{{Short description|Highway in east-central Georgia}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox street | name = Gordon Highway | namesake = [[John Brown Gordon]] | part_of = {{jct|state=GA|US|78|US|278|SR|10}} from western terminus on southeastern edge of [[Harlem, Georgia|Harlem]] to eastern terminus on the [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]–[[South Carolina]] state line on the northeastern edge of [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]]<br>{{jct|state=GA|US|1}} in Augusta<br>{{jct|state=GA|US|25|SR|121}} in Augusta | length_mi = 22.8 | length_ref = <ref name="Google">{{Google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=E+Milledgeville+Rd&daddr=US-278+E%2FUS-78+E+to:US-278+E%2FUS-78+E+to:US-278+E%2FUS-78+E+to:US-278+E%2FUS-78+E+to:US-278+E%2FUS-78+E+to:US-25+N%2FUS-278+E%2FUS-78+E+to:U.S.+1+N%2FUS-25+N%2FUS-278+E%2FUS-78+E+to:U.S.+1+N%2FUS-25+N%2FUS-278+E%2FUS-78+E&hl=en&ll=33.471545,-82.108383&spn=0.31216,0.441513&sll=33.475265,-81.955449&sspn=0.001219,0.001725&geocode=FZnP_QEdqjAY-w%3BFR8y_gEd7hca-w%3BFdRD_gEdJ_oa-w%3BFaFn_gEd3pcb-w%3BFb49_gEdDmkc-w%3BFRc4_gEdeqwc-w%3BFRZK_gEdnxEd-w%3BFULA_gEdCHAd-w%3BFWTM_gEdZXYd-w&mra=mi&mrsp=8&sz=19&t=h&z=11 |title=Overview map of Gordon Highway |access-date=April 2, 2014 }}</ref> | location = Southeastern edge of [[Harlem, Georgia|Harlem]] to the [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]–[[South Carolina]] state line on the northeastern edge of [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]] | maint = | direction_a = West | terminus_a = {{jct|state=GA|US|78|US|278|SR|10}} on the southeastern edge of [[Harlem, Georgia|Harlem]] | junction = {{Plainlist| * {{jct|state=GA|SR|223}} in [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]] * {{jct|state=GA|SR|383}} in Augusta * {{jct|state=GA|I|520}} in Augusta * {{jct|state=GA|US|1|SR|4}} in Augusta * {{jct|state=GA|US|25|SR|121}} in Augusta }} | direction_b = East | terminus_b = {{jct|state=SC|US|1|US|25|US|78|US|278|SC|121|GA|10}} at the [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]–[[South Carolina]] state line on the northeastern edge of Augusta | commissioning_date = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = | inauguration_date = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | demolition_date = }}
'''Gordon Highway''' is a {{convert|22.8|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} major highway in the east-central part of the U.S. state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], traveling through the southern part of [[Columbia County, Georgia|Columbia County]] and the northeastern part of [[Richmond County, Georgia|Richmond County]]. It is named after [[John Brown Gordon]], a [[General officers in the Confederate States Army|Confederate general]]. At its western end, it is a relatively [[rural area|rural highway]], but at its eastern end, it is an [[urban area|urban corridor]] of the [[Augusta metropolitan area]]. It connects [[Harlem, Georgia|Harlem]] and rural areas of southern Columbia County with [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]] and [[North Augusta, South Carolina]]. It also serves as the two main entry points to [[Fort Gordon]]. Its entire length, from the southeastern edge of Harlem to the Georgia–[[South Carolina]] state line on the northeastern edge of Augusta, is signed as part of [[U.S. Route 78 in Georgia|US 78]]/[[U.S. Route 278 in Georgia|US 278]]/[[Georgia State Route 10|SR 10]]. In Augusta, it is signed as parts of [[U.S. Route 1 in Georgia|US 1]] and [[U.S. Route 25 in Georgia|US 25]]/[[Georgia State Route 121|SR 121]].
