Interstate 16

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This article is about the current Interstate Highway. For the current state highway, see Georgia State Route 16.

Interstate 16 marker

Interstate 16
I-16 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by GDOT
Length166.81 mi[2] (268.45 km)
Existed1966[1]–present
Major junctions
West end I-75 / SR 540 in Macon
 
East endMontgomery Street in Savannah
Location
CountiesBibb, Twiggs, Bleckley, Laurens, Treutlen, Emanuel, Candler, Bulloch, Bryan, Effingham, Chatham
Highway system
  • Georgia State Routes
← SR 15SR 16 →
← SR 403Georgia 404.svgSR 405 →

Interstate 16 (I-16), also known as Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, is an east–west Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Georgia.[3] It carries the hidden designation of State Route 404 (SR 404) for its entire length. I-16 travels from downtown Macon, at an interchange with I-75 and SR 540 to downtown Savannah at Montgomery Street (Exit 167B),[4] it connects Macon and Savannah, via Dublin, Metter, and Pooler. I-16's unsigned designation of SR 404 has a spur that is signed in Savannah.

The western-most segment in Macon, from I-75 and US 80/SR 87, is part of the Fall Line Freeway, a highway that connects Columbus and Augusta; this segment may also be incorporated into the proposed eastern extension of I-14, which is currently entirely within Central Texas and may be extended to Augusta.[5]

Route description[edit]

Bibb County[edit]

I-16 in Ocmulgee National Monument

I-16 begins at an interchange with I-75/SR 540, just northwest of downtown Macon, in Bibb County. Here, it begins a concurrency with SR 540; the Interstate and SR 540 proceed southeast, traveling just east of the downtown area. They cross over the Ocmulgee River and then have an interchange with US 23/US 129/SR 49 (Spring Street/North Avenue). Then, they have a partial interchange with SR 22 (2nd Street) that is only accessible from the westbound lanes. Almost immediately is an interchange with US 80/SR 87 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Coliseum Drive). At this intersection, SR 540 departs the concurrency to the north-northeast. Within the eastern part of this interchange, the highway travels under a railroad bridge that carries railroad tracks of Norfolk Southern Railway. In the east-central part of Macon, I-16 travels through Ocmulgee National Monument but without direct access. Visitors need to first exit at the US 80/SR 87 exit. On the southern edge of the national monument, it crosses over Walnut Creek, it then travels on a bridge over some railroad tracks of CSX and Boggy Branch. After leaving Macon, I-16 curves to the south-southeast and has an interchange with US 23/US 129 Alt./SR 87 (Ocmulgee East Boulevard). In the interchange, the highway crosses over Swift Creek, it crosses over Stone Creek before entering Twiggs County.[4]

Twiggs, Bleckley, and Laurens counties[edit]

I-16 curves back to the southeast and has an interchange with Sgoda Road, it crosses over Flat Creek and then has an interchange with Jeffersonville and Bullard roads. It curves to the east-southeast and crosses over Savage and Turvin creeks, it then curves back to the southeast. The highway has an interchange with SR 96. Almost immediately, it crosses over Richland Creek, it then has an interchange with SR 358. I-16 curves to the east-southeast and enters Bleckley County just before it has an interchange with SR 112 just south of Allentown, it then crosses over Rocky Creek just before entering Laurens County. The interstate curves back to the southeast and crosses under SR 278 before it travels south of Montrose, it crosses over Bay Branch just before an interchange with SR 26. It then enters the southwestern part of Dudley. There, it has an interchange with SR 338. I-16 curves back to the east-southeast and crosses over Little Rocky Creek just before a rest area. Just to the west-northwest of a crossing of Turkey Creek[disambiguation needed], the westbound lanes have a rest area. On the southwestern edge of Dublin, the highway has an interchange with SR 257. On the southern edge of the city are interchanges with US 319/US 441/SR 31. and SR 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Drive), it then crosses over the Oconee River. It has an interchange with SR 199 (Old River Road) just before a crossing of Pughes Creek. Southeast of that is a crossing of Red Hill Creek. Just south of Rockledge, the highway crosses over Mercer Creek. On the eastern edge of the Creek, it enters Treutlen County.[4]

