Open segments of I-69E highlighted in red; proposed segments highlighted in pink | ||||
Route information | ||||
Auxiliary route of I-69 | ||||
Maintained by TxDOT | ||||
Existed | December 5, 2011 | (as I-69)–present|||
NHS | Entire route | |||
Eastern Lower Rio Grande Valley segment | ||||
Length | 56.894 mi[1][2] (91.562 km) | |||
South end | ![]() ![]() | |||
Major intersections | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
North end | ![]() | |||
Corpus Christi area segment | ||||
Length | 7.672 mi (12.347 km) | |||
South end | ![]() ![]() | |||
North end | ![]() ![]() | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Texas | |||
Counties | Cameron, Willacy; Nueces | |||
Highway system | ||||
|
Interstate 69E (I-69E[a]) is a north–south Interstate Highway running through South Texas. Once complete, the freeway will begin in Brownsville and head northward before terminating near Victoria as both I-69W and I-69E merge into I-69 toward Houston. For its entire length, I-69E runs concurrently with U.S. Highway 77 (US 77). The route currently exists in two segments: a 56.894-mile (91.562 km) segment from its southern terminus in Brownsville to the Willacy–Kenedy county line and a shorter 7.672-mile (12.347 km) segment south of Corpus Christi. The route has one auxiliary Interstate route, I-169 in Brownsville.
Route description
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/I-37_-_US_77_interchange.jpg/220px-I-37_-_US_77_interchange.jpg)
I-69E begins at an at-grade intersection just north of the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates in Brownsville. I-69E has a concurrency with US 77. I-69E intersects the eastern terminus of I-2 in Harlingen. After leaving Brownsville–Matamoros, I-69E temporarily ends and becomes US 77, a four-lane expressway. Another piece of I-69E picks up just north of Driscoll. I-69E passes through Robstown before terminating at a freeway-to-freeway style interchange with I-37 east of Corpus Christi.
History
A stated goal of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) I-69 initiative is that "existing suitable freeway sections of the proposed system be designated as I-69 as soon as possible".[4] A bill was introduced and passed by the House of Representatives that allows Interstate quality sections of US 59, US 77, and US 281 to be signed as I-69 regardless of whether or not they connected to other Interstate Highways.
TxDOT submitted an application to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to designate 75 miles (121 km) of US 59 in Greater Houston and eight miles (13 km) of US 77 near Corpus Christi as I-69, as these sections are already built to Interstate Highway standards and connect to other Interstate Highways. In August 2011, TxDOT received approval from the FHWA for a six-mile (9.7 km) segment of US 77 between I-37 and State Highway 44 (SH 44) near Corpus Christi and was approved by AASHTO in October 2011.[5] Officials held a ceremony on December 5, 2011, to unveil I-69 signs on the Robstown–Corpus Christi section.[6]
The FHWA approved the designation for the eastern Lower Rio Grande Valley segment on May 24, 2013,[7] and the Texas Transportation Commission followed suit on May 30, 2013.[8] This action finalized the designations of not only I-69E but also of the sections of I-69C from Pharr north to the end of the US 281 freeway facility near Edinburg, and also I-2, which is a 46.8-mile (75.3 km) freeway that runs from Peñitas to Harlingen and connects with I-69C and I-69E.[7] These approvals added over 100 miles (160 km) to the Interstate Highway System in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.[9] The signage was installed in mid-2013.[10]
Currently, the cluster consisting of the recently designated portions of I-69E, I-69C, and I-2 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is not connected to the national Interstate network. This situation is slated to be remedied by scheduled projects to complete I-69E along US 77 between Raymondville and Robstown the southern end of the previously signed portion of the I-69 corridor connecting with I-37 west of Corpus Christi. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for the upgrade of the US 77 alignment to Interstate standards, including bypasses of the towns along the 91-mile (146 km) routing, was obtained through a finding of no significant impact statement issued on July 13, 2012.[11]
