Georgia State Route 20
2262981
224920612
2008-07-11T00:31:22Z
Ccapab
2701672
{{Infobox_road
|state=GA
|type=
|route=20
|alternate_name=
|map=Georgia state route 20 map.png
|length_mi=175
|length_km=282
|direction_a=Counterclockwise
|starting_terminus=[[Image:Alabama 9.svg|20px]] [[Alabama State Route 9| AL-9]] at the [[Alabama]] state line in [[Floyd County, Georgia|Floyd County]]
|junction=
|direction_b=Clockwise
|ending_terminus=[[Image:US 19.svg|20px]][[Image:US 41.svg|20px]][[Image:Georgia 3.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 19|U.S. 19]]/[[U.S. Highway 41|U.S. 41]]/[[State Route 3 (Georgia)|S.R. 3]] in [[Hampton, Georgia|Hampton]]
|established=
|previous_route=19
|next_route=21
}}
'''State Route 20''' is an abnormally-oriented route in roughly the shape of a [[Capital letter|capital]] [[J]] rotated ninety degrees to the left. Its [[counterclockwise]] terminus is at the [[Alabama]] state line in [[Floyd County, Georgia|Floyd County]], and its [[clockwise]] terminus occurs in the middle of an overpass over [[U.S. Highway 19|U.S. 19]]/[[U.S. Highway 41|U.S. 41]] and [[State Route 3 (Georgia)|S.R. 3]] in [[Hampton, Georgia|Hampton]] in [[Henry County, Georgia|Henry County]] at the [[Atlanta Motor Speedway]], where it is known as Bruton Smith Parkway.
==Routing==
From the Alabama state line, S.R. 20 proceeds east into the city of [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]. The highway leaves Rome on the other side [[concurrency (road)|concurrent]] with [[U.S. Highway 411|U.S. 411]] until just north of [[Cartersville, Georgia|Cartersville]] (U.S. 41 briefly joins the concurrency near Cartersville as well), after which S.R. 20 continues eastward on its own. S.R. 20 serves such distant northern suburbs of [[Atlanta]] as [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]], [[Cumming, Georgia|Cumming]], and [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]], crossing Interstates [[Interstate 75|75]], [[Interstate 575|575]], and [[Interstate 985|985]] as well as [[State Route 400 (Georgia)|S.R. 400]]. The road turns southeast after S.R. 400 and then south after I-985, crossing [[Interstate 85|I-85]] shortly thereafter. The road also has easy access to [[State Route 316 (Georgia)|S.R. 316]], leading to [[Athens, Georgia|Athens]].
S.R. 20 continues southward through [[Lawrenceville, Georgia|Lawrenceville]] and [[Loganville, Georgia|Loganville]] before meeting [[Interstate 20]] in [[Conyers, Georgia|Conyers]]. Likely to help alleviate driver confusion due to two identically-numbered highways meeting, the highway is usually referred to at this point as [[State Route 138 (Georgia)|S.R. 138]], with which it overlaps through Conyers. S.R. 20 continues south and then southwest to the Henry County seat of [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]], where it briefly overlaps [[State Route 81 (Georgia)|S.R. 81]]. S.R. 81 departs to the north after crossing [[Interstate 75]] at exit 218. The portion of S.R. 20 between the western end of the S.R. 81 concurrency and U.S. 19/U.S. 41 has recently been widened from two lanes to four, including a new southern bypass of the city of [[Hampton, Georgia|Hampton]] and more controlled access at U.S. 19/U.S. 41. The primary purpose of the widening is to facilitate the flow of traffic to and from the [[Atlanta Motor Speedway]] located near the highway's western terminus.
