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Interstate 37

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Interstate 37 marker
Interstate 37
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length143.00 mi[1] (230.14 km)
Existed1959[2]–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end US 181 / SH 35 at Corpus Christi
Major intersections US 77 in Corpus Christi
US 59 near George West
US 181 in San Antonio
I-410 / US 281 in San Antonio
I-10 / US 87 / US 90 in San Antonio
North end I-35 / US 281 in San Antonio
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
Highway system
← SH 36→ SH 37

Interstate 37 (I-37) is a 143.0-mile (230.1 km) intrastate Interstate Highway located within the U.S. state of Texas. The highway was first designated in 1959 as a route between Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Construction in the urban areas of Corpus Christi and San Antonio began in the 1960s and the segments of the Interstate Highway in rural areas were completed by the 1980s. Prior to I-37, the route between Corpus Christi and San Antonio was served by a combination of State Highway 9 (SH 9) from Corpus Christi to Three Rivers and U.S. 281 (US 281) from Three Rivers to San Antonio. As a result of the construction of I-37, SH 9 was removed from the State Highway System.

The highway's southern terminus is located in Corpus Christi at US 181 and SH 35, and heads north to San Antonio, where it ends at I-35. The freeway continues as US 281 beyond I-35 to northern San Antonio as a major freeway. In Corpus Christi, the highway provides access to the downtown area, the Port of Corpus Christi and the Corpus Christi International Airport. In San Antonio, it provides access to downtown, Brooks City-Base, the Alamodome, the Tower of the Americas, the River Walk, the Alamo, and by extension via US 281, the San Antonio International Airport. The route provides an important connection between I-35 and the Texas Gulf Coast as well as one of the few limited-access hurricane evacuation routes away from the southern Texas coast.

History

Prior to I-37, the routing between Corpus Christi and San Antonio was covered by SH 9 from Corpus Christi to Three Rivers and US 281 from Three Rivers to San Antonio. Beginning in 1971, sections of SH 9 were officially removed from the State Highway System as I-37 was completed.[3] No sections of US 281 were removed from the State Highway System as a result of the construction of I-37, but the two do share the same alignment at two different points between San Antonio and Three Rivers. Also, US 281 was rerouted onto I-37 in San Antonio in 1978.[4][5][6]

I-37 was first designated in 1959 to provide a route between San Antonio and Corpus Christi.[2] Construction began in the 1960s and the route was completed by the 1980s.[7] The first sections of the freeway completed were in Corpus Christi. The freeway was completed from its southern terminus to 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to the west at the Port Avenue overpass to include the SH 286 interchange in 1963.[8][9][10][11][12] In 1964, the freeway was extended another 1.1 miles (1.8 km) westward with the completion of the overpasses at Nueces Bay Boulevard and Buddy Lawrence Boulevard.[13][14][15] By 1965, the freeway had been extended west 1.4 miles (2.3 km) to Navigation Boulevard.[16][17] In 1966, the interchange at SH 358 was complete, as were the mainlanes to Corn Products Road, 1.0 mile (1.6 km) west of the SH 358 interchange.[18][19][20] By 1968, the freeway had been completed an additional 8.1 miles (13.0 km) further west to Callicoatte Road.[21][22] The southbound I-37 bridge over the Nueces River was built in 1933 for US 77 when it was first routed through Corpus Christi.[23][24] The northbound bridge was built in 1958 with the expansion of US 77 to four lanes.[25]