During its 2019 Annual Meeting in October 2019, AASHTO approved an extension of the I-69E designation along US 77 from Farm to Market Road 892 (FM 892) to FM 2826 in Nueces County. The 3.3-mile (5.3 km) extension completes I-69E from I-37 in Calallen to the north end of the Driscoll Bypass. The northbound lanes of the Driscoll Bypass opened in 2021 while the southbound lanes opened on August 16, 2023.[12] The entire project is set to be completed in December 2023.[13][needs update] An additional bypass is also expected to be constructed around Rivera as well.[14] This project received $177.7 million in funding in August 2023 and construction will begin 2027.[15] Most of the projects between Raymondville and Rivera are not funded but still planned.[16] A project to make upgrades near Norias had an official groundbreaking on July 31, 2024; this project is expected to be completed in three to four years.[17]
The section of I-69E north of Corpus Christi to Victoria is still in the early stages of development. Currently, plans have been released for I-69E to be built through Odem and then bypass Sinton; further north, it will be built through Woodsboro and then bypass Refugio. The Odem project has received partial funding while the others have received full funding.[15] No other upgrade plans have been released.[16] TxDOT held open houses in Refugio in late October 2023 in order to receive public feedback on the project.[18]
Exit list
County | Location | mi[2] | km | Exit[19] | Destinations | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cameron | Brownsville | 0.000 | 0.000 | To Veterans International Bridge | Bridge over the Rio Grande to Mexico; south end of US 77/US 83 concurrency | ||
Brownsville Veterans Port of Entry | |||||||
0.210 | 0.338 | University Boulevard / East Avenue | Traffic controlled level intersection | ||||
Southern end of the freeway | |||||||
0.321 | 0.517 | 0 | Polk Street | Southbound exit only | |||
0.607– 1.491 | 0.977– 2.400 | 1A | ![]() ![]() | ||||
1.727– 1.780 | 2.779– 2.865 | 1B | 12th Street / 14th Street | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||
2.322 | 3.737 | 1C | 6th Street | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||
1.989– 3.328 | 3.201– 5.356 | 2 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
2.594– 4.440 | 4.175– 7.145 | 3 | Price Road / Old Alice Road | ||||
3.597– 5.702 | 5.789– 9.176 | 4 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | To Brownsville Baptist Medical Center | |||
4.450– 6.472 | 7.162– 10.416 | 5 | Pablo Kisel Boulevard / Morrison Road | ||||
5.854– 7.022 | 9.421– 11.301 | 6 | ![]() ![]() | To Valley Regional Medical Center | |||
7.193– 7.913 | 11.576– 12.735 | 7 | Stillman Road / Old Alice Road | ||||
8.233– 8.988 | 13.250– 14.465 | 8 | Merryman Road | ||||
9.083– 9.843 | 14.618– 15.841 | 9 | ![]() | ||||
9.962– 11.032 | 16.032– 17.754 | 10A | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||
10.725– 10.857 | 17.260– 17.473 | 10B | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||
11.177– 12.304 | 17.988– 19.801 | 11 | ![]() | ||||
12.502– 13.356 | 20.120– 21.494 | 12 | Carmen Avenue | ||||
13.525– 14.273 | 21.766– 22.970 | 13 | Roberta Road | ||||
14.629– 15.395 | 23.543– 24.776 | 14 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
15.761– 17.254 | 25.365– 27.768 | 16 | Frontage Road | ||||
16.400– 17.254 | 26.393– 27.768 | Parking Area | |||||
| 16.400– 17.151 | 26.393– 27.602 | 17 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||
San Benito | 17.953– 18.748 | 28.893– 30.172 | 18 | ![]() ![]() | |||
18.964– 20.708 | 30.520– 33.326 | 19A | McCulloch Street | No direct southbound exit (signed at exit 19B) | |||
