User:Morriswa/Sandbox/Washington Road

Washington Road is a 38.4 mi major road in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Georgia, traveling through the central and northwestern parts of McDuffie County, the northeastern part of Columbia County and the northeastern part of Richmond County.

The highway is split into two disconnected segments. Its shorter western segment extends 12.8 mi from Georgia State Route 17 (SR 17) at the northern terminus of Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Thomson to a point where US 78/SR 10/SR 17 cross over Little River south-southeast of Aonia. The longer eastern segment extends 25.6 mi from where SR 47 crosses over the Little River on the Lincoln–Columbia county line northwest of Pollards Corner to where SR 28 meets the western terminus of Broad Street in Augusta.

The western segment is mostly a rural highway, with the exception of the part in the Thomson area. Its entire length is part of SR 17. It is also part of US 78/SR 10 from north of Thomson to this segment's northern terminus. At the western end of the eastern segment, it is also fairly rural, but at its eastern end, it is an urban corridor of the Augusta metropolitan area. It connects rural areas of northeastern Columbia County with Evans, Martinez, and Augusta. It also skirts along the northern and eastern sides of Augusta National Golf Club. From its western terminus, on the Lincoln–Columbia county line, to Pollards Corner, it is signed as part of Georgia State Route 47 (SR 47). In Pollards Corner, it is briefly signed as part of SR 150. From Pollards Corner to Augusta, it is signed as part of SR 104. In Martinez, it is briefly signed as part of SR 232. In Augusta, it is signed as the entirety of SR 104 Connector and part of SR 28.

McDuffie County
Washington Road begins concurrent with Georgia State Route 17 (SR 17; Main Street) in the northern part of Thomson, in the central part of McDuffie County. This is where SR 17 intersects the northern terminus of Martin Luther King Jr. Street. SR 17 and Washington Road travel to the north-northeast. Immediately, they intersect the southern terminus of the western segment of Wrightsboro Road and the northern terminus of Harrison Road. Just south of an intersection with the southern terminus of Noble Street, they leave the city limits of Thomson. Just north of North Seymour Drive NW, they have an interchange with Interstate 20 (I-20; Carl Sanders Highway). Just south of where the roadway crosses over I-20, it begins to curve to the north-northwest. Just north of Reese Road, they intersect the eastern terminus of Knox Rivers Road and the northern terminus of the Thomson Bypass. The latter road carries US 78/SR 10/SR 17 Bypass (SR 17 Byp.). At this intersection, SR 17 Byp. ends, while US 78 and SR 10 join the concurrency. The three numbered highways and Washington Road continue to the north-northwest. They intersect the eastern terminus of Tech Drive, which leads to the Thomson–Mcduffie County Regional Airport and the Thomson–McDuffie campus of Augusta Technical College. Between an intersection with the eastern terminus of South Lake Drive NW and an intersection with Stagecoach Road NW, they skirt along the eastern edge of Belle Meade Country Club. They then intersect the southern terminus of SR 43 (Lincolnton Road). North of an intersection with the western terminus of Huntington Road, the concurrency curves to the northwest. They cross over Big Creek and then cross over Hart Creek. They curve to the west-northwest and intersect the western terminus of Smith Mill Road, which leads to the Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area. Just southeast of Moore Road, they curve back to the northwest. Approximately 2 mi after this intersection, they reach a bridge over the Little River. Here, the western segment of Washington Road ends, and US 78, SR 10, and SR 17 continue to the northwest, with the Thomson Road local name.

Columbia County
Washington Road resumes at the Lincoln–Columbia county line, on the Price–Legg Bridge over the Little River, concurrent with SR 47. Northwest of here, SR 47 has the local name of Augusta Highway. SR 47/Washington Road travel to the southeast. After a southerly jog, they continue to the southeast, skirting along the western edge of Pointes West Army Resort. Then, they cross over Kegg Creek on the Major Byron S. McGuire Sr. Memorial Bridge, just before skirting along the southwestern edge of Wildwood Park. Just over 1 mi later, the roadway enters Pollards Corner. There, they have an intersection with SR 150 (Cobbham Road). SR 47/SR 150/Washington Road travel concurrently for one block. At an intersection with U.S. Route 221 (US 221), SR 47 splits off to travel concurrent with US 221 south, while SR 150 splits off to travel concurrent with US 221 north. This intersection also marks the western terminus of SR 104, which travels concurrent with Washington Road for approximately half its length. SR 104 and Washington Road cross over Kiokee Creek on the Robert W. Pollard Bridge. Just over 1.5 mi later, they cross over Little Kiokee Creek on the B. Edward Tankersley Memorial Bridge. Slightly more than 2 mi after that, they cross over Euchee Creek on the G.B. "Dip" Lamkin Bridge. Just before entering Evans, they transition into a retail corridor. In town, they travel southwest of Evans Towne Center Park and intersect the northern terminus of SR 383 (North Belair Road). They curve to the east and intersect SR 232 (Columbia Road) and the southern terminus of Ruth Street on the Evans–Martinez line. SR 104/SR 232/Washington Road travel concurrent for approximately 0.2 mi. At an intersection with the southern terminus of Old Evans Road and the northern terminus of Bobby Jones Expressway, SR 232 splits off onto the expressway. After curving to the east-southeast, SR 104/Washington Road enter Richmond County and the city limits of Augusta.

Richmond County
Immediately after entering the county, Washington Road immediately enters Augusta city limits and SR 104/Washington Road intersect Pleasant Home Road and the western terminus of SR 104 Connector (SR 104 Conn.). At this intersection, SR 104 splits off to the north-northeast on Pleasant Home Road, while SR 104 Conn. takes the Washington Road name. At the eastern terminus of SR 104 Conn., they intersect SR 28 (Furys Ferry Road) and the northern terminus of Kings Chapel Road. Here, SR 28 takes the Washington Road name. Approximately 3000 ft later, the roadway has an interchange with I-20 (Carl Sanders Highway). Immediately after curving to the southeast, SR 28/Washington Road skirt along the northeastern edge of Augusta National Golf Club, southwest of Garrett Elementary School. They curve to the south-southeast and meet the eastern terminus of Washington Road just northwest of Lake Olmstead. Here, SR 28 continues to the east, known as the John C. Calhoun Expressway, a freeway that leads to the southeast part of downtown Augusta. There is also an incomplete interchange with Broad Street.

National Highway System
The only segments of Washington Road that are part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility are the following:


 * The part concurrent with US 78/SR 10/SR 17 from north of Thomson to south-southeast of Aonia
 * The part from approximately William Few Parkway, northwest of Evans, to its eastern terminus

History
In 1921 SR 52 was designated on Washington Road. In 1937, it was redesignated west of Martinez as SR 104; SR 104 was designated on Washington Road from Pollards to Columbia–Richmond county line and SR 28 designated on Washington Road from Martinez to Columbia–Richmond county line. Between January 1945 and November 1946, SR 104 was truncated off of SR 28 to the Columbia–Richmond county line. SR 104 was shifted on Riverwatch Parkway which was originally constructed in the late 1980s and early 1990s to relieve heavy rush-hour traffic on congested Washington Road and John C. Calhoun Expressway, which many Augusta area residents used (and continue to use) to travel to and from work.