The southern terminus of I-37 in Corpus Christi

Construction in San Antonio also began in the 1960s and was completed in 1972. The first sections were completed in 1967 to include the portion just south of I-410 at the US 181 interchange.[26] The section from Steves Avenue north to Florida Street to include the I-10 interchange was also complete in 1967.[27][28][29] In 1968, the section south of I-410 was extended south to Loop 1604.[30] In 1969, the two sections were connected with the completion of overpasses at Goliad Road, Pecan Valley Drive, Fair Avenue and Hackberry Street as well as the completion of the interchanges at I-410 and Loop 13.[31][32][33][34][35][36] The last sections left were on the east side of downtown. The downtown overpasses at Durango Boulevard, Commerce Street and the overpass stretching from Houston Street to Jones Avenue were all completed in 1972.[37][38][39] The last portion completed in San Antonio was the stack interchange at I-35. With the completion of the interchange in 1972,[40] the city had a freeway loop in conjunction with I-10 and I-35 around the central business district of the city. At the time construction began in July 1969, the I-35 interchange was the largest highway construction project in state history at $11 million ($65 million in 2007).[41]

The interchange between I-37 and US 77

The rural sections of the freeway were completed later than those in the urban areas. Construction of the highway in Corpus Christi and Nueces County continued north over the Nueces River into San Patrico County. The interchange at US 77 was completed in 1969.[42] The road that was already in existence along this stretch, SH 9, would be utilized as a frontage road as many of the bridges along this stretch were from when SH 9 was built in the 1930s.[43][44] The main lanes were extended northward to SH 234 in 1969.[45] By 1970, the freeway had been extended as far north as SH 188.[46] In 1971, I-37 reached FM 888 and service to the city of Mathis.[47] During the mid-1970s, the southern section and northern section were both being extended. The southern section was extended northward inn Live Oak County to US 59 in 1975 and FM 799 in 1976.[48][49] The northern section saw completion in Atascosa County to FM 541 in 1975 and FM 1099 in 1976.[50][51] By the early 1980s, the freeway was nearly complete. In 1980, the interchange at US 281 southeast of Pleasanton was complete.[52] With the completion of the interchange at SH 72 and other bridges in the Pleasanton area in 1981, I-37 was complete.[53][54]

Route description

A rural segment of I-37 between Corpus Christi and San Antonio

I-37 begins in Corpus Christi on the Gulf Coast and heads north to San Antonio.[2] It is the main route between I-35 and the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley cities of Brownsville and McAllen via US 281 and US 77. The highway also functions as one of the few freeway hurricane evacuation routes for the southern Texas coast. The Interstate roughly parallels US 181 and US 281 and in fact, US 181 both begins and ends at I-37.[7]

The southern terminus of I-37 is at a junction with US 181 and SH 35 near the Corpus Christi Bay in Corpus Christi. I-37 heads west from US 181 through Corpus Christi, intersecting two freeways, SH 286 (Crosstown Expressway) and SH 358 (Padre Island Drive). The highway turns towards the northwest after the SH 358 interchange roughly paralleling to the south of the Nueces River. Just prior to leaving the Corpus Christi city limits, I-37 intersects and has a short concurrency with US 77. US 77 merges with I-37 as a freeway from the south; the two continue to the north and split after crossing the Nueces River. I-37 continues to the northwest as US 77 continues to the northeast.[4]

I-37 transitions to a rural setting once outside of the Corpus Christi city limits on its way to Mathis and Lake Corpus Christi. It continues on to the northwest and intersects US 59 east of George West. I-37 begins paralleling US 281 to the east before the two intersect and have a concurrency north of Three Rivers near Choke Canyon Reservoir. U.S. Highway 281 Alternate splits off from I-37 near Sunniland and parallels I-37 before rejoining north of Campbellton. I-37 and US 281 remain concurrent until US 281 splits off to head to Pleasanton, while I-37 bypasses the city to the east. After US 281 leaves towards the northwest, I-37 turns to the north heading towards San Antonio.[4]

