Georgia State Route 104
Encyclopedia
Georgia State Route 104 is a spur route of its parent, GA 4. It is more commonly referred to as both River Watch Parkway and Washington Road in the Augusta, Georgia
area.
. In Richmond County
, the highway is known as River Watch Parkway. Near the line between Richmond and Columbia counties, River Watch Parkway intersects with Pleasant Home Road, which allows quick access to Washington Road. The distance between River Watch Parkway and Washington Road at this intersection is less than 1/8 mile. Highway 104 then continues northwestward on Washington Road through much of Columbia County. Highway 104 ends at a five-point intersection in northern Columbia County in an area known as Pollard's Corner. This area is located just south of Lake Strom Thurmond
.
River Watch Parkway 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. Much of the parkway from downtown Augusta to near its intersection with Interstate 20
is undeveloped and offers scenic views of the Augusta Canal
and Savannah River
. A large lifestyle center is being developed just south of Interstate 20 to be known as The Village at Riverwatch
. The development is expected to contain a mix of retail, dining, lodging, and entertainment facilities.
From just north of Interstate 20 to the intersection of Stevens Creek Road in northern Richmond County, the parkway is fairly industrial mixed with lodging facilities. Between Stevens Creek Road and Fury's Ferry Road (Georgia State Route 28
), there is a noticeable lack of development alongside the road, primarily because of the close proximity of a railroad track. The distance between Stevens Creek Road and Fury's Ferry Road is slightly less than one mile (1.6 km).
The next intersection is the aforementioned Pleasant Home Road. Although River Watch Parkway continues for about another 1/2 mile to Baston Road, drivers must turn left onto Pleasant Home Road and then take an immediate right onto Washington Road if they wish to continue traveling west on Highway 104. After the intersection with Baston Road, River Watch Parkway becomes Old Petersburg Road, and has no highway designation.
Georgia State Route 104 becomes Washington Road near the Richmond-Columbia County line. Washington Road is a well-known thoroughfare in the Augusta metropolitan area. One of its most congested areas is in the heart of Martinez, near the intersection with Bobby Jones Expressway and Old Evans Road. Shortly after this congested intersection, Highway 104 also intersects with State Route 232, also known as Columbia Road. Then, as drivers head westward, Washington Road takes a decided turn to the northwest toward Evans, Georgia
, where it intersects with Belair Road (State Route 383
). After passing through the Evans town center, Washington Road (State Route 104) progresses northwestward into gradually more and more of a rural setting. The road dwindles from five lanes to two just west of its intersection with Blanchard Road, and for the most part, continues as two to three lanes all the way to Pollard's Corner.
. Then a new road will be constructed to continue the path to the town center of Evans in Columbia County. It remains unclear whether this project will carry the name River Watch Parkway, or if it will have any state route designation. The goal of this project is to make driving easier, safer, and faster from the ever expanding westward population migration to and from downtown Augusta.104
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
area.
Routing
Highway 104 begins in downtown Augusta at the intersection of Reynolds and 13th Streets (Georgia State Route 4) and heads northwestward into suburban Columbia CountyColumbia County, Georgia
Columbia County is a county located in the US state of Georgia along the Savannah River. As of 2010 the population was 124,054 a growth of 39% from the 2000 census figure of 89,288. The de jure county seat is Appling. Appling is an unincorporated area, making Columbia one of only three counties...
. In Richmond County
Richmond County, Georgia
Richmond County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. As of 2010, the population was 200,549. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 199,486....
, the highway is known as River Watch Parkway. Near the line between Richmond and Columbia counties, River Watch Parkway intersects with Pleasant Home Road, which allows quick access to Washington Road. The distance between River Watch Parkway and Washington Road at this intersection is less than 1/8 mile. Highway 104 then continues northwestward on Washington Road through much of Columbia County. Highway 104 ends at a five-point intersection in northern Columbia County in an area known as Pollard's Corner. This area is located just south of Lake Strom Thurmond
Lake Strom Thurmond
Lake Strom Thurmond, known in Georgia as Clarks Hill Lake, is a reservoir at the border between Georgia and South Carolina in the Savannah River Basin. It was created by the J. Strom Thurmond Dam during 1951 and 1952 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near the confluence of the "Little River" and...
