View source for Interstate 516

{{short description|Auxiliary Interstate Highway in Chatham County, Georgia, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox road
|state=GA
|type=I
|route=516
|alternate_name=W.F. Lynes Parkway
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|frame-lat=32.065|frame-long=-81.130|zoom=12|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 516}}}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=I-516 highlighted in red
|length_mi=6.49
|length_round=2
|length_ref=<ref name="FHWA Route Log">{{cite web |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/?redirect |title=Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002 |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]] |access-date=October 9, 2013 }}</ref>
|established=1985<ref name="GDOT 1984-1985"/><ref name="GDOT 1986-1987"/>
|decommissioned=
|history=
|restrictions=
|spur_type=I
|spur_of=16
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a={{jct|state=GA|SR|21}} in [[Garden City, Georgia|Garden City]]
|junction={{Plainlist|
* {{jct|state=GA|US|80|SR|25|SR-Conn|25|dab3=Savannah|SR|26}} in [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]]
* {{jct|state=GA|I|16|US|17}} in Savannah
* {{jct|state=GA|US|17|US|80|SR|25|SR|26}} in Savannah
* [[Veterans Parkway (Savannah, Georgia)|Veterans Parkway]] in Savannah}}
|direction_b=East
|terminus_b={{jct|state=GA|SR|21|road|Montgomery Street}} in Savannah
|counties=[[Chatham County, Georgia|Chatham]]
|previous_type=SR
|previous_route=515
|next_type=I
|next_route=520
|browse={{ga browse|previous_type=I|previous_route=420|route=[[Image:Georgia 421.svg|25px]]|next_type=SR|next_route=422}}
}}

'''Interstate&nbsp;516''' ('''I-516''', also known as the '''W.F. Lynes Parkway''') is a {{convert|6.49|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[auxiliary Interstate Highway]] mostly in the coastal city of [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. It is the only auxiliary route of [[Interstate 16|I-16]]. For its entire length, I-516 is [[concurrency (road)|concurrent]] with [[Georgia State Route 21|State Route&nbsp;21]] (SR&nbsp;21), which I-516 superseded in 1985. It was formerly also signed as [[Georgia State Route 26 Loop (Savannah)|State Route&nbsp;26 Loop]] (SR&nbsp;26 Loop).<ref name="GDOT 1966"/><ref name="GDOT 1967"/> The highway also carries [[unsigned highway|unsigned]] '''State Route&nbsp;421''' ('''SR&nbsp;421''') to ensure that all Interstates in Georgia had 400-series reference numbers.<ref name="GDOT 2001-2002"/><ref name="GDOT 2002-2003"/><!--This is the first map that displayed the SR&nbsp;421 designation-->

==Route description==
[[File:Interstate 516 (GA 421) West Savannah.jpg|thumb|left|The eastern end of I-516 (W.F. Lynes Parkway) at DeRenne Avenue and Montgomery Street in [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], February 2017]]

I-516 begins in the northeastern part of [[Garden City, Georgia|Garden City]], as a [[freeway]] continuation of [[Georgia State Route 21|SR&nbsp;21]] ([[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]] Road), with which I-516 travels [[Concurrency (road)|concurrently]] for its entire length. The two highways travel to the southeast to an [[interchange (road)|interchange]] with [[Georgia State Route 25|SR&nbsp;25]]/[[Georgia State Route 26 Connector (Garden City)|SR&nbsp;26 Connector]] (Burnsed Blvd), which leads to [[U.S. Route 80 in Georgia|U.S. Route&nbsp;80]] (US&nbsp;80)/[[Georgia State Route 26|SR&nbsp;26]]. At this interchange, SR&nbsp;25 joins the concurrency. In the midst of this interchange is a crossing over the Dundee Canal. The three highways pass just southwest of the Mary Calder Golf Club. After beginning a curve to the south-southwest is an interchange with [[Georgia State Route 25 Connector (Savannah)|SR&nbsp;25 Connector]] (West Bay Street). Here, US&nbsp;80 and SR&nbsp;26 join the concurrency. The five highways cross over the [[Savannah–Ogeechee Canal]]. A short distance later is an incomplete interchange with West [[Button Gwinnett|Gwinnett]] Street. Almost immediately is an interchange with [[Interstate 16|I-16]]/[[U.S. Route 17 in Georgia|US&nbsp;17]] ([[Jim L. Gillis, Jr.|Jim Gillis]] Historic Savannah Parkway). At this point, US&nbsp;17 joins the concurrency. A short distance later is an incomplete interchange with Tremont Road. At Ogeechee Road, US&nbsp;17/SR&nbsp;25 depart the concurrency to the southwest, while US&nbsp;80/SR&nbsp;26 depart to the northeast. I-516/SR&nbsp;21 continue to the south-southwest and have an interchange with the northern terminus of [[Veterans Parkway (Savannah, Georgia)|Veterans Parkway]], just before curving to the east-southeast. They cross underneath, but do not have an interchange with, Liberty Parkway. They cross over some [[CSX Transportation]] railroad lines just before crossing over the Springfield Canal. Just west-northwest of Mildred Street, the freeway ends and the two highways continue to an [[intersection (road)|intersection]] with Montgomery Street. At this point, I-516 meets its eastern terminus, while SR&nbsp;21 (DeRenne Avenue) continues to the east-southeast.<ref name="Google">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=GA-21+S&daddr=GA-21+S+to:GA-21+S+to:I-516+E+to:I-516+E+to:I-516+E+to:I-516+E+to:I-516+E+to:I-516+E+to:I-516+E+to:I-516+E+to:Wm+F+Lynes+Pkwy+to:W+Derenne+Ave&hl=en&ll=32.068756,-81.12648&spn=0.123502,0.264187&sll=32.030074,-81.115274&sspn=0.001931,0.004128&geocode=Fd3T6QEdNc4p-w%3BFanQ6QEdKdMp-w%3BFcDM6QEdJNkp-w%3BFbyq6QEdRxYq-w%3BFdaZ6QEdShIq-w%3BFTeG6QEdrwgq-w%3BFQx36QEd0gIq-w%3BFQ9t6QEdFP8p-w%3BFVBF6QEdKvAp-w%3BFd0k6QEd7-Mp-w%3BFbD26AEdBM4p-w%3BFe3N6AEdNwgq-w%3BFUa96AEdAEgq-w&mra=dme&mrsp=12&sz=19&t=h&z=13|title=Route of I-516|access-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref>