==Highways intersected==
===Floyd County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:West plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 100.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 100|S.R. 100]] West
| [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]
| GA 100 East joins GA 20<br>GA 100 West to Summerville
|-
| [[Image:East plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 100.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 100|S.R. 100]] East
| [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]
| GA 100 East leaves GA 20 to go to Cave Spring
|-
| [[Image:US 27.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 1.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 101.svg|30px]][[U.S. Route 27|U.S. 27]]/[[Georgia State Route 1|S.R. 1]]/[[Georgia State Route 101|S.R. 101]]
| [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]
| GA 20 joins US 27/GA 1.
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 293.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 293|S.R. 293]] North
| [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]
| GA 293 to Kingston
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 53.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 53|S.R. 53]]
| [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]
| GA 53 East to Calhoun
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 101.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 101|S.R. 101]]
| [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]
| GA 101 South to Rockmart
|-
| [[Image:No image.svg|30px]][[Image:South plate.svg|25px]][[Image:South plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:US 411.svg|25px]][[Image:US 27.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 1.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 411|U.S. 411]]/[[U.S. Route 27|U.S. 27]] South/[[Georgia State Route 1|S.R. 1]] South
| [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]
| GA 20 leaves US 27/GA 1 and joins US 411
|-
| [[Georgia State Route 746|S.R. 746]]
| [[Rome, Georgia|Rome]]
|
|-
|}
===Bartow County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 293.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 293|S.R. 293]]
| [[Cartersville, Georgia|Cartersville]]
|
|-
| [[Image:North plate.svg|25px]][[Image:North plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:US 41.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 3.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 41|U.S. 41]]/[[Georgia State Route 3|S.R. 3]] North
| [[Cartersville, Georgia|Cartersville]]
| US 411/GA 20 join US 41/GA 3 southbound.
|-
| [[Image:South plate.svg|25px]][[Image:South plate.svg|25px]][[Image:No image.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:US 41.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 3.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 61.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 41|U.S. 41]]/[[Georgia State Route 3|S.R. 3]] South/[[Georgia State Route 61|S.R. 61]]
| [[Cartersville, Georgia|Cartersville]]
| US 411/GA 20 leave US 41/GA 3 southbound.
|-
| [[Image:North plate.svg|25px]][[Image:North plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:US 411.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 61.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 411|U.S. 411]] North/[[Georgia State Route 61|S.R. 61]] North
| [[Cartersville, Georgia|Cartersville]]
| GA 20 East leaves US 411 northbound<br>US 411 North to Fairmount
|-
| [[Image:I-75.svg|25px]][[Interstate 75 (Georgia)|I-75]]
| [[Cartersville, Georgia|Cartersville]]
| I-75 North to Chattanooga; I-75 South to Atlanta
|-
|}
===Cherokee County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:North plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 108.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 108|S.R. 108]] North
| [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]]
| GA 108 North to Waleska
|-
| [[Image:Business plate.svg|25px]][[Image:No image.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 5.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 140.svg|30px]]
| [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]]
| GA 20 East joins GA 140 southbound
|-
| [[Image:I-575.svg|25px]][[Interstate 575|I-575]]
| [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]]
| GA 20/140 join I-575 NB for a little while; but then I-575 and GA 20 split from GA 140. At exit 19, GA 20 departs I-575.
