I-20 enters the Palmetto State after crossing the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia. Known as the J. Strom Thurmond Freeway (named for the US senator), 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 South Carolina Highway 340 (SC 340) and I-20 Bus. 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 two miles (3.2 km), the roadway continues to downtown Florence as I-20 Bus.
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 milemarker 0.5 (eastbound), and the rest areas are located in Lugoff at milemarker 99 (east and westbound) between exit 92 (U.S. Route 601 [US 601] and SC 12) 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 and State Transport Police operate and maintain two truck inspection/weigh stations. The eastbound truck weigh station can be found in Jones Crossroads at milemarker 35, and the westbound weigh station can be found in Lexington at milemarker 53.5.
History
Approaching the eastern end of I-20 on I-95
I-20 first appeared between 1964 and 1967; its first section was 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/SC 12, 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 in the same year, exit numbers were installed.
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 and US 501 and established SC 576, connecting the two U.S. Routes 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 the North Carolina Department of Transportation'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, and North Carolina received $5 million for a feasibility study for this extension.
If built, I-20 will have concurrency with I-95 about 12 miles (19 km) through Florence, meet I-73 near Marion, have concurrency with I-74 about 20 miles (32 km) from Whiteville to east of its future interchange with North Carolina Highway 211 (NC 211), and have future interchanges with I-140/US 17/US 74 east/US 421/NC 133 in Wilmington where I-20 will terminate at bridge crossing over the Cape Fear River where US 17/US 76/US 421/NC 133 crosses into downtown. However, it will not have a direct interchange with I-40 in Wilmington 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 focusing on plans to build I-73 that will terminate near Myrtle Beach.[10]
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 the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for consideration.[11]
Future
I-26/I-126 interchange
SCDOT, in cooperation with the FHWA, is proposing improvements to a corridor along I-20, I-26, and I-126, including the system interchanges at I-20/I-26 and I-26/I-126 in Lexington and Richland counties. These improvements are proposed to increase mobility and enhance traffic operations by reducing existing traffic congestion within the corridor, while accommodating future traffic needs. The corridor's approximately 14 miles (23 km) of mainline Interstate include I-26 from exit 101 (Broad River Road, US 176) to east of the Saluda River, I-20 from the west of the Saluda River to west of the Broad River, and I-126 from I-26 to east of the interchange with Colonial Life Boulevard.[12]
Widening projects
This project represents the first bistate agreement between the Georgia Department of Transportation and SCDOT for a design–build project. This design–build project is for the widening of I-20 with an additional lane in each direction. The widening begins just west of Georgia State Route 104 (SR 104) interchange (I-20 GA exit 200) and it will terminate at SC 230 interchange (I-20 SC exit 1). The project will widen 1.8 miles (2.9 km) of I-20, replace four bridges over the Augusta Canal and Savannah River, and make intersection improvements at the West Martintown Road interchange in South Carolina. This project will cost $72 million and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.[13]
Another design–build project is for the widening of I-20 with an additional lane in each direction. The widening will begin just east of US 378 where the roadway transitions from a six lane section to a four lane section and terminate west of the Longs Pond Road interchange near milemarker 49 in Lexington County. The I-20 eastbound and westbound bridges over Norfolk Southern Railroad will be replaced. The pavement for the project will consist of both concrete and asphalt and the existing concrete pavement section will require reconstruction. The widening has since been completed as of June 2022.[14]
Eastern terminus of I-20; signed as exits 141A (north) and 141B (south); I-95 exit 160; to Myrtle Beach via I-95 north; roadway continues as I-20 BS eastbound
Interstate 20 Business (I-20 Bus) is a 2.244-mile (3.611 km) four-lane boulevard-grade business spur of I-20 along David H. McLeod Boulevard, between I-95 and US 76 (West Palmetto Street).[16] SCDOT marks an intersection of West Evans Street as its east end where the roadway continues as US 76 Connector. However, signage of I-20 Bus. appears past West Evans Street indicating the route continues to its official eastern terminus at an intersection of US 76. SCDOT signs the eastern extension of I-20 Bus. from West Evans Street to US 76 as US 76 Connector which is unsigned in its entire length.[17] Construction began by 1969, completed in 1970, it has remained unchanged since inception.[18]
Interchange; western terminus of I-20 Bus.; signed as exits 141A (north) and 141B (south) using I-20 exit numbering; I-95 exit 160; roadway continues as I-20 westbound
^South Carolina State Highway Department (1967). General Highway Map, Aiken County, South Carolina(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Columbia: South Carolina State Highway Department. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
^South Carolina State Highway Department (1973). General Highway Map, Aiken County, South Carolina(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Columbia: South Carolina State Highway Department. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
^South Carolina Department of Transportation (July 2020). Florence Urban Area(PDF) (Map). 1:28,160. Columbia: South Carolina Department of Transportation. Sheet 4. §§ D5–D6. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
^South Carolina Department of Transportation (1970). General Highway Map, Florence County, South Carolina(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Columbia: South Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
I-20 at Georgia state line
I-95 / I-20 BS in Florence.svg)