I-37 and I-410 interchange on the southeast side of San Antonio

As I-37 enters the San Antonio city limits, it intersects the northern terminus of US 181. Continuing to the north, I-37 intersects I-410, the inner loop around San Antonio, at a stack interchange. At this junction, I-37 once again runs concurrently with US 281 which had been concurrent with I-410. Heading north through the south side of San Antonio, I-37 provides access to Brooks City-Base (formerly Brooks AFB). After a cloverleaf interchange at Loop 13, I-37 turns towards the northwest. The highway intersects I-10, which is concurrent with US 90 and US 87, at a stack interchange south of downtown. After the interchange, I-37 is once again heading north on the east side of downtown. It passes near the Alamodome, the Tower of the Americas, the River Walk and the Alamo. I-37 comes to an end northeast of downtown at a junction with I-35. US 281 continues to the north as a freeway providing access to the San Antonio International Airport.[4]

I-37 in San Antonio from I-410 to I-10 is designated the Lucian Adams Freeway, after the World War II veteran. Adams is a native of Port Arthur, and received the Medal of Honor for his service in France, along with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his gallantry during the Cassino Campaign.[55] From I-10 to its northern terminus at I-35, it is designated the Staff Sergeant William J. Bordelon Freeway. Bordelon was the first San Antonio native to receive the Medal of Honor after being killed in action during World War II.[56][57]

Exit list

County Location #[4] Destinations Notes
Nueces Corpus Christi

US 181 north / SH 35 north – Portland 		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
1A Buffalo Street Southbound exit and northbound entrance
1B Brownlee Boulevard, Port Avenue Northbound exit and southbound entrance
1C
SH 286 south (Crosstown Expressway)
1D Port Avenue Southbound exit and northbound entrance
1E Lawrence Drive, Nueces Bay Boulevard
2 Up River Road
3A Navigation Boulevard
3B McBride Lane, Lantana Street Northbound exit and southbound entrance
4A

SH 44 west / SH 358 east – NAS Corpus Christi, Padre Island
4B Lantana Street, McBride Lane Southbound exit and northbound entrance
5 Corn Products Road
6 Southern Minerals Road
7 Tuloso Road, Suntide Road
9 FM 2292 (Rand Morgan Road)Module:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated
10 Carbon Plant Road
11A FM 3386 (McKinzie Rd)
11B FM 24 (Violet Road)Module:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated
13A FM 1694 (Callicoatte Road)Module:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated
13B Sharpsburg Road Northbound exit and southbound entrance
14A
I-69 south / US 77 – Kingsville, Robstown, Brownsville 		South end of US 77 overlap; signed as exit 14 southbound
14B Red Bird Lane Northbound exit and southbound entrance
15 Sharpsburg Road, Red Bird Lane Southbound exit and northbound entrance
16 Nueces River Park
San Patricio 17
US 77 north – Victoria, Sinton 		North end of US 77 overlap
20A Picnic Area
20B Cooper Road
Edroy 22 SH 234 / FM 796 – Edroy, Odem
31 SH 188 – Sinton, Rockport
Mathis 34
Loop 459 to SH 359 – Mathis, Alice
36 SH 359 – Skidmore, Mathis
Live Oak 40 FM 888
47 FM 534 / FM 3024 – Swinney, Switch
51 Hailey Ranch Road
56 US 59 – George West, Beeville
59 FM 799
65 FM 1358 – Oakville
69 SH 72 – Three Rivers, Kenedy
72
US 281 south – Three Rivers, Alice 		South end of US 281 overlap
76
US 281 Alt. / FM 2049 – Whitsett
83 FM 99 – Whitsett, Karnes City
Atascosa 88 FM 1099 – Campbellton
92
US 281 Alt. – Campbellton, Whitsett 		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
98 FM 541 – McCoy, Poth
103
US 281 north – Pleasanton 		North end of US 281 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance
104 Spur 199 (Leal Road) No southbound entrance
106 Coughran Road
109 SH 97 – Pleasanton, Floresville
113 FM 3006
117 FM 536
Bexar 120 Hardy Road
122 Priest Road
125 Loop 1604 (Anderson Loop) – Elmendorf
127 San Antonio River Turnaround Northbound exit and southbound entrance
San Antonio 130 Southton Road, Donop Road
132 Spur 122 Northbound exit and southbound entrance
132
US 181 south – Floresville 		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
133
I-410 (Connally Loop) / US 281 south 		South end of US 281 overlap
135 Loop 13 (Military Drive) – Brooks City-Base
136 Pecan Valley Drive
137 Hot Wells Boulevard
138 New Braunfels Avenue, Southcross Boulevard Signed as exits 138A (east) and 138B (west) southbound
138C Fair Avenue, Hackberry Street
139 I-10 (Jose Lopez Freeway) / US 87 / US 90 – El Paso, Houston, Victoria, Del Rio
140A Florida Street, Carolina Street
140B Durango Boulevard – Alamodome
141A Commerce Street – Downtown San Antonio, The Alamo Signed as exit 141 southbound
141B Houston Street – The Alamo Southbound exit and northbound entrance
141C McCullough Avenue, Nolan Street Southbound exit and northbound entrance
142 I-35 (Pan Am Expressway) – Austin, Laredo Signed as exits 142A (north) and 142B (south)

