Background

The completion of the circumferential interstate around Augusta and North Augusta has been a North Augusta and Aiken County transportation priority for many years. It was originally conceived in 1971 as part of the national interstate system. The 15 mile portion of the loop in Georgia was initiated shortly thereafter and completed to within a mile of the Savannah River in 1998. The environmental impact statement for the South Carolina portion and the alignment through Aiken County was approved in 1979. However, no funding was available through SCDOT to build the South Carolina portion of the project.

In 2000 the voters of Aiken County approved a countywide sales tax to provide $15 million for the project. In 2001 the City of North Augusta and Aiken County submitted a second application. Late that year the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank (SCTIB) approved funding for the project. Phase 1 was completed from Laney Walker Boulevard in Augusta to US 1 in North Augusta in June of 2004.

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Board and staff have worked diligently to identify ways to finance the completion of I-520. Completion of the I-520 beltway around metropolitan Augusta will reduce the current “infrastructure deficit” in the area and enhance economic development in the region, significantly reduce traffic on federally funded arterial and collector roads, and, greatly contribute to the safe transportation of nuclear materials associated with current and future missions at the Savannah River Site.

On June 2006, the SCTIB approved funding for Phase 2 of the project which will complete the interstate from the current terminus at US 1 to the intersection of I-20 in Aiken County. On January 22, 2007, a groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the construction efforts for the I-520, Palmetto Parkway, Phase II.

Construction is taking place initially in two areas:

The South end near Atomic Road with work proceeding to the North
Just South of Ascauga Lake Road with work proceeding to the South

Nighttime work will be limited to I-20 and setting bridge beams over local roads. There will be no permanent road closures; however, some short-tem closures will be necessary for tie-in work and beam placement over local roads.

Background