Treutlen County[edit]

I-16 curves to the east-northeast and crosses over some railroad tracks of CSX before an interchange with SR 29, it immediately curves back to the east-southeast. It crosses over Red Bluff Creek. Then is an interchange with SR 15/SR 78; the highway travels south of Sand Hill Lake before curving to the east-northeast. It crosses over Pendleton Creek and travels under a bridge that carries SR 86. Then, it begins to curve to the southeast, it has an interchange with US 221/SR 56. It crosses over Reedy Creek and curves to the east-southeast, it has an interchange with SR 297. At the overpass for SR 297, the highway enters Emanuel County.[4]

Emanuel County[edit]

After the SR 297 interchange, I-16 heads more to the southeast, it curves to a nearly due east direction and crosses over the Ohoopee River. Just after crossing over some railroad tracks of Norfolk Southern Railway, it enters the city limits of Oak Park, it curves to the southeast and has an interchange with US 1/SR 4/SR 46. After this interchange, the highway begins to parallel SR 46, it curves to the east-southeast and crosses over Jacks Creek. Then, it enters Candler County.[4]

Candler County[edit]

I-16 has an interchange with SR 57 (Aline Road), it crosses over Wolfe Creek and then heads to the east-northeast. It crosses over the Canoochee River and curves to a nearly due east direction, it crosses over Sams Creek before entering Metter. As soon as it enters Metter, it passes the Metter Municipal Airport. Right after the airport is an interchange with SR 23/SR 121. On the southeastern edge of Metter, I-16 travels under a bridge that carries SR 129, it crosses over 15 Mile Creek and then curves to the southeast. It crosses over Tenmile Creek and has an interchange with Pulaski–Excelsior Road just before entering Bulloch County.[4]

Bulloch County[edit]

The Interstate curves to the east-southeast and has an interchange with US 25/US 301/SR 73. Then, it crosses over Lotts and Little Lotts creeks, it then travels northeast of Nevils. It briefly curves to the east-southeast, where it has an interchange with SR 67, and then curves back to the southeast, it crosses over DeLoach Branch and then curves to the east-southeast. It crosses over Luke Branch and then Boggy Branch before curving to a nearly due east direction, it has an interchange with Ash Branch Church Road. After a crossing of Ash Branch, the highway curves to the east-southeast, it has an interchange with SR 119 just before entering Bryan County.[4]

Bryan, Effingham, and Chatham counties[edit]

Northbound I-95 at the interchange with I-16 near Savannah
End of I-16 east in downtown Savannah

Almost immediately, the highway crosses over Black Creek, it then curves to the southeast and has an interchange with US 280/SR 30 southwest of Blitchton. It crosses over some railroad tracks of CSX and then crosses over the Ogeechee River, which marks the Effingham County line, it has an interchange with Old River Road south of Meldrim and then enters Chatham County. The first city in the county that I-16 enters is Bloomingdale. There, it has an interchange with SR 17 (Bloomingdale Road), it crosses over the Little Ogeechee River. It very briefly travels along the Bloomingdale–Pooler city line before entering Pooler proper, it has an interchange with Pooler Parkway. It crosses over the Savannah–Ogeechee Canal just before an interchange with I-95. Here, I-16 begins traveling along the southern edge of the city limits of Pooler. Right after the I-95 interchange, the highway crosses over the Hardin Canal. At an interchange with SR 307 (Dean Forest Road), I-16 begins traveling along the Savannah–Garden City line, it briefly enters the city limits of Savannah before traveling along the Savannah–Garden City line again. It has an interchange with the Chatham Parkway, it then re-enters Savannah and curves to the east-southeast. It crosses over some railroad tracks of CSX just before an interchange with I-516/US 17/US 80/SR 21/SR 25/SR 26 (W.F. Lynes Parkway). Here, US 17 begins a concurrency with I-16, it crosses over the Springfield Canal just before a partial interchange with SR 204 (West 37th Street). This interchange is only accessible from the eastbound lanes. I-16/US 17 curves to the northeast. At the next interchange, US 17 splits off, where SR 404 Spur begins; this interchange also provides access to Gwinnett Street. The highway has an interchange with Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; the westbound access for this highway is at the eastern terminus. I-16 curves to the north-northeast and reaches its eastern terminus, an interchange with Montgomery Street in downtown Savannah.[4]

