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Interstate 2

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Koine2002 (talk | contribs) at 20:21, 8 June 2013 (Added Donna, Weslaco, and La Feria to the cities it will pass through. Especially Weslaco as it is the commerce hub of the section between McAllen and Harlingen.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Interstate 2 marker
Interstate 2
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length46.8 mi[1] (75.3 km)
HistoryApproved for designation on May 30, 2013 (2013-05-30)[2]
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end US 83 in Mission
Major intersections I-69C / US 281 in Pharr
East end I-69E / US 77 in Harlingen
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
Highway system
← SH 1→ SH 3

Interstate 2 is the future designation for an east–west running freeway through the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. It begins at the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 (US 83) and Business US 83 west of Mission and heads eastward through Mission, McAllen, Pharr, Donna, Weslaco, Mercedes, and La Feria, before terminating at I-69E/US 77 in Harlingen. For its entire length, I-2 shares its alignment with US 83.

History

File:Wikipedia 004.jpg
U.S. Highway 83 and Interstate 2 in a major retail district of McAllen

On April 1, 2013, the Texas Transportation Commission applied to use the I-2 designation on US 83 from Mission to Harlingen. Approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials at their May meeting, this 47-mile-long (76 km) freeway is already constructed as an Interstate-grade limited-access facility. It will connect with the proposed I-69E at the present US 77/US 83 interchange at Harlingen;[3] and likewise with I-69C (deployed along US 281 and slated for signage north of the US 83/US 281 interchange) near the town of Pharr.[4] The Federal Highway Administration approved the designation on May 24, 2013,[5] and the Texas Transportation Commission followed suit on May 30, 2013.[6] This action finalized the designations of not only I-2, but also of the sections of I-69E from Brownsville to Raymondville, I-69C from Pharr north to the end of the US 281 freeway facility near Edinburg, and also a short segment of US 59 freeway west of Texarkana, which will be part of the proposed 115-mile (185 km) connector between the main I-69 trunk in Tenaha and Texarkana, to be designated as I-369.[5] This action means that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) can commence the signing of I-2, as well as the other route segments cited, at their discretion. The signage is scheduled to be installed in summer 2013.[7] These approvals added over 100 miles (160 km) to the Interstate Highway System in the Rio Grande Valley.[8]

As of June 2013, the cluster consisting of the recently-designated portions of I-2, I-69C, and I-69E in the 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, and to complete the southern end of the previously signed portion of the I-69 corridor connecting with I-37 west of Corpus Christi. Environmental Protection Agency 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;[9] funding for the various projects to effect the upgrades is slated to become available after 2015.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Staff (May 30, 2013). "Interstate 69" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  2. ^ Essex, Allen (May 30, 2013). "State Adds I-69 to Interstate System". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  3. ^ Vitale, Marty (May 4, 2013). Report TO SCOH on May 3, 2013 Meeting (PDF) (Report). Special Committee on US Route Numbering, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  4. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering and U.S. Bicycle Route Systems (November 16, 2012). "SCOH Report from Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering Annual Meeting" (PDF). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Staff (May 30, 2013). "Interstate 69 Comes to Texarkana and the Valley" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  6. ^ Nino, Mark (May 31, 2013). "Texas Transportation Commission Approves Interstate 69 System". Brownsville, TX: KVEO-TV. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  7. ^ Gaona, Manny (June 1, 2013). "Interstate 69 gains approval for extension to Lower Rio Grande Valley". Brownsville, TX: KVEO-TV. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  8. ^ Taylor, Steve (May 30, 2013). "Over 100 Miles of Valley Highways To Be Designated Interstate". Rio Grande Guardian. McAllen, TX. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  9. ^ Staff (July 13, 2012). "Agency Gives US 77 Upgrades Final Environmental Clearance" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  10. ^ Clark, Steve (August 8, 2011). "Interstate Link to Valley Moves Closer to Reality, Official Says". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
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