Interstate 20

Template:Infobox road 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 Reeves County, Texas, 40 miles (64 km) east of Van Horn, 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-Fort Worth, Texas; Shreveport, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; and Columbia, South Carolina.

From its terminus at I-95, the highway continues about two miles (3.2 km) eastward into the city of Florence as I-20 Business (I-20 Bus.).

Route description

Template:Lengths table |- |TX |style="text-align:right;"|636.08 |style="text-align:right;"|1,023.67 |- |LA |style="text-align:right;"|189.87 |style="text-align:right;"|305.57 |- |MS |style="text-align:right;"|154.61 |style="text-align:right;"|248.82 |- |AL |style="text-align:right;"|214.70 |style="text-align:right;"|345.53 |- |GA |style="text-align:right;"|202.61 |style="text-align:right;"|326.07 |- |SC |style="text-align:right;"|141.51 |style="text-align:right;"|227.74 |- |Total |style="text-align:right;"|1,539.38 |style="text-align:right;"|2,477.39 |}

I-20 in southern Fort Worth, Texas

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The Mississippi welcome sign along westbound I-20

I-20 (cosigned with I-59) approaching I-65 in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, at the interchange that is sometimes referred to as Malfunction Junction

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I-20 eastbound at the I-520 interchange in Augusta, Georgia

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Approaching the eastern terminus of I-20 on I-95, Florence, South Carolina

I-20 spans approximately 2/3 of the United States between Texas and South Carolina serving major southern economic hubs such as Dallas–Fort Worth and Atlanta.

Texas

Main article: Interstate 20 in Texas

I-20 begins in western Reeves County at a fork with I-10. From there, the highway travels east-northeastward through Odessa, Midland, and Abilene before turning eastward toward the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The La Entrada al Pacífico corridor runs along I-20 between US Route 385 (US 385) and Farm to Market Road 1788 (FM 1788). Between Monahans and I-10, I-20 has an 80-mile-per-hour (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 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.

I-20 continues eastward from Terrell, bypassing Tyler, Kilgore, Longview, and Marshall before crossing the Louisiana border near Waskom.

Louisiana

Main article: Interstate 20 in 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

Main article: Interstate 20 in 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 interchange 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

Main article: Interstate 20 in 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 Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport. I-20 continues eastward through Oxford–Anniston and the Talladega National Forest, passing by 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.

Georgia

Main article: Interstate 20 in 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 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 the Atlanta metropolitan area 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

Main article: Interstate 20 in 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 and 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

I-20 was built in 1957 connecting Texas to the east coast running through Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe making it their first Interstate.

I-20's exit numbers in Georgia were changed in 2000.

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. The proposed route would follow US 76 east from Florence to Whiteville, North Carolina, then parallel US 74/US 76 into Wilmington. Part of this route is already designated the future eastern extension of I-74. As part of the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users transportation legislation, North Carolina received $5 million (equivalent to $Template:Formatprice in Template:Inflation/yearTemplate:Inflation/fn) for a feasibility study for this extension. While this extension has considerable support among towns in southeastern North Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Transportation 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.

Junction list

Texas

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Reeves County

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Pecos

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Odessa

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Big Spring

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type east of Roscoe. The highways travel concurrently to the Tye–Abilene city line.

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Abilene

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Baird

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Cisco

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type south-southeast of Brazos

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Hudson Oaks

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type northeast of Aledo

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Fort Worth

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Fort Worth

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Benbrook

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Fort Worth

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Fort Worth. I-20/US 287 travels concurrently to Arlington.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Grand Prairie

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Dallas

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type on the Dallas–Lancaster city line

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type on the Dallas–Hutchins city line

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type on the Dallas–Balch Springs city line

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Balch Springs

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Lindale

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type south-southeast of Winona

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type northeast of Kilgore. The highways travel concurrently to Longview.

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Marshall

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type west-southwest of Jonesville. The highways travel concurrently to west of Waskom.

Louisiana

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Greenwood

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Shreveport

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Shreveport

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Shreveport

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Shreveport

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Shreveport

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Shreveport. The highways travel concurrently to Bossier City.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Bossier City

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type near Haughton

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Dixie Inn. The highways travel concurrently to Minden.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type southeast of Minden

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Ruston

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type east-northeast of Calhoun

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Monroe

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Rayville

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Tallulah

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Delta. The highways travel concurrently to Clinton, Mississippi.

Mississippi

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Vicksburg. The highways travel concurrently through Vicksburg.

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Jackson. I-20/US 49 travels concurrently to Pearl.

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Jackson. I-20/I-55 travels concurrently to Richland

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Brandon

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Brandon

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type east-southeast of Lake

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type west-southwest of Meridian. The highways travel concurrently to Meridian.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Meridian. The highways travel concurrently to Birmingham, Alabama.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Meridian. The highways travel concurrently through Meridian.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Meridian

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type west-northwest of Kewanee

Alabama

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type near Cuba

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type south of Knoxville

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Tuscaloosa

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Tuscaloosa

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Tuscaloosa

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Tuscaloosa

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type south of Lake View. The highways travel concurrently to Bessemer.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type southwest of McCalla

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Birmingham

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Birmingham

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Birmingham

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Birmingham

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Irondale

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Leeds

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type on the Leeds–Moody line

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type northwest of Cooks Springs. The highways travel concurrently to Pell City.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Pell City

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Riverside

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type east of Oxford

Georgia

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Bremen

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Atlanta

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Atlanta

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Atlanta

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type on the Panthersville–Candler-McAfee CDP line

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type southeast of Lithonia. The highways travel concurrently to Covington.

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Social Circle

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Madison

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Barnett

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type south of Appling

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Augusta

South Carolina

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in North Augusta

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in North Augusta

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type north-northeast of Aiken

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type southeast of Batesburg-Leesville

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type east of Lexington

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type north of Oak Grove

 / Module:Jct error: Invalid route type on the Seven Oaks–St. Andrews CDP line

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in St. Andrews

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type north of Columbia

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Columbia

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Dentsville

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type on the Dentsville–Woodfield CDP line

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Lugoff

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type in Camden

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type southwest of Bishopville

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type northeast of Lamar

Module:Jct error: Invalid route type 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 State Route 154 (SR 154)/SR 166, named the Langford Parkway (formerly the Lakewood Freeway).

• Shreveport, Louisiana: I-220
• Jackson, Mississippi: I-220
• Augusta, Georgia: I-520
• Fort Worth, Texas: I-820

References

• Georgia Department of Transportation, Office of Transportation Data (2003), Interstate Mileage Report (438 Report) (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2006

External links

• Template:Osmrelation-inline
• I-20 on Interstate-Guide.com
• Proposed I-20 extension in North Carolina