I-516 is one of a small handful of Interstate Highways that is not a freeway for its entire length. The southeasternmost {{Convert|0.5|mi|km}} downgrades to an expressway with a {{Convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} speed limit, an at-grade intersection at Mildred Street, a right turn lane onto the De Renne Avenue frontage road, and a {{Convert|35|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} school zone designation following the frontage road right turn to the Interstate's eastern terminus at Montgomery Street. The southbound entrance onto Mildred Street is often closed by concrete barriers, as it's primarily used to directly access Hunter Army Air Field from the Interstate.

The entire length of I-516 is included as part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]], a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.<ref name="NHS Georgia">{{cite map |title=National Highway System: Savannah, GA |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/savannah_ga.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |date=May 9, 2019 |access-date=August 10, 2019 }}</ref>{{clear left}}

==History==
===1920s to 1960s===
The road that would eventually be designated as I-516 was established at least as early as 1919 as a segment of SR&nbsp;21 from the current western terminus of I-516 to an intersection with SR&nbsp;26.<ref name="GDOT 1920">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1920 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> In 1926, US&nbsp;17/SR&nbsp;25 were designated along this section of SR&nbsp;21.<ref name="GDOT 1921">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1921 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1926">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1926 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> Between 1963 and 1966, I-16 was under construction in Savannah, and the majority of what would become I-516, from Augusta Avenue to its current eastern terminus, was being proposed as SR&nbsp;26 Loop.<ref name="GDOT 1963">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1963 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1966">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1966 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> Later, in 1966, SR&nbsp;26 Loop was completed (but not to freeway standards) from just east-southeast of what is now the Veterans Parkway exit to La Roche Avenue, with a proposal to extend it northward through [[Savannah State University]]. The rest of the proposed route was also under construction at that time. Also, the construction of I-16 continued to proceed.<ref name="GDOT 1966"/><ref name="GDOT 1967">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1967 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> In 1967, the section from I-16 to just east-southeast of what is now the Veterans Parkway exit was still under construction but scheduled to open "Spring '68". I-16 was completed in Savannah at this time.<ref name="GDOT 1967"/><ref name="GDOT 1968">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1968 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> In 1968, the segment of SR&nbsp;26 Loop from I-16 to just east-southeast of what is now the Veterans Parkway exit was opened (at freeway standards).<ref name="GDOT 1968"/><ref name="GDOT 1969">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1969 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref>

