Future I-69 Texas 3 Branches Designations

[AlbertC79]

It is said that all 3 southern branches of I-69 in Texas will be built, but the
big issue is what to designate them. One idea the feds had in mind was to
designate the western stretch as I-69, the central stretch as I-69C and the
eastern stretch as I-69E, but this idea fell through due to AASHTO's decision
not to use letters for interstates.

Here's one idea for designating these 3 branches:

1. The main stretch of I-69 should take the central stretch into McAllen.
2. The western Stretch into Laredo should be I-169.
3. The Eastern stretch (US-77) should be I-269 till it gets to I-37, then that
stretch becomes an extension of I-37into Brownsville, and the remaining stretch
into Corpus Christi could be redesignated as an I-x37.

Here's another:

1. Same as above
2. Eastern and Western stretches into Laredo and Brownsvile signed as I-169 &
I-369 respectively.

[Bobby Henderson]

AlbertC79 <albe...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20021009105753...@mb-cd.aol.com...

> It is said that all 3 southern branches of I-69 in Texas will be built,
but the
> big issue is what to designate them. One idea the feds had in mind was to
> designate the western stretch as I-69, the central stretch as I-69C and
the
> eastern stretch as I-69E, but this idea fell through due to AASHTO's
decision
> not to use letters for interstates.

I am skeptical about "I-69C" getting built any time in the near future. It
involves upgrading US-281 down to McAllen. The current road is a four lane
divided highway with at grade intersections. And that facility is likely
good enough for at least the next 10 to 20 years. I think the only thing
that really needs to be done along that stretch of US-281 is perhaps
securing extra right of way for future expansion and upgrading. Limited
access Interstate-standard bypasses can be made for towns like Alice,
Falfurrias and Encino.

As to what "I-69C" should be called, it can be named a 3di I-x69 route.
Another slim possibility would be if US-281 between San Antonio and Wichita
Falls were upgraded to Interstate status (an I-33 idea). If such a road
were built, that numerical ID could easily go all the way down to McAllen.

The I-69E route that is currently in the process of upgrading the US-77 four
lane to full Interstate status should be I-37. Yep. Turn the current
terminus of I-37 going into Corpus Christi a neat sounding 3di route (like
"I-737"). But have the actual 2di main route of I-37 go all the way down to
Brownsville.

I-69 itself is set to terminate near Laredo, merging into I-35.

There is also the added possibility of I-27 being extended down along the
Rio Grande River through Laredo and down into the
McAllen/Harlingen/Brownsville area. At least that is one of the ideas shown
in the Trans Texas Corridor plan.

Seems like a whole lot of highway planned for the far South end of Texas.
But that area is rapidly growing in population. Once Austin hits the 1
million level for residents living inside city limits, my pick is
Brownsville as what will be the fifth city in Texas to go into the
millionaires club.

Bobby Henderson

[Erik Slotboom]

There's definitely no obvious answer on how to number the 3 planned branches
of I-69. The last time I talked to someone involved in the process (at least
18 months ago), he indicated that a numbering decision was well in the
future.

[SFBayBoy]

> Seems like a whole lot of highway planned for the far South end of Texas.
> But that area is rapidly growing in population. Once Austin hits the 1
> million level for residents living inside city limits, my pick is
> Brownsville as what will be the fifth city in Texas to go into the
> millionaires club.

Brownsville? Granted South Texas is exploding with growth. However
with a current population of only 140,000, Brownsville has a very long
way to go hit the one million mark. El Paso on the other hand has
nearly 600,000 and Fort Worth is at 535,000. Both are growing rapidly
-- especially El Paso.

[Michael G. Koerner]

El Paso sounds like a likely 'next million' city to me, too. In far
south Texas, I can actually see McAllen overtaking Brownsville, although
it will be a few censi before either approaches 1M population, even with
Texas' generous annexation laws.

--
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Michael G. Koerner May they | | | | | | rise again!
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