19.532– 20.512 | 31.434– 33.011 | 19B | ![]() ![]() | Ratliff Street signed at exit 21 southbound | |||
20.512– 21.844 | 33.011– 35.155 | 21 | ![]() | ||||
21.973– 22.724 | 35.362– 36.571 | 22 | ![]() | ||||
Harlingen | 22.887– 23.903 | 36.833– 38.468 | 23A | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | To Valley Baptist Medical Center | ||
24.194– 24.805 | 38.936– 39.920 | 23B | New Hampshire Street | No direct northbound exit (signed at exit 23A) | |||
24.191– 25.732 | 38.932– 41.412 | 24 | ![]() | ||||
25.202 | 40.559 | 25 | M Street | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
25.756– 25.791 | 41.450– 41.507 | 26A | Lincoln Avenue | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
26.178– 27.277 | 42.129– 43.898 | 26B | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Eastern terminus of westbound Bus. US 83; north end of US 83 overlap; south end of northbound Bus. US 83 overlap; I-2 exit 176; eastern terminus of I-2 | |||
26.348– 26.975 | 42.403– 43.412 | 26C | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Eastern terminus of eastbound Bus. US 83; north end of northbound Bus. US 83 concurrency; Bus. US 83 not signed southbound | |||
27.441– 27.636 | 44.162– 44.476 | 27 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | No direct northbound exit (signed at exit 26C) | |||
27.754– 28.709 | 44.666– 46.203 | 28 | ![]() | ||||
Harlingen–Combes line | 28.981– 29.826 | 46.640– 48.000 | 29A | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Signed as exit 29 southbound | ||
29.562 | 47.575 | 29B | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Northbound exit only | |||
Combes | 30.392– 31.187 | 48.911– 50.191 | 30 | ![]() ![]() | |||
| 32.337– 33.165 | 52.041– 53.374 | 32 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
| 34.447– 35.224 | 55.437– 56.688 | 34 | Orphanage Road / V Road | |||
| 36.732– 37.689 | 59.114– 60.655 | 36 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
Willacy | Sebastian | 38.033– 38.785 | 61.208– 62.418 | 38 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
39.007– 39.853 | 62.776– 64.137 | 39 | ![]() | ||||
| 41.864 | 67.374 | 42A | ![]() | No direct southbound exit (signed at exit 42B) | ||
Lyford | 42.556– 43.589 | 68.487– 70.150 | 42B | ![]() | |||
| 44.150– 45.251 | 71.053– 72.824 | 44 | ![]() | |||
| 45.617– 46.385 | 73.413– 74.649 | 45 | ![]() | |||
Raymondville | 46.729– 47.584 | 75.203– 76.579 | 47 | ![]() | |||
47.793– 48.654 | 76.915– 78.301 | 48 | ![]() | ||||
| 49.324 | 79.379 | 49 | ![]() | No direct northbound exit (signed at exit 51) | ||
| 51.011 51.711 | 82.094 83.221 | 51 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Mileposts at northern end of the exit reflect US 77 | ||
| 52.669– 53.157 | 84.763– 85.548 | 52 | Frontage Road | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||
| 0.000 | 0.000 | 54 | Yturria County Road, H Yturria, La Chata North Gate | |||
Willacy–Kenedy county line | | 0.000 | 0.000 | 56 | Thomas Ranch Road, H Yturria, Punta Del Monte | ||
Gap in route, connection made via US 77 | |||||||
Kenedy | | Sarita | Proposed | ||||
Kleberg | Riviera | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Proposed | ||||
![]() ![]() | Proposed | ||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() | Proposed | ||||||
| ![]() ![]() | Proposed | |||||
| ![]() ![]() | Proposed | |||||
| ![]() | Proposed | |||||
Ricardo | ![]() ![]() | Proposed | |||||
Kingsville | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Interchange under construction | |||||
![]() ![]() | Interchange under construction | ||||||
![]() ![]() | Future interchange; no northbound entrance; access to CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital | ||||||
![]() | Future interchange | ||||||
![]() | Future interchange | ||||||
![]() ![]() | Future interchange | ||||||
| Sage Road | Future interchange; southbound exit only | |||||
| Embarque | Future interchange | |||||
Nueces | Bishop | ![]() ![]() | Opened 2023 | ||||
| ![]() ![]() | Opened 2018 | |||||
| ![]() ![]() | Opened 2021 | |||||
| ![]() ![]() | northbound exit and southbound entrance; opened 2023 | |||||