.
River Watch Parkway 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. Much of the parkway from downtown Augusta to near its intersection with Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
is undeveloped and offers scenic views of the Augusta Canal
Augusta Canal
The Augusta Canal is a historic canal located in Augusta, Georgia. The canal connects two points of the Savannah River. It was devised to harness the power of the fall line of the Savannah River for mills, to provide transportation of goods, and to provide drinking water for the city...
and Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
. A large lifestyle center is being developed just south of Interstate 20 to be known as The Village at Riverwatch
The Village at Riverwatch
The Village at Riverwatch is a planned lifestyle center located in Augusta, Georgia .-History:In July 2005, the MGHerring Group—the developer of the center—announced that it would be built in the upcoming months and would have a grand opening of 2007. Construction initially started in October 2005....
. The development is expected to contain a mix of retail, dining, lodging, and entertainment facilities.
From just north of Interstate 20 to the intersection of Stevens Creek Road in northern Richmond County, the parkway is fairly industrial mixed with lodging facilities. Between Stevens Creek Road and Fury's Ferry Road (Georgia State Route 28
Georgia State Route 28
State Route 28 is the Georgia segments of a multi-state Route 28 that runs from southwestern Aiken County, South Carolina northwestward to northern Graham County, North Carolina. The route has two segments in Georgia totalling .-Southern segment:...
), there is a noticeable lack of development alongside the road, primarily because of the close proximity of a railroad track. The distance between Stevens Creek Road and Fury's Ferry Road is slightly less than one mile (1.6 km).
The next intersection is the aforementioned Pleasant Home Road. Although River Watch Parkway continues for about another 1/2 mile to Baston Road, drivers must turn left onto Pleasant Home Road and then take an immediate right onto Washington Road if they wish to continue traveling west on Highway 104. After the intersection with Baston Road, River Watch Parkway becomes Old Petersburg Road, and has no highway designation.
Georgia State Route 104 becomes Washington Road near the Richmond-Columbia County line. Washington Road is a well-known thoroughfare in the Augusta metropolitan area. One of its most congested areas is in the heart of Martinez, near the intersection with Bobby Jones Expressway and Old Evans Road. Shortly after this congested intersection, Highway 104 also intersects with State Route 232, also known as Columbia Road. Then, as drivers head westward, Washington Road takes a decided turn to the northwest toward Evans, Georgia
Evans, Georgia
Evans is a census-designated place in Columbia County, Georgia, United States. It is an affluent suburb of Augusta and is part of the Augusta - Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,727 at the 2000 census and, in 2006, the population was 20,681.Evans, possibly named...
, where it intersects with Belair Road (State Route 383
State Route 383 (Georgia)
State Route 383 is a short highway that runs north to south along North Belair Road and Jimmie Dyess Parkway from S.R. 104 in Evans in the north to U.S. 78/U.S. 278/S.R. 10 west of Augusta in the south. The route has an interchange with Interstate 20 near its midpoint. The route serves as an...
). After passing through the Evans town center, Washington Road (State Route 104) progresses northwestward into gradually more and more of a rural setting. The road dwindles from five lanes to two just west of its intersection with Blanchard Road, and for the most part, continues as two to three lanes all the way to Pollard's Corner.
Future
In future plans, Old Petersburg Road will be widened all the way to its intersection with Old Evans Road in Martinez, GeorgiaMartinez, Georgia
Martinez is a census-designated place in Columbia County, Georgia, United States. It is an affluent suburb of Augusta, Georgia and is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area...
. Then a new road will be constructed to continue the path to the town center of Evans in Columbia County. It remains unclear whether this project will carry the name River Watch Parkway, or if it will have any state route designation. The goal of this project is to make driving easier, safer, and faster from the ever expanding westward population migration to and from downtown Augusta.104