Miscellaneous notes[edit]

I-16 serves as a hurricane evacuation route for Savannah and other coastal areas; the road is designed for contraflow travel with railroad-type gates to block most entrance and exit ramps for the normally eastbound lanes. Some ramps are ungated, apparently for entrance to and exit from the contraflow lanes. Just east of exit 42 is a crossover to return all westbound traffic to the westbound travel lanes.

I-16's only two rest areas are between exits 42 and 49 near Dudley.[6]

All of I-16 is included as part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.[7][8][9]

History[edit]

Macon, Georgia 1955 Yellow Book with I-16 route (to Savannah)

The first part of I-16 opened October 11, 1966 to traffic between US 319 (exit 51) in Dublin to SR 29 (exit 67) near Rockledge.[1] In 1968, the segment between US 280 to downtown Savannah was completed and opened.[10] By the early 1970s, I-16 was completed from downtown Macon at I-75 to Jeffersonville Road near Danville, it was also extended from Dublin to Allentown.[11][12] In 1973, the connection between Macon to Dublin was completed;[13] the last part of the I-16 opened on September 22, 1978, placing it in Emanuel, Candler, and Bulloch counties and completing the connection between downtown Macon and Savannah.[14]

Until 2000, the state of Georgia used the sequential interchange numbering system on all of its Interstate Highways; the first exit on each highway would begin with the number "1" and increase numerically with each exit. In 2000, the Georgia Department of Transportation switched to a mileage-based exit system, in which the exit number corresponded to the nearest milepost.[15]

In 2001 the Georgia Legislature passed a resolution,[16][17] to designate the Earl T. Shinhoster Interchange at the interchange with Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Savannah in honor of Earl Shinhoster, who was a Black civil rights activist; this interchange is located in the economic and cultural center for Black Savannah.[18]

In 2003, the Georgia Legislature passed a resolution[19] to designate I-16 in honor of James L. Gillis, Sr., a Democrat who served as a State Representative, State Senator and Director of the Georgia Department of Transportation, as the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.[20] Gillis' sons, Hugh and James, Jr., also served as Democratic state legislators. Hugh was a Representative from 1941 to 1953 and a State Senator from 1953 to 1955 and from 1963 to 2005. James, Jr. was a State Senator from 1945 to 1946.[21]

Future[edit]

Due to congested traffic on rush hour in Savannah, the Georgia Department of Transportation has planned to widen the highway from two to three lanes (each direction) between I-95 and I-516 (Lynes Parkway); this also includes construction on the cloverleaf interchange at I-95. The project will start in 2019, and is slated to be complete in 2021, it is expected to cost $150 to $200 million.[22][23]

The I-75/I-16 interchange is being revamped with extra ramps for easy access to and from US 23/US 129/SR 49.[24]

Exit list[edit]

