Laredo To Lubbock: What Will The New I-27 Look Like?

Last week saw many roadies rejoicing. Not just that, but many West Texans had plenty of reason to celebrate. The excruciating wait is finally over!

Interstate 27 had been in existence since 1992, but has, so far, been limited to just the connection between Amarillo and Lubbock, the only link to the rest of the Eisenhower system being I-40. Many years have been spent on studies, speculation, ideas, and rumors about I-27 actually becoming a big corridor. Sure, we've had the juggernaut known as Ports-To-Plains, but it's simply the impetus for the things which will be an important part of this grand plan. After years of hoping to finally get people convinced this corridor was needed, only to get Wile E. Coyote falling off a cliff , Texas Governor Greg Abbott brought forth a new bill to introduce legislation for it. And then, that beautiful news from last week on Capitol Hill: I-27 is officially designated in Texas and New Mexico.

We'll focus on areas north of Amarillo later on. The more important area of concern is in Lubbock and moving southward, all the way down to a point on I-35 around the current U.S. Highway 83 interchange. I'll tell you this, first of all: A segment of U.S. 87 existing for three miles from 82nd Street down to F.M. 1585 (future State Loop 88) is ready for I-27 signage. Obviously, a few things will still need to happen, not the least of which is the removal of current mile markers and the accompanying exit numbers. Eventually, a revised numbering system will take root in this area. I can't answer how soon that will take, and it's contingent on how the route will shake off, taking into account bypasses of most small and medium towns and which route the actual mainline will take. Then again, I-69E has mile markers already up in Corpus Christi despite the route still being disjointed between that city and Raymondville, along with plenty of road still in the design phase and two bypasses awaiting new work. We can speculate, but we can see how I-27 will be planned as the Texas Department of Transportation works its magic.

Expect to see bypasses around Lamesa, Sterling City, Christoval, Garden City (on a western link), Eldorado, Sonora, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, and Catarina. There is the U.S. 87 bypass route around Big Spring and the pass-through at Tahoka. In Midland, we should expect to see a freeway along State Highway 349 north of the city, but southbound should merge smoothly with State Loop 250 and will utilize that specific route. The situation in San Angelo will see I-27 circling around the north side on a new road after entering the city on U.S. 87 from Grape Creek. It is widely expected to join U.S. 277 near a multiplex with U.S. 67, followed by the path of East Loop 306, in which part of it is a freeway. How it leaves in the south remains to be seen, and nothing has been completely finalized as yet. It is also in the southeast part of San Angelo where the I-14 network will intersect with I-27. Since Congress has set forth the actual corridor plan for both highways, you should expect a multiplex of the two from San Angelo to Sterling City, and then on to Midland. When the interstate reaches Del Rio, the only obvious guess here is the route around the eastern arc of the town on a recently-built loop alignment now allotted to U.S. 277. If you're wondering about lake crossings, I can only see one: Lake Amistad near Del Rio. It'll be beautiful if the bridges are done the right way.

Between I-20 and the north end of San Angelo, this corridor already has a head start, as the entire stretch of U.S. 87 is four lanes and divided. Don't be surprised if some of the first projects to get let happen to be in that stretch southeast of Big Spring. It shouldn't be a hard fix in those segments, and they should be mostly overpasses, and all at-grade crossings would be easily removed.

From Palo Duro Canyon to Buddy Holly Hall to the Concho Valley to the borderlands, I-27 will be an effective mover of goods and freight, as well as a great attraction for road enthusiasts.