Analyzing Current --- And Future --- Long-Distance Interstates Within Texas

Texas has just gotten two favors handed to them in a five-month period. My lands, just look now, sports fans. Interstate 14 officially became law in the Lone Star State back in November, and just a few days ago, Interstate 27 became official in Texas and New Mexico. And if this writer had a magic wand, then you'd see those full freeways fully completed, front and center.

I'll be sure to order that magic wand on my birthday.

Okay, so here's the deal: When I-27 and I-14 will be fully completed in Texas, each will contain at least 500 miles in length. Let's look at three existing, long-distance interstates in Texas between the (state) lines.

I-10: Ahhh, yes. Anthony to Orange. 881 miles. You get deserts, Hill Country environs, Gulf Coast plains, and prairies. Also included are loneliness and big cities. The longest line-to-line distance of any state in America.

I-35: Longest north-south interstate in Texas (for now), as it takes 504 miles to get from the streets of Laredo to the Red River (if you go through Dallas). If you decide to take a shortcut through Fort Worth, it's only ten miles less, so we'll use the Dallas segment once you get to the split. It's crowded and it's permanently under construction. And one day, as I've alluded earlier, it will get relief while losing its length title.

I-20: From the dunes of West Texas all the way to Waskom and the Piney Woods, this rascal is currently the second-longest long distancer in Tejas, at 635 miles.

Now, a side note: I'm only talking about those that are real long, so I-40, I-45, I-37, and I-30 cannot be included here.

Okay, on to the future that we know now:

I-69: Six components (and they do not include I-2) which will total around 1,100 miles in this great state of Texas. This one will touch one state line, almost get near another, and meet three border crossings. It certainly will be criss-crossing the state and provide an important hurricane evacuation route through East Texas. More and more miles are going to be added in a few locations real soon.........with many more to go.

I-14: For what it's worth, it will have a few stubs here and there and even include a loop (I-214) in Bryan-College Station, but this five-state effort will contain at least 600 miles in Texas. Some of that will be west of a fork to take shape at Brady, with one leg headed for San Angelo, and another into the nothingness of U.S. Highway 190 leading out to I-10. More importantly, it will become part of the Forts-to-Ports initiative, so you can be sure that this corridor will eventually have much more than the 26 miles the interstate currently possesses in Central Texas.

I-27: Lubbockites are rejoicing. They should. Made up of segments of U.S. 87, U.S. 277, and U.S. 83, this portion of Ports-to-Plains just became law and stands to become the only north-south corridor between I-35 and I-25. I've said before that this remains a necessity in the biggest of ways, and now, it's a reality. This is going to be West Texas' newest sensation. It's going to see mile markers numbering into the 700s way up in the Panhandle. Heck, in Downtown Lubbock, it is expected to already be in the 500 range once new markers finally can get erected. Now, that won't happen overnight, as there will have to be studies, plans, citizen input, feedback, and final design on the actual layout of the highway to the south of Lubbock. Still, there's much to be determined. Meanwhile, a few upgrades through the new projected corridor are already taking shape. If the Texas Department of Transportation can get new signs (mainly, revised exit numbers and revised mile markers) for the existing interstate up and going sooner, then so be it if it happens. From Lubbock to I-35 outside of Laredo, the anticipated distance (if going through Big Spring) would be approximately 524 miles. Remember, folks, there are going to be bypasses around several towns and cities which may affect some of that distance, so as I said, there will be much to still be determined. Regardless, this is going to be a game-changer for West Texas and a growing piece of what could be a new Canada-to-Mexico route.

Now for some roads I'd like to see exist one day:

I-44: Right now, the thing has its western terminus in Wichita Falls right around a Carl's Jr location. My vision for a potential western extension would use U.S. 82 to places like Seymour and Lubbock before leaving Texas into New Mexico with Artesia and Alamogordo, and then traversing U.S. 54 down to El Paso and a potential border crossing. I can't believe no one had come up with this on any social media or other transportation websites up to the time I've mentioned this. This could become the Agriculture Corridor, so why not? Also, a potential for mile marker numberings into the 600s in that same Wichita Falls. Imagine that.

I-18(?): First, the number isn't yet official, but it's a working title. I've said on this beacon before about a Lubbock-to-Houston corridor, and I still believe that such would be possible. 540 miles connect the two cities, with Abilene and Austin somewhere in between. Such a road could be a partnering component in the Ports-to-Plains initiative which already includes the aforementioned I-27. There's no reason to think that this connection wouldn't possibly work. Its very existence will easily connect Lubbock to so many other parts of Texas that it never had before, so if you think that the furthering of I-27 is special right now, can you just imagine an I-18 (or something like that) offering connections to the Texas Hill Country, Central, and Southeast Texas at a faster pace? Never count it out. All I need to do is talk to a few congresspeeps out there.

So, that's it for the long-distance interstates in my great state of Texas. We're very much on our way to providing more interstate mileage and better movement of commerce and goods so that everybody benefits. The best is yet to be!