==Route description== ===Columbia County=== Gordon Highway begins as part of the [[Concurrency (road)|concurrency]] of [[U.S. Route 78 in Georgia|US 78]]/[[U.S. Route 278 in Georgia|US 278]]/[[Georgia State Route 10|SR 10]] on the southeastern edge of the [[city limits]] of [[Harlem, Georgia|Harlem]] in [[Columbia County, Georgia|Columbia County]], where the roadway continues into the city with the local name of Milledgeville Road. The highway travels through the [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated communities]] of [[Campania, Georgia|Campania]] and [[Berzelia, Georgia|Berzelia]]. A few thousand feet later, Gordon Highway curves to the northeast, entering into [[Richmond County, Georgia|Richmond County]] (and the city limits of [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]]), and begins paralleling the northern edge of [[Fort Gordon]].<ref name="Google"/>
===Richmond County=== [[File:Kmart (Gordon Highway) Augusta, GA (6788306980).jpg|thumb|200px|Former [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]] store on Gordon Highway]] Gordon Highway serves as the access point for [[Augusta State Medical Prison]]. A short distance later is Fort Gordon's Gate 3, a [[commercial vehicle]] gate for the [[Army base]]. At the [[Intersection (road)|intersection]] with the eastern terminus of [[Georgia State Route 223|SR 223]] (East Robinson Avenue), is an [[access road]] for Fort Gordon's Gate 2, a variable-hour gate. Approximately {{convert|3.4|mi|km}} later is an intersection with the southern terminus of [[Georgia State Route 383|SR 383]] (Jimmie Dyess Parkway) and the northern terminus of an access road to Fort Gordon's Gate 1, the 24-hour main gate for the base. About halfway between this intersection and the [[Interchange (road)|interchange]] with [[Interstate 520 in Georgia|Interstate 520]] (I-520; [[Bobby Jones Expressway]]), Gordon Highway leaves the edge of Fort Gordon and begins to transition into an [[Urban area|urban corridor]]. After the interstate, the roadway enters the main part of Augusta, traveling south of [[Aquinas High School (Georgia)|Aquinas High School]], and curves to the south-southeast, past the location of the now-closed [[Regency Mall (Augusta, Georgia)|Regency Mall]]. Immediately after a slight curve to the east is an intersection with [[U.S. Route 1 in Georgia|US 1]]/[[Georgia State Route 4|SR 4]] (Deans Bridge Road). At this intersection, US 1 joins the concurrency. Gordon Highway curves slightly to the east-southeast to an interchange with [[U.S. Route 25 in Georgia|US 25]]/[[Georgia State Route 121|SR 121]] (Peach Orchard Road), which both join the concurrency. The six highways take Gordon Highway to the east-northeast and intersect the northern terminus of [[Doug Barnard Parkway]] (former [[Georgia State Route 56 Spur (Augusta)|SR 56 Spur]]) and the southern terminus of [[Transportation in Augusta, Georgia#Molly Pond Road|Molly Pond Road]]. Gordon Highway curves to the north-northeast and intersects [[Transportation in Augusta, Georgia#Laney Walker Boulevard|Laney Walker Boulevard]], thus effectively entering [[Downtown Augusta, Georgia|downtown]]. It travels just to the northwest of [[Magnolia Cemetery (Augusta, Georgia)|Magnolia Cemetery]], Cedar Grove Cemetery, and May Park and southeast of the [[James Brown Arena]]. A short distance later, they travel to the east of [[Old Medical College]] and the [[Old Government House (Augusta, Georgia)|Old Government House]], then have an interchange with [[U.S. Route 25 Business (Augusta, Georgia)|US 25 Bus.]]/[[Georgia State Route 28|SR 28]] ([[Broad Street (Augusta, Georgia)|Broad Street]]). Here, US 25 Bus. meets its southern terminus. Just after this interchange, the highway crosses over the [[Savannah River]] into [[South Carolina]]. At the state line, SR 10/Gordon Highway end, while US 1/US 25/US 78/US 278, concurrent with [[South Carolina Highway 121]] (SC 121), travel on the [[Jefferson Davis Highway]] to the northeast toward [[North Augusta, South Carolina|North Augusta]].<ref name="Google"/>
The entire length of Gordon Highway in Richmond County is 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 |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]] |title=National Highway System: Georgia |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/ga_georgia.pdf |date=March 25, 2015 |format=PDF |access-date=February 8, 2018 }}</ref><ref name="NHS Augusta">{{cite map |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |title=National Highway System: Augusta-Richmond County, GA--SC |url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/augusta_ga.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129042359/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/georgia/augusta_ga.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |date=March 25, 2015 |format=PDF |access-date=February 8, 2018 }}</ref>
==History== {{Multiple issues|section=yes| {{Expand section|date=May 2021}} {{Unreferenced section|date=May 2021}} }} Gordon Highway may have existed in 1955 when it was proposed in the 1950s stretching from Milldegeville Road to North Augusta, which made getting to Augusta faster. in 1957, it was extended to 5th Street; that year US 1/US 25/US 78/US 278/SR 10/SR 12/SR 21 were shifted there.
