently to Longview.
- Future I-369 / US 59 in Marshall
- US 80 west-southwest of Jonesville. The highways travel concurrently to west of Waskom.
- Louisiana
- US 79 / US 80 in Greenwood
- US 80 in Shreveport
- I-220 in Shreveport
- US 171 in Shreveport
- US 79 / US 80 in Shreveport
- I-49 in Shreveport
- US 71 in Shreveport. The highways travel concurrently to Bossier City.
- I-220 in Bossier City
- Future I-69 near Haughton
- US 371 in Dixie Inn. The highways travel concurrently to Minden.
- US 80 southeast of Minden
- US 63 / US 167 in Ruston
- US 80 east-northeast of Calhoun
- US 165 in Monroe
- US 425 in Rayville
- US 65 in Tallulah
- US 80 in Delta. The highways travel concurrently to Clinton, Mississippi.
- Mississippi
- US 61 in Vicksburg. The highways travel concurrently through Vicksburg.
- I-220 / US 49 in Jackson. I-20/US 49 travels concurrently to Pearl.
- I-55 / US 51 in Jackson. I-20/I-55 travels concurrently to Richland
- US 80 in Brandon
- US 80 in Brandon
- US 80 east-southeast of Lake
- US 80 west-southwest of Meridian. The highways travel concurrently to Meridian.
- I-59 in Meridian. The highways travel concurrently to Birmingham.
- US 11 in Meridian. The highways travel concurrently through Meridian.
- US 45 in Meridian
- US 11 / US 80 west-northwest of Kewanee
- Alabama
- Future I-85 near Cuba
- US 11 / US 43 south of Knoxville
- I-359 / US 11 in Tuscaloosa
- US 82 in Tuscaloosa
- US 11 in Tuscaloosa
- US 11 in Tuscaloosa
- US 11 south of Lake View. The highways travel concurrently to Bessemer.
- I-459 southwest of McCalla
- US 78 in Birmingham
- I-65 in Birmingham
- US 31 / US 280 in Birmingham
- US 11 in Birmingham
- I-459 in Irondale
- US 78 in Leeds
- US 411 on the Leeds–Moody line
- US 78 northwest of Cooks Springs. The highways travel concurrently to Pell City.
- US 231 in Pell City
- US 78 in Riverside
- US 431 east of Oxford
- Georgia
- US 27 in Bremen
- I-285 in Atlanta
- I-75 / I-85 in Atlanta
- US 23 / US 19 / US 29 / US 41 in Atlanta
- I-285 on the Panthersville–Candler-McAfee CDP line
- US 278 southeast of Lithonia. The highways travel concurrently to Covington.
- US 278 in Social Circle
- US 129 / US 441 in Madison
- US 278 in Barnett
- US 78 north of Thomson
- US 221 south of Appling
- I-520 in Augusta
- South Carolina
- US 25 in North Augusta
- I-520 in North Augusta
- US 1 north-northeast of Aiken
- US 178 southeast of Batesburg-Leesville
- US 1 east of Lexington
- US 378 north of Oak Grove
- I-26 / US 76 on the Seven Oaks–St. Andrews CDP line
- US 176 in St. Andrews
- US 321 north of Columbia
- US 21 in Columbia
- US 1 in Dentsville
- I-77 on the Dentsville–Woodfield CDP line
- US 601 in Lugoff
- US 521 in Camden
- US 15 southwest of Bishopville
- US 401 northeast of Lamar
- I-95 in Florence
Auxiliary routes
Two I-420s were planned, but never completed or built. One was to be a bypass around Monroe, Louisiana, but was never built. The other I-420 was planned as a bypass to the south of Downtown Atlanta. Due to anti-freeway sentiments, this I-420 was never completed, and the already-built portion has been signed as SR 154/SR 166, named Langford Parkway (formerly the Lakewood Freeway).
See also
References
- ^ a b "Route Log and Finder List — Interstate System: Table 1". FHWA. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ Google (2008-02-15). "Overview map of I‑20" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
- ^ http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/old-highway-maps/1973_exxon_dfw_west_large.jpg[bare URL image file]
- ^ "Malfunction Junction: What are those massive columns?". 3 November 2017.
- ^ "What went wrong on Malfunction Junction? What's next?". 10 April 2018.
- ^ "Interstate exit signs to get new numbers in Georgia". Jacksonville. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ a b Robert Malme. . I-73/I-74 in North Carolina. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ . NCDOT. Archived from the original on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ "Strategic Highway Corridors Vision Plan" (PDF). Strategic Highway Corridors. NCDOT. 2008-07-10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ "Strategic Highway Corridors Vision Plan, Southeastern NC" (PDF). Strategic Highway Corridors. NCDOT. 2004-09-02. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
- ^ Rand McNally (2014). The Road Atlas (Walmart ed.). Chicago: Rand McNally. pp. 4, 28, 44, 56, 92, 98–100. ISBN 978-0-528-00771-2.
- Georgia Department of Transportation, Office of Transportation Data (2003), (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2006
External links
Route map:
- Geographic data related to Interstate 20 at OpenStreetMap
- I-20 on Interstate-Guide.com