Interstate 16
Encyclopedia
Interstate 16 also known as Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway or State Route 404 (SR 404), is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Georgia
, United States. I-16 runs from downtown Macon
, at Interstate 75
to downtown Savannah
at Montgomery Street (Exit 167B).
The highway carries the unsigned designation of State Route 404, though the state route has a spur that is signed.
route for Savannah and other coastal areas. The road is designed for contraflow
travel with railroad-type gates to block most entrance and exit ramps for the normally eastbound lanes. Some ramps are ungated, apparently for entrance to and exit from the contraflow lanes. Just east of Exit 42 is a crossover to return all westbound traffic to the westbound travel lanes.
Southeast of Macon, I-16 passes through Ocmulgee National Monument
but without direct access. Visitors need to first exit at the Colliseum Drive (U.S. Route 80
) exit.
, Candler County
, and Bulloch County
completing the connection between downtown Macon
and Savannah
.
Until 2000, the state of Georgia used the sequential interchange numbering system on all of its Interstate Highways. The first exit on each highway would begin with the number "1" and increase numerically with each exit. In 2000, the Georgia Department of Transportation switched to a mileage-based exit system, in which the exit number corresponded to the nearest milepost.
In 2001 the Georgia Legislature
passed a resolution, to designate the Earl T. Shinhoster Interchange at the junction with Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Savannah in honor of Earl Shinhoster
, who was a Black
civil rights
activist. This interchange is located in the economic and cultural center for Black Savannah.
In 2003 the Georgia Legislature
passed a resolution to designate Interstate 16 in honor of James L. Gillis, Sr., a Democrat who served as a State Representative
, State Senator and Director of the Georgia Department of Transportation
, as the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. Gillis' sons, Hugh and James, Jr., also served as Democratic State legislators. Hugh was a Representative
from 1941 to 1953 and a State Senator from 1953 to 1955 and from 1963 to 2005. James, Jr. was a State Senator from 1945 to 1946.
to the South Carolina
state line. As its number suggests, it is a spur from State Route 404, an unsigned route that runs the full length of I-16.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States. I-16 runs from downtown Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, at Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
to downtown Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
at Montgomery Street (Exit 167B).
The highway carries the unsigned designation of State Route 404, though the state route has a spur that is signed.
Route description
I-16 serves as a hurricane evacuationEmergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
route for Savannah and other coastal areas. The road is designed for contraflow
Contraflow lane reversal
Contraflow lane reversal refers to plans that alter the normal flow of traffic, typically on a controlled-access highway , to either aid in an emergency evacuation or, as part of routine maintenance activities, to facilitate widening or reconstruction of one of the highway's carriageways...
travel with railroad-type gates to block most entrance and exit ramps for the normally eastbound lanes. Some ramps are ungated, apparently for entrance to and exit from the contraflow lanes. Just east of Exit 42 is a crossover to return all westbound traffic to the westbound travel lanes.
Southeast of Macon, I-16 passes through Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument
Ocmulgee National Monument preserves traces of over ten millennia of Southeastern Native American culture, including major earthworks built more than 1,000 years ago by Mississippian culture peoples: the Great Temple and other ceremonial mounds, a burial mound, and defensive trenches...
but without direct access. Visitors need to first exit at the Colliseum Drive (U.S. Route 80
U.S. Route 80
U.S. Route 80 is an east–west United States highway, much of which was once part of the early auto trail known as the Dixie Overland Highway. As the "0" in the route number indicates, it was originally a cross-country route, from the Atlantic to the Pacific...
) exit.
History
The last part of the highway opened up on September 22, 1978, running it through Emanuel CountyEmanuel County, Georgia
Emanuel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 21,837. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,469. The county seat is Swainsboro.-History:...
, Candler County
Candler County, Georgia
Candler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed July 14, 1914, and ratified November 3, 1914. Candler County, was named in 1914 for Allen D...
, and Bulloch County
Bulloch County, Georgia
Bulloch County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 8, 1796. Bulloch County has undergone rapid growth in recent years. As of 2000, the population was 55,983. The 2009 Census Estimate showed a population of 69,213. The county seat is Statesboro.In...
completing the connection between downtown Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
.
Until 2000, the state of Georgia used the sequential interchange numbering system on all of its Interstate Highways. The first exit on each highway would begin with the number "1" and increase numerically with each exit. In 2000, the Georgia Department of Transportation switched to a mileage-based exit system, in which the exit number corresponded to the nearest milepost.
In 2001 the Georgia Legislature
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
passed a resolution, to designate the Earl T. Shinhoster Interchange at the junction with Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Savannah in honor of Earl Shinhoster
Earl Shinhoster
Earl T. Shinhoster was a Black civil rights activist in Savannah, Georgia.Shinhoster was born in Savannah in 1950. As a teenager, he was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1994-95, he served as Interim Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People...
, who was a Black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activist. This interchange is located in the economic and cultural center for Black Savannah.
In 2003 the Georgia Legislature
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
passed a resolution to designate Interstate 16 in honor of James L. Gillis, Sr., a Democrat who served as a State Representative
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
, State Senator and Director of the Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia Department of Transportation
The Georgia Department of Transportation is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Georgia. In addition to highways, the department also has a limited role in developing public transportation and general aviation programs...
, as the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. Gillis' sons, Hugh and James, Jr., also served as Democratic State legislators. Hugh was a Representative
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
from 1941 to 1953 and a State Senator from 1953 to 1955 and from 1963 to 2005. James, Jr. was a State Senator from 1945 to 1946.
Exit list
Auxiliary routes
State Route 404 Spur is a short route that runs from I-16 Exit 166 northward along U.S. 17U.S. Route 17 in Georgia
U.S. Route 17 in Georgia runs north–south near the Atlantic Ocean, serving Brunswick and Savannah on its path from Florida at the St. Marys River to South Carolina at the Savannah River...
to the South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
state line. As its number suggests, it is a spur from State Route 404, an unsigned route that runs the full length of I-16.