CountyLocationmi[4]kmOld exitNew exitDestinationsNotes
BibbMacon0.00.011 I-75 (SR 401) / SR 540 west (Fall Line Freeway) – Atlanta, Valdosta, ColumbusWestern end of SR 540 concurrency; western terminus; left exit 1 is for I-75 south; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-75 exit 165; tri-stack interchange
0.71.121A US 23 / US 129 / SR 49 (Spring Street / SR 11 / SR 19) – MilledgevilleNo westbound exit or eastbound entrance from southbound Spring Street
1.11.821A SR 22 (Second Street North) to US 129 (Gray Highway) / SR 49 (Spring Street) / US 23 (Emery Highway) – MilledgevilleFormer westbound exit to Second Street northbound only; replaced by Coliseum Drive ramps
1.01.631B SR 22 (Second Street) to US 129 / SR 49 – MaconWestbound exit only
1.32.142 US 80 / SR 87 (Coliseum Drive / Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) / SR 540 east (Fall Line Freeway)Eastern end of SR 540 concurrency; Phil Walden Memorial Interchange
​5.48.756 US 23 / US 129 Alt. (Ocmulgee East Boulevard / Golden Isles Highway / SR 87)
Twiggs​11.318.2612Sgoda Road – Huber
​17.428.0718Bullard Road – Jeffersonville
​23.137.2824 SR 96 – Jeffersonville, Tarversville
​26.843.1927 SR 358 – Danville
Bleckley​31.650.91032 SR 112 – Allentown, Montrose
Laurens​38.461.81139 SR 26 – Cochran, Montrose
Dudley40.965.81242 SR 338 – Dexter, Dudley
​44.571.6Rest area
​47.776.81349 SR 257 – Dublin, Dexter
​50.381.01451 US 319 / US 441 (SR 31) – Dublin, McRae
​52.684.71554 SR 19 – East Dublin, Dublin
​57.492.41658 SR 199 (Old River Road) – Lothair, East Dublin
Treutlen​65.9106.11767 SR 29 – Vidalia, Soperton
​70.1112.81871 SR 15 / SR 78 – Soperton, Adrian
​76.5123.11978 US 221 / SR 56 – Swainsboro, Soperton
Treutlen–Emanuel
county line		​83.0133.62084 SR 297 – Vidalia
EmanuelOak Park88.1141.82190 US 1 / SR 4 / SR 46 – Swainsboro, Lyons
Candler​96.7155.62298 SR 57 – Reidsville, Swainsboro, Stillmore
Metter102.5165.023104 SR 23 / SR 121 – Metter, Reidsville
​109.7176.524111Pulaski–Excelsior Road
Bulloch​114.9184.925116 US 25 / US 301 (SR 73) – Statesboro, Claxton
​125.0201.226127 SR 67 – Pembroke, Fort Stewart, Statesboro
​130.2209.527132Ash Branch Church Road
​134.9217.128137 SR 119 – Springfield, Pembroke, Fort Stewart
BryanEllabell140.2225.629143 US 280 (SR 30) to US 80 (SR 26) – Pembroke
141.5227.7Truck weigh stations
Effingham​145.7234.530148To US 80 (SR 26) / Old River Road
ChathamBloomingdale149.6240.831152 SR 17 (Bloomingdale Road) – BloomingdaleSouthern terminus of SR 17
Pooler151.9244.5155 Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, PoolerPooler Parkway
154.1248.032157 I-95 (SR 405) – Brunswick, Jacksonville, Florence, Savannah/Hilton Head International AirportSigned as exits 157A (south) & 157B (north); I-95 exits 99A-B; cloverleaf interchange; Clarence Thomas Interchange
Garden City156.7252.233160 SR 307 (Dean Forest Road)
Savannah158.9255.733A162Chatham Parkway
160.3258.034A164A I-516 east / US 17 south / US 80 east / SR 21 south (W.F. Lynes Parkway / SR 25 south / SR 26 east / SR 421 east)Western end of US 17 concurrency; I-516 exit 5
160.5258.334B164B I-516 west / US 80 west / SR 21 north / SR 25 north (W.F. Lynes Parkway / SR 26 / SR 421 west) – Garden CityI-516 exit 5
161.6260.135165 SR 204 (37th Street / Abercorn Street)Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
161.9260.636166 US 17 north / SR 404 Spur east / Gwinnett Street / Louisville Road – CharlestonEastern end of US 17 concurrency; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former US 17 Alt.; western terminus of SR 404 Spur
162.3261.237A167AM. L. King Jr. Boulevard / Gaston StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance; Earl T. Shinhoster Interchange; former US 17 south/US 80 east/SR 25 south/SR 26 east
Earl T. Shinhoster BridgeBridge over Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for the eastbound lanes only
162.5261.537B167BMontgomery Street – Savannah Civic Center, Downtown SavannahEastern terminus; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former US 17 north/US 80 west/SR 25 north/SR 26 west
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes[edit]