|-
| [[Image:North plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 369.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 369|S.R. 369]]
| [[Ball Ground, Georgia|Ball Ground]]
| GA 369 North to Gainesville
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 372.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 372|S.R. 372]]
| [[Canton, Georgia|Canton]]
| GA 372 North to Ball Ground; GA 372 South to Alpharetta
|-
|}
===Forsyth County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:East plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 306.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 306|S.R. 306]] East
| [[Cumming, Georgia|Cumming]]
|
|-
| [[Image:North plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 9.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 9|S.R. 9]] North
| [[Cumming, Georgia|Cumming]]
| GA 9 South joins GA 20<br>GA 9 North to Dawsonville
|-
| [[Image:South plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 9.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 9|S.R. 9]] South
| [[Cumming, Georgia|Cumming]]
| GA 9 South leaves GA 20<BR>GA 9 South to Alpharetta
|-
| [[Image:US 19.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 400.svg|30px]][[U.S. Route 19|U.S. 19]]/[[Georgia State Route 400|S.R. 400]]
| [[Cumming, Georgia|Cumming]]
| GA 400 North to Dahlonega; GA 400 South to Atlanta
|-
|}
===Gwinnett County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:South plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:US 23.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 13.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 23|U.S. 23]] South/[[Georgia State Route 13|S.R. 13]]
| [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]]
| US 23 North joins GA 20 eastbound<br>GA 13 North to Flowery Branch; GA 13 South to Duluth
|-
| [[Image:I-985.svg|25px]][[Interstate 985|I-985]]
| [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]]
| US 23 North joins I-985 North<br>I-985 North to Gainesville; I-985 South to Atlanta
|-
| [[Image:East plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 324.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 324|S.R. 324]] East
| [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]]
| GA 324 East to Auburn
|-
| [[Image:I-85.svg|25px]][[Interstate 85 (Georgia)|I-85]]
| [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]]
| I-85 North to Greenville, SC; I-85 South to Atlanta
|-
| [[Image:North plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 124.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 124|S.R. 124]] North
| [[Lawrenceville, Georgia|Lawrenceville]]
| GA 124 South joins GA 20 East<br>GA 124 North to Braselton
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 316.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 316|S.R. 316]]
| [[Lawrenceville, Georgia|Lawrenceville]]
| GA 316 East to Athens; GA 316 West to Atlanta
|-
| [[Image:US 29.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 29|U.S. 29]]
| [[Lawrenceville, Georgia|Lawrenceville]]
|
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 124.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 124|S.R. 124]]
| [[Lawrenceville, Georgia|Lawrenceville]]
| GA 124 South to Snellville
|-
| [[Image:West plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 84.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 84|S.R. 84]] West
| [[Grayson, Georgia|Grayson]]
| To Snellville
|-
|}
===Walton County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:North plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 81.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 81|S.R. 81]] North
| [[Loganville, Georgia|Loganville]]
| GA 81 South joins GA 20 eastbound<br>GA 81 North to Winder
|-
| [[Image:South plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 81.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 81|S.R. 81]] South
| [[Loganville, Georgia|Loganville]]
| GA 81 South leaves GA 20 eastbound<br>GA 81 South to Covington
|-
| [[Image:US 78.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 10.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 78|U.S. 78]]/[[Georgia State Route 10|S.R. 10]]
| [[Loganville, Georgia|Loganville]]
| US 78 East to Monroe; US 78 West to Snellville
|-
|}
===Rockdale County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:East plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 138.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 138|S.R. 138]] East
| [[Conyers, Georgia|Conyers]]
| GA 138 West joins GA 20 South<br>GA 138 East to Monroe
|-
| [[Image:I-20.svg|25px]][[Interstate 20 (Georgia)|I-20]]
| [[Conyers, Georgia|Conyers]]
| I-20 East to Augusta; I-20 West to Atlanta
|-
| [[Image:West plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 138.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 138|S.R. 138]] West
| [[Conyers, Georgia|Conyers]]
| GA 138 West leaves GA 20 South; GA 138 West to Stockbridge
|-
|}
===Newton County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 212.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 212|S.R. 212]]
| [[Covington, Georgia|Covington]]
| GA 212 North to Atlanta; GA 212 East to Monticello
