Interstate 20 in South Carolina

Interstate 20 (I-20) is the main east-west interstate in the state of South Carolina, linking the state with important transportation and business hubs to the north, west and south, including Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina (via I-77); Savannah, Georgia (via I-95); and Washington, D.C. (via I-95).

Interstate 20
J. Strom Thurmond Freeway
I-20 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by SCDOT
Length	141.51 mi[1][2] (227.74 km)
Existed	1964–present
Major junctions
West end	I-20 at Georgia state line
	I-520 in North Augusta I-26 / US 76 in Columbia I-77 in Columbia
East end	I-95 / I-20 BS in Florence
Location
Counties	Aiken, Lexington, Richland, Kershaw, Lee, Darlington, Florence
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future South Carolina State Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← SC 19 → SC 20

Route description

I-20 enters the Palmetto State after crossing the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia. Known as the J. Strom Thurmond Freeway, the highway heads northeastward, bypassing Aiken and Lexington before reaching the state capital of Columbia. It was constructed in various stages beginning in late 1963, with the final section between SC-340 and the Business Spur opening in August 1975.

At Columbia, I-20 crosses the Saluda and Broad rivers and travels through the northern part of the city and turns eastward, bypassing Fort Jackson and Camden before reaching Florence. It is at Florence where I-20 sees its eastern terminus at I-95. However, for about 2 miles (3.2 km), the highway continues to downtown Florence as Business Spur 20.

Services

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) operates and maintains one welcome center and two rest areas along I-20. The welcome center, which has a travel information facility on site, is located in North Augusta at mile markers 0.5 (eastbound), and the rest areas are located in Lugoff at mile markers 99 (east and westbound) between Exit 92 (US 601) and the bridges over the Wateree River. Common at all locations are public restrooms, public telephones, vending machines, picnic area and barbecue grills. A pair of closed rest areas exist between Exits 44 and 51.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) and State Transport Police (STP) operate and maintain two truck inspection/weigh stations. The eastbound truck weigh station can be found in Jones Crossroads at mile marker 35, and the westbound weigh station can be found in Lexington at mile marker 53.5.

History

Approaching the eastern end of I-20 on I-95

I-20 first appeared between 1964-1967, with its first section completed from SC 6, south of Lexington, to Spears Creek Church Road (S-40-53), south of Pontiac.[3][4] A second section, from the Georgia state line to US 25 / SC 121 was completed in 1967. [5] In 1968 or 1969, I-20 was extended east from Spears Creek Church Road (S-40-53) to US 601, south of Camden.[6] In 1971, I-20 combined the two segments by completing the gap between US 25 / SC 121 to SC 6.[7] In 1973, I-20 was extended east to US 521. In 1974, it extended east again to US 15. In 1975, another extension east to US 401. And finally, in 1976, I-20 reached its destination with I-95 and the city of Florence.[8] Also same year exit numbers were installed.

In the late 1980s, I-20 was widened to six lanes between US 378 and I-77.

Proposed extension

The first proposal to extend I-20 was at the time of its designation in the state, and consisted of plans to extend it east from Florence to Myrtle Beach. However, because Myrtle Beach was not yet the tourist destination it later became, the state eventually widened US 76, US 501 and established SC 576 connecting the two U.S. Highways in the 1970s.[9]

In 2003, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley pushed forward a proposal to extend I-20 eastward from Florence to Wilmington, which became part of NCDOT's strategic transportation plan. The proposed routing would overlap I-20 along I-95 to the I-74 / US 74 interchange, then travel east (concurrently with US 74) into Wilmington. In 2005, this proposal became part of the SAFETEA-LU transportation legislation, North Carolina received $5 million for a feasibility study for this extension.

While the extension had support in North Carolina, with justification that a direct route from Atlanta to the Port of Wilmington could be a boom to the economy, this view was not shared by officials in South Carolina. In 2009, soon after Governor Mike Easley left office, the proposed routing was removed from all NCDOT plans and was officially dropped. The proposal was never officially discussed with SCDOT nor submitted to AASHTO and FHWA for consideration.[10]

