Route description
, - , 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 , - , Interstate 20 in South Carolina, 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 Metropolitan Area, Atlanta.Texas
I-20 begins in Scroggins Draw, Texas, Scroggins Draw at a fork with I-10. From there, the highway travels east-northeastward through Odessa, Texas, Odessa, Midland, Texas, Midland, and Abilene, Texas, 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, Texas, Monahans and I-10, I-20 has an 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 Interstate 30, I-30 (Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike and from US 80/I-30 intersection at Mesquite to downtown Dallas), U.S. Route 80, US 80 (former stretch between I-635 and Terrell, Texas, Terrell), and Texas State Highway Spur 557, 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, Texas, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Texas, Grand Prairie, Dallas, and Mesquite, Texas, 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, Texas, Tyler, Longview, Texas, Longview, and Marshall, Texas, Marshall before crossing the Louisiana border near Waskom.Louisiana
In Louisiana, I-20 roughly parallels U.S. Route 80 in Louisiana, US 80 through the northern part of the state. Entering the state from near Waskom, Texas, the highway immediately enters the Shreveport, Louisiana, Shreveport–Bossier City, Louisiana, Bossier City metropolitan area, intersecting Interstate 49 in Louisiana, 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, Louisiana, Minden, Grambling, Louisiana, Grambling, and Ruston, Louisiana, Ruston before reaching Monroe, Louisiana, Monroe. From Monroe, I-20 enters flatter terrain as it approaches the Mississippi River. Before crossing the Mississippi, the highway passes Tallulah, Louisiana, Tallulah. At the Mississippi River, I-20 leaves Louisiana and enters Vicksburg, Mississippi, Vicksburg.Mississippi
Upon entering Mississippi by crossing the Mississippi River, I-20 immediately enters Vicksburg, Mississippi, Vicksburg. Between Edwards and Clinton, Mississippi, Clinton, the highway mostly follows the original two-lane routing of U.S. Route 80, US 80. In Jackson, I-20 sees a short concurrency with both Interstate 55, I-55 and U.S. Route 49, US 49. Also in Jackson is an unusually expansive stack interchange, at the Interchange (road), 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, Mississippi, Meridian, where it begins the nearly overlap with Interstate 59, 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, Alabama, Tuscaloosa. At Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham, the two highways pass through downtown together before splitting at exit 130 just east of the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham airport. I-20 continues eastward through Oxford, Alabama, 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 Interstate 65, I-65 was known as a Malfunction Junction (disambiguation), 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
I-20 enters Georgia near Tallapoosa, Georgia, 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, Georgia, Atlanta, meeting with Interstate 75 in Georgia, I-75 and Interstate 85 in Georgia, 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, Georgia, Augusta. Throughout the state, I-20 is conjoined with unsigned Georgia State Route 402, State Route 402 (SR 402). Also, I-20 from the Alabama state line to Interstate 285 (Georgia), 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 U.S. 129, US 129/U.S. 441, US 441/Georgia State Route 24, 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, South Carolina, Aiken and Lexington, South Carolina, Lexington before reaching the state capital of Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia, which can be reached most directly by taking Interstate 26, I-26 east at exit 64 ("Malfunction Junction"), then, almost immediately, Interstate 126, I-126/U.S. Route 76, US 76. At Columbia, I-20 bypasses the city to the north and again turns northeastward, bypassing Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Jackson and Camden, South Carolina, Camden. After crossing the Wateree River, it turns due east, passes by tiny Bishopville, before reaching the Florence, South Carolina, Florence area. It is near Florence where I-20 sees its eastern terminus at Interstate 95 in South Carolina, I-95. However, for about , the highway continues into Florence as Interstate 20 Business (Florence, South Carolina), 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 U.S. Route 401, 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 La, Ruston La, and Monroe La making it their first Interstate. I-20's exit numbers in Georgia were changed in 2000.Future
In 2003, the North Carolina Department of Transportation proposed extending I-20 eastward from Florence to Wilmington, North Carolina, 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 Interstate 74, I-74. As part of the 2005 SAFETEA-LU transportation legislation, North Carolina received $5 million for a feasibility study for this extension. 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 Interstate 73, I-73 that will terminate near Myrtle Beach. This proposed extension is currently unfunded.Junction list