Driscoll | ![]() | Opened 2023 | |||||
| ![]() ![]() | southbound exit and northbound entrance; opened 2023 | |||||
La Paloma-Lost Creek | 430.8 | 693.3 | — | ![]() | |||
Robstown | 428.606 141.578 | 689.774 227.848 | — | County Road 36 | Southbound exit and northbound entrance; mileposts at the southern end of the exit reflect US 77 | ||
142.693 | 229.642 | — | ![]() | No direct northbound exit (signed at County Road 36) | |||
142.097– 143.986 | 228.683– 231.723 | — | ![]() | Split into east and west exits northbound | |||
144.643 | 232.780 | — | County Road 44 | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
| 146.729– 147.360 | 236.137– 237.153 | — | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
Corpus Christi | 147.939 | 238.085 | — | County Road 52 | No direct northbound exit (signed at FM 624) | ||
148.429– 148.532 | 238.873– 239.039 | — | ![]() ![]() | To Corpus Christi Medical Center-Northwest; southbound exit and northbound entrance only | |||
148.663– 148.811 | 239.250– 239.488 | — | ![]() ![]() | Exit 14A on I-37 northbound. | |||
149.253 | 240.199 | — | Sharpsburg Road | Northbound exit only | |||
149.387 | 240.415 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Continues north as I-37/US 77; exit 14 on I-37 southbound. | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
|
See also
Notes
References
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Interstate Highway No. 69-E". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ a b Texas Department of Transportation (2018). "Statewide Planning Map LRS Readout (ArcGIS)". Archived from the original on September 7, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Highway Designations Glossary". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ "What's Next for I-69 Texas?". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Portion of US 77 Approved as Part of U.S. Interstate System" (Press release). Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Clark, Steve (October 30, 2011). "First I-69 signs going up on U.S. 77 in December". Brownsville Herald. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ a b Staff (May 30, 2013). "Interstate 69 Comes to Texarkana and the Valley" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Nino, Mark (May 31, 2013). "Texas Transportation Commission Approves Interstate 69 System". Brownsville, TX: KVEO-TV. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Taylor, Steve (May 30, 2013). "Over 100 Miles of Valley Highways To Be Designated Interstate". Rio Grande Guardian. McAllen, TX. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Janes, Jared (July 15, 2013). "Valley's I-69 signage the latest stop along superhighway dream". The Monitor. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Staff (July 13, 2012). "Agency Gives US 77 Upgrades Final Environmental Clearance" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "New US 77 mainlanes to open Wednesday around noon, TxDOT says". kiiitv.com. August 16, 2023. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ "US 77 DRISCOLL BYPASS". Zachry Construction. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ Clark, Steve (January 6, 2019). "Expansion of US 77-I69E making progress". MyRGV.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "TxDOT's Refugio Relief Route receives $463.7 million from state". STexasNews.com. August 17, 2023. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ a b "I-69 System Status Tabloids" (PDF). txdot.com. TXDOT. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ Reyes, Erika De Los (July 27, 2024). "TxDOT to break ground on $300M US 77 construction". MyRGV.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Balderrama, Victoria (October 20, 2023). "I-69 overpass project concerns those along US 77". KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ Texas Department of Transportation, plans of proposed highway maintenance contract[permanent dead link] (1.58 GB ZIP file), December 2014
External links
Media related to Interstate 69E at Wikimedia Commons