Exit list

County	Location	mi[2]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Aiken	North Augusta	0.0	0.0		I-20 west (SR 402) – Atlanta	Continuation into Georgia
		1.2	1.9	1	SC 230 – North Augusta
		4.9	7.9	5	US 25 / SC 121 – Edgefield, Johnston
		5.6	9.0	6	I-520 west (Palmetto Parkway) – North Augusta, Augusta	Eastern terminus of I-520 and Palmetto Parkway; I-520 eastbound exit 23A (west) and exit 23B (east)
	​	11.1	17.9	11	Bettis Academy Road – Graniteville
	Aiken	17.7	28.5	18	SC 19 – Aiken, Johnston, Edgefield
		21.9	35.2	22	US 1 – Aiken, Ridge Spring
	​	29.3	47.2	29	Wire Road
	​	32.4	52.1	33	SC 39 – Wagener, Monetta, Ridge Spring
Lexington	​	38.7	62.3	39	US 178 – Pelion, Batesburg-Leesville
	​	44.1	71.0	44	Road 34 – Gilbert
	​	50.8	81.8	51	Longs Pond Road
	Lexington	54.8	88.2	55	SC 6 – Swansea, Pelion, Lexington	Signed as exits 55A (east) and 55B (west) westbound
		57.5	92.5	58	US 1 – Lexington, West Columbia	To Columbia Airport
		61.1	98.3	61	US 378 – West Columbia, Lexington
Richland	Columbia	63.2	101.7	63	Bush River Road
		64.0	103.0	64	I-26 / US 76 – Spartanburg, Charleston	Signed as exits 64A (east) and 64B (west); I-26 exit 107
		65.0	104.6	65	US 176 (Broad River Road)
		68.2	109.8	68	SC 215 (Monticello Road) – Jenkinsville
		69.6	112.0	70	US 321 (Fairfield Road) – Winnsboro
		71.0	114.3	71	US 21 (North Main Street)
		72.1	116.0	72	SC 555 (Farrow Road)
		72.7	117.0	73	SC 277 to I-77 north – Columbia, Charlotte	Signed as exits 73A (south) and 73B (north); I-20 westbound has no access to SC 277 northbound; SC 277 southbound has no access to I-20 eastbound
		73.9	118.9	74	US 1 (Two Notch Road)
		75.5	121.5	76	I-77 / Alpine Road – Charleston, Charlotte	Westbound signed as exit 76A (I-77) and exit 76B (Alpine Road); I-77 exit 16; eastbound exit Alpine Road to I-77 north
	​	79.8	128.4	80	Clemson Road
	​	81.5	131.2	82	Spears Creek Church Road – Pontiac
Kershaw	​	86.7	139.5	87	White Pond Road – Elgin
	Lugoff	91.5	147.3	92	US 601 – Lugoff, Camden, St. Matthews
	Camden	97.5	156.9	98	US 521 – Camden, Sumter, Rembert	To Camden Military Academy
	​	101.2	162.9	101	Road 329
Lee	​	107.5	173.0	108	Jamestown Road – Manville
	Bishopville	115.8	186.4	116	US 15 – Sumter, Bishopville
		119.7	192.6	120	SC 341 – Bishopville, Lynchburg, Elliott
	​	122.4	197.0	123	Road 22 – Lamar	To Lee State Park
Darlington	​	130.6	210.2	131	US 401 to SC 403 – Timmonsville, Darlington, Hartsville, Sumter
	​	137.0	220.5	137	SC 340 – Darlington, Timmonsville
Florence	Florence	141.2– 141.5	227.2– 227.7	141	I-95 – Fayetteville, Savannah	Eastern terminus of I-20; signed as exits 141A (north) and 141B (south); I-95 exit 160B
					I-20 BS east – Florence	Continuation beyond I-95
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access       Route transition

Related routes

I-20 has one auxiliary Interstate within South Carolina. Numbered I-520, it runs between North Augusta and Augusta, Georgia. Originally a spur, it serves as a partial beltway of the Augusta area, split between Georgia and South Carolina.

Interstate 20 Business

Interstate 20 Business
Location	Florence, South Carolina
Length	2.110 mi[11] (3.396 km)
Existed	1970–present

Interstate 20 Business (I-20 Bus) is a 2.110-mile (3.396 km) four-lane boulevard-grade business spur of I-20 along David H. McLeod Boulevard, between I-95 and West Evans Street.[12] At its eastern end, the roadway continues as US 76 Connector.[13] Construction began by 1969, completed in 1970, it has remained unchanged since inception.[14]

The entire route is in Florence, Florence County.

mi[11]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
0.000	0.000		I-20 west – Columbia	Continuation beyond I-95
		141	I-95 – Fayetteville, Savannah	Interchange; western terminus of I-20 Bus.; signed as exits 141A (north) and 141B (south); exit numbering follows I-20; I-95 exit 160A.
2.110	3.396		West Evans Street / US 76 Conn. east to US 76 / SC 51 south – Timmonsville, Downtown Florence, Arts Corridor, Tennis Center, Beach traffic	Eastern terminus of I-20 Bus.; western terminus of US 76 Conn.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Route transition

See also

•  United States portal
•  U.S. roads portal
• Central Savannah River Area

References

1. "Table 1". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 26, 2007.
2. Google (June 5, 2014). "Interstate 20 in South Carolina" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
3. General Highway Map, Richland County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1963. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
4. General Highway Map, Richland County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1967. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
5. General Highway Map, Aiken County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1967. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
6. General Highway Map, Richland County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1970. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
7. General Highway Map, Aiken County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1973. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
8. General Highway Map, Florence County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1976. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
9. Grainger, Kyle (February 19, 2009). "Why Interstate 73 and not I-20 to Myrtle Beach?". WMBF-TV. Myrtle Beach, SC. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
10. "My Reporter Column Question on I-20 Going to Wilmington". StarNewsOnline.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
11. "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
12. Google (December 14, 2020). "Overview map of I-20 Bus. (Florence, South Carolina)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
13. Florence Urban Area (PDF) (Map). South Carolina Department of Transportation. July 2020. p. Sheet 4. §§ D5-D6. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
14. General Highway Map, Florence County, South Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by SCDOT. South Carolina Department of Transportation. 1970. Retrieved June 5, 2014.

External links

• Media related to Interstate 20 in South Carolina at Wikimedia Commons
• Mapmikey's South Carolina Highways Page: I-20
• South Carolina @ Southeast Roads.com - Interstate 20
• I-20 in NC discussion on I-74 in North Carolina Progress Page, accessed October 4, 2005.