===1970s to 2000s===
By 1970, the segment from Augusta Avenue to I-16 was opened (at freeway standards).<ref name="GDOT 1969"/><ref name="GDOT 1970">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1970 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> Later that year, there was a proposal to extend the western terminus a little farther to the west, to meet what is now US&nbsp;80/SR&nbsp;25 Connector/SR&nbsp;26.<ref name="GDOT 1970"/><ref name="GDOT 1971">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1971 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> Between 1977 and 1979, the entirety of SR&nbsp;26 Loop, with the exception of the segment between Skidaway Road and La Roche Avenue, was redesignated as an extension of SR&nbsp;21. The Skidaway–La Roche section was removed from the state highway system. Due to this, the proposal to extend SR&nbsp;26 Loop from La Roche was removed, as well.<ref name="GDOT 1977-1978">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1977 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1979">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1979 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> By March 1980, the freeway portion was extended to the west, roughly along the same alignment proposed in 1970.<ref name="GDOT 1979"/><ref name="GDOT 1980-1981">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1980 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> In 1982, the freeway portion was extended a little more to the west, nearly to the current western terminus of I-516.<ref name="GDOT 1982">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1982 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1983-1984">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1983 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> In 1985, the entire highway from its then-current western terminus at Burnsed Blvd to Montgomery Street was designated as I-516. The freeway portion was extended westward to the interchange with SR&nbsp;25 (Burnsed Blvd) and eastward to the current eastern terminus. Also US&nbsp;17/SR&nbsp;25 and US&nbsp;80/SR&nbsp;26 were rerouted along the freeway, from the West Bay Street exit to the Ogeechee Road exit.<ref name="GDOT 1984-1985">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1984 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1986-1987">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1986 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> In 1995, US&nbsp;17 had a major rerouting through the city of Savannah to its current alignment. Therefore, it is concurrent with I-516/SR&nbsp;21 from the I-16 exit to the Ogeechee Road exit.<ref name="GDOT 1994-1995">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1994 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 1996-1997">{{Cite GDOT map |year=1996 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref> In 2001, SR&nbsp;421 was designated along I-516's length.<ref name="GDOT 2001-2002">{{Cite GDOT map |year=2001 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="GDOT 2002-2003">{{Cite GDOT map |year=2002 |access-date=September 1, 2015 }}</ref>

==Exit list==
All exit numbers goes through an inverse pattern.

{{jcttop|exit|state=GA|county=Chatham|length_ref=<ref name="Google"/>}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=Garden City
|lspan=2
|mile=0.0
|type=concur
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=GA|SR|21|dir1=north|name1=Augusta Road|city1=Springfield}}
|notes=Western end of SR 21 concurrency; western terminus; western end of the freeway; roadway continues as SR&nbsp;21 northbound
}}
{{GAint|exit
|mile=0.1
|type=concur
|exit=8
|road={{jct|state=GA|SR|25|dir1=north|name1=Burnsed Road / [[Georgia State Route 26 Connector (Garden City)|SR&nbsp;26 Conn.]] south|to2=y|US|80|name2=[[Georgia State Route 26|SR&nbsp;26]]}}
|notes=Western end of SR 25 concurrency; northern terminus  of SR&nbsp;26 Conn.; signed as “To US&nbsp;80” on eastbound; signed as “SR&nbsp;25” on westbound
}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=Savannah
|lspan=6
|mile=1.3
|exit=7B
|type=incomplete 
|road=West Lathrop Avenue&nbsp;– [[Georgia Ports Authority]], Ocean Terminal
|notes=Westbound exit only
}}
{{GAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=1.6
|exit=7A
|road={{jct|state=GA|US|80|SR-Conn|25|dir1=west|dir2=north|dab2=Savannah|name2=Augusta Avenue / West Bay Street / [[Georgia State Route 26|SR&nbsp;26]] west|city1=Statesboro|city2=Downtown Savannah}}
|notes=Western end of US 80/SR 26 concurrency; southern terminus of SR&nbsp;25 Conn.; signed as SR&nbsp;25 Conn. and exit&nbsp;7 eastbound
}}
{{GAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=2.3
|exit=6
|road=Gwinnett Street&nbsp;– [[Savannah station (Amtrak)|Amtrak station]]
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
}}
{{GAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=2.5
|exit=5
|road={{jct|state=GA|I|16|US|17|dir2=north|name1=Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway / [[Georgia State Route 404|SR&nbsp;404]]|city1=Savannah|city2=Macon}}
|notes=Western end of US 17 concurrency; I-16 exit&nbsp;164
}}
{{GAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=3.2
|exit=4
|road=Tremont Road
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
}}
{{GAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=3.8
|exit=3
|road={{jct|state=GA|US|17|dir1=south|US|80|dir2=east|name2=Ogeechee Road / [[Georgia State Route 25|SR&nbsp;25]] south / [[Georgia State Route 26|SR&nbsp;26]] east|city1=Brunswick|city2=Downtown Savannah}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 17/US 80/SR 25/SR 26 concurrency
}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=4.7
|exit=2
|road=[[Veterans Parkway (Savannah, Georgia)|Veterans Parkway]] south&nbsp;– [[Georgetown, Chatham County, Georgia|Georgetown]]
|notes=Northern terminus of Veterans Parkway
}}
{{GAint|exit
|location=Savannah
|mile=6.9
|type=concur
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=GA|SR|21|dir1=south|name1=Derenne Avenue}}
|notes=Eastern end of SR&nbsp;21 concurrency; eastern terminus; eastern end of the freeway; roadway continues as SR&nbsp;21 southbound
}}
{{Jctbtm|col=7|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==See also==
{{portal|U.S. roads|Georgia (U.S. state)}}
* [[Jimmy DeLoach Parkway]]
* [[Savannah metropolitan area]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
* [http://www.aaroads.com/guide.php?page=i0516ga Southeastroads.com (AARoads I-516)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031103013446/http://www.state-ends.com/georgia/042100/ Georgia State Route 421 / Interstate 516 on State-ends.com]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:516, Interstate}}
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|16-5]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Roads in Savannah, Georgia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Chatham County, Georgia]]