Interstate 516 Georgia
Routing
Interstate 516 in Georgia (secret Georgia 421) is a seven-mile long bypass of Savannah to the west, spurring into Garden City to the northwest of the city. Known as the W.F. Lynes Parkway, this freeway was originally signed as Georgia Loop 26 (Georgia 26 is the hidden Georgia state route designation for U.S. 80). The Interstate was sign-posted in 1985.
Upon completion of the freeway, Georgia 21 overlapped for all but the northern most mile, with a continuation to Georgia 204 at the eastern end along DeRenne Ave. Sometime in the 1980s, U.S. 17 and 80 were relocated to Lynes Parkway forming a four-way overlap with Interstate 516/Georgia 21. The 1999 exit renumbering project by the Georgia Department of Transportation gave Interstate 516 exit numbers for the first time. The Interstate is signed east-west, with exit numbers counting up from the southeast.
Veterans Parkway (Southwest Bypass) to the southwest of Savannah is not part of Interstate 516. The freeway spur opened in 1996 and features an interchange with the extended Chatham Parkway. The south end of the freeway culminates at a traffic light with Georgia 204 to the east of U.S. 17 and Interstate 95. The Southwest Bypass is one piece of the overall Savannah freeway system puzzle that includes the Harry S. Truman Parkway to the east. A planned extension of that route to Georgia 204 and ultimately Veterans Parkway appears to be cancelled at this time.
History
Georgia Loop 26 was built during the 1970s as a freeway bypass between Garden City and midtown Savannah.
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| Perspective from Interstate 516 west
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| Interstate 516 end shield at milepost 7. The official route log finder mileage lists Interstate 516 at 6.49 miles. This mileage most likely begins after the Herriot and Mildred Street turn-offs near the southern terminus. Visible in this westbound scene is the Exit 8 on-ramp from the Bay Street connector. End shields are commonly posted for all Georgia Interstate termini. End shields can also be found consistently for many U.S. and State routes as well. Photos taken by Chris Patriarca (06/11/03) and Jeff Royston (01/98).
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| Beyond the end shield assembly, Georgia 21 northbound continues as the surface street Augusta Road. The highway will meet Interstate 95 at Port Wentworth seven miles to the northwest. Additionally Georgia 21 represents the main route between Savannah and the city of Augusta. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (06/11/03).
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| Perspective from Georgia 25 south
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| Traveling south on Georgia 25 (Atlantic Coastal Highway), which parallels the Georgia 21 expressway until it crosses at Exit 8. From that point southward, Georgia 21 becomes a freeway and carries the Interstate 516 designation. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Justin Cozart (11/13/06).
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| The interchange between Georgia 25 and Georgia 21 is a folded diamond, so all traffic continuing south on Georgia 21 and Georgia 25 must exit to the right. Interstate 516, which is signed on the overpass, begins at the Georgia 25 interchange, then heads south and east toward Hunter Army Air Field. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Justin Cozart (11/13/06).
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| Exit here to follow Georgia 21, Georgia 25, and Interstate 516 southeast to Interstate 16, downtown Savannah, and Hunter Army Air Field. Continue straight ahead for a short distance to connect to U.S. 80/Louisville Road. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Justin Cozart (11/13/06).
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| Perspective from Interstate 516 east and Georgia 21-25 south |
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| Georgia 21 (Augusta Road) upgrades into Interstate 516 (W.F. Lynes Parkway) at Garden City. The four-lane highway interchanges with Georgia 25 (Brampton Avenue) at Exit 8. Brampton Avenue joins the freeway with Main Street to the north and U.S. 80 & Georgia 26 (Bay Street) to the south. U.S. 80 eastbound joins Interstate 516 east via the Augusta Avenue on-ramp at Exit 7. Exit 8 quickly departs for the Bay Street connector to U.S. 80, coinciding with the freeway beginning. U.S. 80 parallels Interstate 516 to the east along Bay Street from its Louisville Road routing in Garden City. The federal highway will merge onto Interstate 516 in one mile and depart one mile south of the Interstate 16 interchange at Exit 5. The routing of U.S. 80 has changed several times over the years. At one point it was split between a mainline and a Toll U.S. 80 branch along the Islands Expressway east of the city. Tolls were removed and that designated was retired by 1984. Photos taken by Chris Patriarca (06/11/03) and Alex Nitzman (05/29/05). |
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Interstate 516 east and Georgia 21 south ascend over the Norfolk-Southern Railroad line ahead of the Exit 7 loop ramp onto Georgia 25 Connector (Bay Street) eastbound. Georgia 25 Connector joins Interstate 516 and Georgia 21-25 with U.S. 17 and Georgia 404 Spur (Talmadge Bridge) at downtown. Bay Street constitutes the former alignment of U.S. 80 into downtown Savannah. Photo taken 05/29/05. |
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The first Interstate 516 reassurance shield resides at the Lathrop Avenue under crossing ahead of the Exit 7 off-ramp. Georgia 25 follows the original path of U.S. 17 from Interstate 16 northward to Port Wentworth and the Savannah River crossing into South Carolina and the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Georgia 25 represents the state highway counterpart of U.S. 17 from Interstate 16 south to the Florida state line. Photo taken 05/29/05. |
| Perspective from Interstate 516 east/Georgia 21 south
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| About one mile west of the southern terminus is the interchange with the Southwest Bypass/Veterans Parkway. Originally there were no exits between U.S. 17's south exit and the traffic light and endpoint at Montgomery Street. That changed in 1991 when construction began for the trumpet interchange that now links the two freeways. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (08/26/96).
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| Interstate 516 eastbound reduces speed at the approach to Montgomery Street. A right-turn lane exists here for a residential area along Mildred Street. The four lane freeway expands to a six lane boulevard at the Montgomery Street intersection. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (06/11/03).
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| The intersection of Interstate 516 east/Georgia 21 south at Montgomery Street. Montgomery Street enters Hunter Army Airfield to the south via Duncan Drive. To the east DeRenne Avenue is heavily developed as it progresses toward the Georgia 21 terminus at Georgia 204/Abercorn Street. The intersection between the two highways is one of Savannah's busiest. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (06/11/03).
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| Perspective from Georgia 21 north/DeRenne Avenue west
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| Georgia 21 northbound at the intersection with Montgomery Street and Interstate 516 west. The first westbound shield is seen in the background. The freeway however, is not fully controlled for another 1000 or so feet. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (06/11/03).
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| Perspective from Interstate 516 and Georgia 21 north
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| A closer look at the first Interstate 516 shield. The speed limit is initially 45 mph, but quickly increases to 55 mph after the Herriot Street turn-off ahead. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (06/11/03).
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| Freeway speeds begin just beyond the Herriot Street turn-off to the right. Exit 1 with the Southwest Bypass is 1.25 miles to the west and is the first mainline interchange. Interstate 516 intersects its parent at Exit 5. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (06/11/03).
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Page Updated July 23, 2007.
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