;Texas : at Scroggins Draw, Texas, Scroggins Draw : in Pecos, Texas, Pecos : in Odessa, Texas, Odessa : in Big Spring, Texas, Big Spring : east of Roscoe, Texas, Roscoe. The highways travel concurrently to the Tye, Texas, Tye–Abilene, Texas, Abilene city line. : in Abilene : in Baird, Texas, Baird : in Cisco, Texas, Cisco : south-southeast of Brazos, Texas, Brazos : in Hudson Oaks, Texas, Hudson Oaks : northeast of Aledo, Texas, Aledo : in Fort Worth, Texas, Fort Worth : in Fort Worth : in Benbrook, Texas, Benbrook : in Fort Worth : in Fort Worth. I-20/US 287 travels concurrently to Arlington, Texas, Arlington. : in Grand Prairie, Texas, Grand Prairie : in Dallas : on the Dallas–Lancaster, Texas, Lancaster city line : on the Dallas–Hutchins, Texas, Hutchins city line : on the Dallas–Balch Springs, Texas, Balch Springs city line : in Balch Springs : in Lindale, Texas, Lindale : south-southeast of Winona, Texas, Winona : northeast of Kilgore, Texas, Kilgore. The highways travel concurrently to Longview, Texas, Longview. : in Marshall, Texas, Marshall : west-southwest of Jonesville, Texas, Jonesville. The highways travel concurrently to west of Waskom, Texas, Waskom. ;Louisiana : in Greenwood, Louisiana, Greenwood : in Shreveport, Louisiana, Shreveport : in Shreveport : in Shreveport : in Shreveport : in Shreveport : in Shreveport. The highways travel concurrently to Bossier City, Louisiana, Bossier City. : in Bossier City : near Haughton, Louisiana, Haughton : in Dixie Inn, Louisiana, Dixie Inn. The highways travel concurrently to Minden, Louisiana, Minden. : southeast of Minden : in Ruston, Louisiana, Ruston : east-northeast of Calhoun, Louisiana, Calhoun : in Monroe, Louisiana, Monroe : in Rayville, Louisiana, Rayville : in Tallulah, Louisiana, Tallulah : in Delta, Louisiana, Delta. The highways travel concurrently to Clinton, Mississippi. ;Mississippi : in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Vicksburg. The highways travel concurrently through Vicksburg. : in Jackson, Mississippi, Jackson. I-20/US 49 travels concurrently to Pearl, Mississippi, Pearl. : in Jackson. I-20/I-55 travels concurrently to Richland, Mississippi, Richland : in Brandon, Mississippi, Brandon : in Brandon : east-southeast of Lake, Mississippi, Lake : west-southwest of Meridian, Mississippi, Meridian. The highways travel concurrently to Meridian. : in Meridian. The highways travel concurrently to Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham. : in Meridian. The highways travel concurrently through Meridian. : in Meridian : west-northwest of Kewanee, Mississippi, Kewanee ;Alabama : near Cuba, Alabama, Cuba : south of Knoxville, Alabama, Knoxville : in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Tuscaloosa : in Tuscaloosa : in Tuscaloosa : in Tuscaloosa : south of Lake View, Alabama, Lake View. The highways travel concurrently to Bessemer, Alabama, Bessemer. : southwest of McCalla, Alabama, McCalla : in Birmingham : in Birmingham : in Birmingham : in Birmingham : in Irondale, Alabama, Irondale : in Leeds, Alabama, Leeds : on the Leeds–Moody, Alabama, Moody line : northwest of Cooks Springs, Alabama, Cooks Springs. The highways travel concurrently to Pell City, Alabama, Pell City. : in Pell City : in Riverside, Alabama, Riverside : east of Oxford, Alabama, Oxford ;Georgia : in Bremen, Georgia, Bremen : in Atlanta : in Atlanta : in Atlanta : on the Panthersville, Georgia, Panthersville–Candler-McAfee, Georgia, Candler-McAfee CDP line : southeast of Lithonia, Georgia, Lithonia. The highways travel concurrently to Covington, Georgia, Covington. : in Social Circle, Georgia, Social Circle : in Madison, Georgia, Madison : in Barnett, Georgia, Barnett : north of Thomson, Georgia, Thomson : south of Appling, Georgia, Appling : in Augusta, Georgia, Augusta ;South Carolina : in North Augusta, South Carolina, North Augusta : in North Augusta : north-northeast of Aiken, South Carolina, Aiken : southeast of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina, Batesburg-Leesville : east of Lexington, South Carolina, Lexington : north of Oak Grove, South Carolina, Oak Grove : on the Seven Oaks, South Carolina, Seven Oaks–St. Andrews, South Carolina, St. Andrews CDP line : in St. Andrews : north of Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia : in Columbia : in Dentsville, South Carolina, Dentsville : on the Dentsville–Woodfield, South Carolina, Woodfield CDP line : in Lugoff, South Carolina, Lugoff : in Camden, South Carolina, Camden : southwest of Bishopville, South Carolina, Bishopville : northeast of Lamar, South Carolina, Lamar : in Florence, South Carolina, FlorenceAuxiliary routes
Two I-420s were planned, but never completed or built. Interstate 420 (Louisiana), One was to be a Bypass (road), bypass around Monroe, Louisiana, but was never built. Interstate 420 (Georgia), The other I-420 was planned as a bypass to the south of Downtown Atlanta. Due to Atlanta freeway revolts, 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
*External links
*.svg.html){kind=link}