|-
|}
===Henry County===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Highway
! Destination
! Note(s)
|-
| [[Image:Georgia 155.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 155|S.R. 155]]
| [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]]
| GA 155 North to Decatur; GA 155 South to Griffin
|-
| [[Image:South plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 81.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 81|S.R. 81]] South
| [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]]
| GA 81 North joins GA 20 West<br>GA 81 South to Covington
|-
| [[Image:US 23.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 42.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 23|U.S. 23]]/[[Georgia State Route 42|S.R. 42]]
| [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]]
| US 23 North to Stockbridge; US 23 South to Jackson
|-
| [[Image:I-75.svg|25px]][[Interstate 75 (Georgia)|I-75]]
| [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]]
| I-75 North to Atlanta; I-75 South to Macon
|-
| [[Image:West plate.svg|25px]]<br>[[Image:Georgia 81.svg|25px]][[Georgia State Route 81|S.R. 81]] West
| [[McDonough, Georgia|McDonough]]
| GA 81 West leaves GA 20 Westbound<br>GA 81 West to Lovejoy
|-
| [[Image:US 19.svg|25px]][[Image:US 41.svg|25px]][[Image:Georgia 3.svg|25px]][[U.S. Route 19|U.S. 19]]/[[U.S. Route 41|U.S. 41]]/[[Georgia State Route 3|S.R. 3]]
| [[Hampton, Georgia|Hampton]]
| Southwestern terminus<br>US 19/41 North to Jonesboro; US 19/41 South to Griffin
|-
|}
==July 27, 2003 Holt-Dixon Accident==
The road is known as the site of the [[July 27, 2003]] wreck that killed 14-year-old Cobb County resident Sara Holt and injured her parents and their family friends. This incident took place between [[Sugar Hill, Georgia|Sugar Hill]] and [[Buford, Georgia|Buford]] and was caused by a commercial truck driver under the influence of drugs.<ref name="truck driver under influence">[http://www.dui1.com/DuiCaseLawDetail61022.htm Ellis v. State - Georgia DUI Lawyers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Sara's death marked the tenth teenager killed in a road accident in [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]] in [[2003]].<ref name="10th teenager">[http://web.archive.org/web/20030812021513/www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/0703/29wreck.html ajc.com | Gwinnett | Truck driver to face charges in fatal wreck<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The accident occurred when Gary and Edith Holt and their daughter Sara were traveling to [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]] with some family friends, Joseph and Pamela Dixon and their children. The abovementioned truck driver, Courtney Ellis, crossed the center lane of the road and crashed head-on into the [[Ford Excursion]], driven by Joseph Dixon, which the two families were riding in. The Excursion careened off the road and struck a tree, flipping over, and Ellis' truck ran down a ravine. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon and their two children were airlifted to [[Grady Memorial Hospital]], while Mr. and Mrs. Holt were transported to [[Gwinnett Medical Center]]; Edith Holt was severely injured and was forced to recuperate at a private hospital.
In the months following the arrest and Ellis' trial, there was a great deal of increased interest in the training and disciplinary standards of truck drivers, and a "Sara's Law" was proposed by some as a means to punish truck drivers who speed or are caught with drugs. <ref name="Sara's Law"> http://www.mdjonline.com/articles/2003/08/03/271/10111048.txt</ref> In August of 2004, Ellis was convicted of two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of serious injury by vehicle for his negligence. He filed an appeal with the courts to throw out certain evidence, but the case was dismissed and the charges stayed.
== Directional signage ==
[[Image:Overheads for state routes 20 and 140.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Overhead signage for S.R. 20 and [[State Route 140 (Georgia)|S.R. 140 in Canton]]]]
In Henry County, S.R. 20 is signed as an east-west route; signage changes to north-south at or near the [[Newton County, Georgia|Newton County]] line. The point at which signage changes to east-west again is uncertain. In [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]], S.R. 20 is signed as an east-west route. If one were to begin traveling the highway at the Alabama state line and continue to the end, signage would indicate travel first to the east, then to the south, then to the west - the opposite direction in which the traveler started - and vice versa in the opposite direction.
== Banner Route ==
State Route 20 has one banner route, '''Georgia State Route 20 Spur'''. This route runs from S.R. 20 just east of its interchange with Interstate 75 east of Cartersville south to [[Allatoona Dam]]. The route, along with nearby Allatoona Dam road, formed the two segments of '''State Route 294'''.
== See also ==
* [[U.S. Highway 411|U.S. 411]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:State highways in Georgia (U.S. state)|020]]