US 281 north (McAllister Freeway) – Johnson City, San Antonio International Airport 		Continuation beyond I-35

References

  1. ^ Federal Highway Administration. "Route Log - Main Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 1". Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  2. ^ a b c Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Interstate Highway No. 37". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  3. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 9". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  4. ^ a b c d e "overview map of I-37" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
  5. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 536". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  6. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 537". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  7. ^ a b Beaumont; et al. "From Anywhere to Everywhere: The Development of the Interstate Highway System in Texas". Texas Transportation Institute. p. 32. Retrieved 2008-02-25. {{cite web}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  8. ^ "Staples Street overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  9. ^ "Brownlee Street overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  10. ^ "SH 286 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  11. ^ "Port Avenue overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  12. ^ "Southern terminus to Port Avenue" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  13. ^ "Nueces Bay Boulevard overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  14. ^ "Buddy Lawrence Boulevard overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  15. ^ "Port Avenue to Buddy Lawrence Boulevard" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  16. ^ "Navigation Boulevard overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  17. ^ "Buddy Lawrence Boulevard to Navigation Boulevard" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  18. ^ "SH 358 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  19. ^ "Corn Products Road overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  20. ^ "SH 358 to Corn Products Road" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  21. ^ "Callicoatte Road overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  22. ^ "Corn Products Road to Callicoatte Road" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  23. ^ "Southbound Nueces River bridge". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  24. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "U.S. Highway No. 77". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  25. ^ "Northbound Nueces River bridge". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  26. ^ "US 181 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  27. ^ "Steves Avenue overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  28. ^ "Florida Street overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  29. ^ "I-10 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  30. ^ "Loop 1604 overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  31. ^ "Goliad Road overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  32. ^ "Pecan Valley Drive overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  33. ^ "Fair Avenue overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  34. ^ "Hackberry Street overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  35. ^ "I-410 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  36. ^ "Loop 13 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  37. ^ "Durango Boulevard overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  38. ^ "Commerce Street overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  39. ^ "Houston Street to Jones Avenue overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  40. ^ "IH 35 & IH 37 Interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  41. ^ Kelly, Frank G. (1971). "Where the Freeways Meet". Texas Highways. Retrieved 2008-02-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  42. ^ "US 77 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  43. ^ "Arroyo Nombre de Dios Bridge". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  44. ^ "SH 234 frontage overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  45. ^ "SH 234 overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  46. ^ "SH 188 overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  47. ^ "FM 888 overpass". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  48. ^ "US 59 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  49. ^ "FM 799 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  50. ^ "FM 541 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  51. ^ "FM 1099 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  52. ^ "US 281 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  53. ^ "SH 72 interchange". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  54. ^ "Rock Quarry Branch Bridge". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  55. ^ Texas State Cemetery. "Lucian Adams". Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  56. ^ Central Catholic High School (September 14, 2009). "Signs designating William J. Bordelon Expressway unveiled". Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  57. ^ Leatherwood, Art. "Bordelon, William James". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
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