The entire length of I-520 is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.[4][5]
I-520 curves to the north-northwest, to an interchange with US 1/US 78/US 278 (only signed as "US 1"). The highway curves back to the north-northeast and has an interchange with South Carolina Highway 126 (SC 126; Clearwater Road). During a slight westward shift is an interchange with US 25/SC 121 (Edgefield Road). Just north-northeast of there, I-520 meets its eastern terminus, another interchange with I-20.
Named portions
In Georgia, I-520 is known as Bobby Jones Expressway for golferBobby Jones.[6] In South Carolina, it is known as Palmetto Parkway for the sabal palmetto, the state tree. Between exits 2 and 3, the highway is known as the Deputy James D. Paugh Memorial Highway after a Richmond County sheriff's deputy who was killed at exit 3 when responding to reports of a gunman who was shooting at passing cars.[7] I-520 loses its state route designation in South Carolina, as that state does not co-number its Interstates with state highway numbers.
History
The highway that would become I-520 was under construction between May 1963 and January 1966 from its western terminus to just south of the US 1/SR 4 interchange in Augusta. Also, it was proposed to be an extension of SR 232, at least as far as US 25/SR 121.[8][9] In 1966, the highway was open and signed as SR 232 from I-20 to Wrightsboro Road. It was under construction from US 1/SR 4 to Doug Barnard Parkway.[9][10] In 1974, SR 232 was open from Wrightsboro Road to US 1/SR 4.[11][12] In 1977, the highway was redesignated as I-520.[2][3] The next year, it was open from US 1/SR 4 to Doug Barnard Parkway.[3][13] In 1986, the highway was under construction from Doug Barnard Parkway to SR 28.[14][15] In 1998, this segment was opened.[16][17] The next year, it was proposed to be extended to the South Carolina state line.[17][18] In 2004, this extension was opened.[19][20] In 2010, the highway was extended to its current eastern terminus in the northern part of North Augusta.[21][22]
In January 2015, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) of I-520 were expanded to three lanes in each direction after work started in February 2012 for a cost of $33 million.[23]
Exit list
In accordance with MUTCD guidelines for auxiliary Interstates, exit numbering is continuous across the state line and does not reset.
Western end of unsigned SR 415 concurrency; western terminus of I-520 and unsigned SR 415; eastern terminus of SR 232; signed as exits 1A (west) and 1B (east) eastbound; SR 232 takes on the Bobby Jones Expressway name; I-20 exit 196
^ abGeorgia Department of Transportation (January 1977). Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map) (1977–1978 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^ abcGeorgia Department of Transportation (January 1977). Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map) (1977–1978 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^ abState Highway Department of Georgia (January 1966). Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^State Highway Department of Georgia (January 1967). Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Atlanta: State Highway Department of Georgia. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1974). Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map) (1974–1975 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1975). Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map) (1975–1976 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (January 1978). Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map) (1978-79 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (1986). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (1986–1987 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (1987). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (1987–1988 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (1998). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (1998–1999 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^ abGeorgia Department of Transportation (1999). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (1999–2000 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (2000). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (2000–2001 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (2004). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (2004–2005 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (2005). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (2005–2006 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (2009). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (2009–2010 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^Georgia Department of Transportation (2011). Official Highway and Transportation Map(PDF) (Map) (2011–2012 ed.). Scale not given. Atlanta: Georgia Department of Transportation. OCLC770217845. Retrieved December 27, 2016.