During the 1980s and 1990s, there were a widening project on Gordon Highway.
Following the [[George Floyd protests|protests]] after the [[murder of George Floyd]], Augusta mayor [[Hardie Davis]] created the Task Force on Confederate Monuments, Street Names and Landmarks. The eleven member task force - consisting of local historians, educators, descendants of Confederate figures, and community activists - was charged with examining the renaming, relocating, or removal of places in Augusta that honor Confederate military figures.
The panel returned a final report to the Augusta Commission in October 2020 with a recommendation that the name of Gordon Highway be renamed.
Since the final report has been submitted, no action has been taken on the issue.
==Major intersections== {{jcttop|state=GA|length_ref=<ref name="Google"/>}} {{GAint |county=Columbia |location=Harlem |mile=0.0 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=GA|US|78|dir1=west|US|278|dir2=west|SR|10|dir3=west|name3=Milledgeville Road|city1=Thomson}} |notes=Western terminus; western end of US 78/US 278/SR 10 concurrency }} {{GAint |county=Richmond |cspan=8 |location=Augusta |lspan=8 |mile=8.1 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|223|dir1=west|name1=East Robinson Avenue|city1=Grovetown}} |notes=Eastern terminus of SR 223; northern terminus of [[access road]] to [[Fort Gordon]]'s Gate 2 }} {{GAint |mile=11.5 |road={{jct|state=GA|SR|383|dir1=north|name1=Jimmie Dyess Parkway|to2=y|I|20|location1=[[Fort Gordon]]|location2=Intercity bus station|location3=United States Army Signal Corps Museum|extra=bus}} |notes=Southern terminus of SR 383; northern terminus of access road to Fort Gordon's Gate 1 }} {{GAint |mile=14.0 |road={{jct|state=GA|I|520|name1=[[Bobby Jones Expressway]] / [[Georgia State Route 415|SR 415]]|to2=y|I|20|location1=[[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]]|location2=[[Atlanta]]|location3=[[Augusta Regional Airport|Bush Field]]}} |notes=I-520 exit 3; Deputy James D. Paugh Memorial Interchange }} {{GAint |mile=17.6 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=GA|US|1|dir1=south|SR|4|name2=Deans Bridge Road|city1=Wrens|city2=Louisville|city3=Augusta}} |notes=Western end of US 1 concurrency }} {{GAint |mile=18.6 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=GA|US|25|dir1=south|SR|121|dir2=south|name2=Peach Orchard Road|city2=Waynesboro}} |notes=Western end of US 25/SR 121 concurrency; interchange }} {{GAint |mile=20.1 |road={{jct|state=GA|road|[[Doug Barnard Parkway]] south / [[Transportation in Augusta, Georgia#Molly Pond Road|Molly Pond Road]] north|location1=[[Augusta Regional Airport]]|location2=[[Phinizy Swamp Nature Park]]|extra=airport}} |notes=Southern terminus of Molly Pond Road; northern terminus of Doug Barnard Parkway; former [[Georgia State Route 56 Spur (Augusta)|SR 56 Spur]] south }} {{GAint |mile=22.6 |road={{jct|state=GA|US-Bus|25|dab1=Augusta|dir1=north|SR|28|name2=[[Broad Street (Augusta, Georgia)|Broad Street]]|location2=[[Downtown Augusta, Georgia|Downtown]]}} |notes=Interchange; southern terminus of US 25 Bus.; also serves Bay Street; eastbound lanes have access via Bay Street. }} {{GAint |mile=22.8 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=SC|US|1|dir1=north|US|25|dir2=north|US|78|dir3=east|US|278|dir4=east|SC|121|dir5=north|name5=[[Jefferson Davis Highway]] north|GA|10|dir6=ends|name=Gordon Highway ends|city1=North Augusta}} |notes=Eastern terminus of SR 10/Gordon Highway; southern terminus of Jefferson Davis Highway; eastern end of US 78/US 278/SR 10, US 1, and US 25/SR 121 concurrencies; crossing of the [[Savannah River]]; SR 121 continues as SC 121 at the state line }} {{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
==See also== * {{portal-inline|Georgia (U.S. state)}} * {{portal-inline|U.S. roads}}
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Streets and parkways in the Augusta metropolitan area]] [[Category:Transportation in Columbia County, Georgia]] [[Category:Transportation in Richmond County, Georgia]] [[Category:Transportation in Augusta, Georgia]] [[Category:U.S. Route 1]] [[Category:U.S. Route 25]] [[Category:U.S. Route 78]] [[Category:U.S. Route 278]]