Spur route[edit]

State Route 404 Spur
LocationSavannah – South Carolina state line
Length3.07 mi (4.94 km)
Existed1989[25][26]–present

State Route 404 Spur (SR 404 Spur) is a 3.07-mile-long (4.94 km) spur route that travels from I-16 exit 166 northward along US 17 to the South Carolina state line. As its number suggests, it is a spur from SR 404, the unsigned route that is designated along the full length of I-16. At the northern end is the Talmadge Memorial Bridge.

The entire route is in Savannah, Chatham County. All exits are unnumbered.

mikmDestinationsNotes
I-16 / US 17 south / Montgomery Street – Downtown SavannahSouthern terminus; northbound exit and southbound entrance; southern end of US 17 concurrency; I-16 exit 166
Gwinnett StreetInterchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance
Louisville Road – Visitors CenterInterchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance
SR 25 Conn. (Oglethorpe Avenue) – SavannahInterchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Talmadge Memorial Bridge over Savannah River
Hutchinson Island, Convention CenterInterchange
US 17 north – Hardeeville, CharlestonNorthern terminus at the South Carolina state line (Back River bridge); northern end of US 17 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Interstate 516[edit]

Main article: Interstate 516

Interstate 516
LocationGarden City–Savannah, Georgia
Length6.49 mi[27] (10.44 km)
Existed1985–present

Interstate 516 (I-516) is a 6.49-mile-long (10.44 km) auxiliary route from Garden City to DeRenne Avenue in Savannah, Georgia. It is also known as W.F. Lynes Parkway, and has an unsigned designation of State Route 421 (SR 421).

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1966). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  2. ^ Staff (October 31, 2002). "Tabele 1: Main Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  3. ^ Staff (December 31, 2003). Interstate Mileage Report (PDF) (Report). Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Google (December 21, 2016). "Overview map of I-16" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  5. ^ "14th Amendment Highway". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  6. ^ "Rest Areas". Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  7. ^ National Highway System: Georgia (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. March 25, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  8. ^ National Highway System: Macon, GA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. March 25, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  9. ^ National Highway System: Savannah, GA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. March 25, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  10. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1968). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  11. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1971). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  12. ^ State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1972). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  13. ^ Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1973). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  14. ^ Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1977). Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1977–1978 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  15. ^ Phillips, Noelle (December 1, 1999). "Interstate Exit Signs to Get New Numbers in Georgia". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  16. ^ House of Representatives (April 19, 2001). "House Resolution 182". Atlanta, GA: Georgia General Assembly. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  17. ^ State Senate (April 19, 2001). "Senate Resolution 6". Atlanta, GA: Georgia General Assembly. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  18. ^ Elmore, Charles J. (April 26, 2004). "The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  19. ^ House of Representatives (March 27, 2003). "House Resolution 88". Atlanta, GA: Georgia General Assembly. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  20. ^ "Interstate 16". Interstate Guide. December 6, 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2008.[unreliable source]
  21. ^ Staff (February 2003). "Senator Hugh M. Gillis (D-SS 20)". Georgia General Assembly. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  22. ^ Donahue, Patrick. "DOT reveals plans for I-16, I-95 improvements". Effingham Herald. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  23. ^ Ray, Brittini. "Proposed I-16 work promises widening, safety". Savannah Now. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  24. ^ "I-16/I-75 Interchange Project". www.dot.ga.gov.
  25. ^ Georgia Department of Transportation (1988). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1988–1989 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  26. ^ Georgia Department of Transportation (1989). Official Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map) (1989–1990 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  27. ^ "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of December 31, 2015". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 21, 2016.

External links[edit]

Route map:

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