El Paso/Lubbock/Wichita Falls U.S. 54 - Future Interstate? Can It Happen? (Dallas: new construction, airport)

[HIGH!Lonesome]

Originally Posted by ChrisSA_wxatUIW

I know I'm not from El Paso or anything, but I've been there quite a few times and I've done my research- Montana Avenue was actually planned as a freeway, and then it got cancelled... but that's why you have a wide median in that road (there's supposed to be freeway mainlanes in the middle)

go to texasfreeways.com or aaroads.com click on El Paso blah blah you'll find it

That is very correct, Montana was once planed as a double deck freeway in adjacent to a toll tunnel that was to go through the Franklins conecting east to west making it easier for El Paso westsiders to get to the airport alot quicker.

U.S.54 would make an excellent freeway, I thought that part of the North/South (Patriot) freeway was already U.S.54. ,NE El Paso will eventually need two freeways in the forseeable future.

FYI not to stir anything up but the gentleman that did texasfreeways.com also said that El Paso was by far the most ugliest city in the whole United States.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by WildWestDude

Is it needed? Probably. Will it happen anytime soon? NO.
First they would have to take care of the decaying state of the rest of the roads like for example our collapsing bridges.

I can't see how it would be needed. Once you get past Alamogordo, there's almost no traffic all the way up to 44. It's a nice route.

[atrabilius]

Originally Posted by malamute

I can't see how it would be needed.

Well, an Interstate following US 54 from El Paso north to I-40 at Santa Rosa, New Mexico and then along US 84 to I-25 south of Las Vegas, New Mexico would be pretty much a direct route to Juarez from I-40, I-70 at Denver and I-80 at Cheyenne (major national east-west highways), bypassing Albuquerque, where maybe there's congestion. I-25 doesn't connect to the Mexican border except through I-10.

If this proposed Interstate were to be continued southeast to I-10 at McNary and the westward extension of the Cesar Chavez Highway to I-10 on the West Side were completed, we'd have an Interstate that connected to every international bridge in the El Paso-Juarez area. But if the traffic to justify this Interstate doesn't exist...

Once you get past Alamogordo, there's almost no traffic all the way up to 44.

You mean I-40, don't you?

[malamute]

Originally Posted by atrabilius

Well, an Interstate following US 54 from El Paso north to I-40 at Santa Rosa, New Mexico and then along US 84 to I-25 south of Las Vegas, New Mexico would be pretty much a direct route to Juarez from I-40, I-70 at Denver and I-80 at Cheyenne (major national east-west highways), bypassing Albuquerque, where maybe there's congestion. I-25 doesn't connect to the Mexican border except through I-10.

If this proposed Interstate were to be continued southeast to I-10 at McNary and the westward extension of the Cesar Chavez Highway to I-10 on the West Side were completed, we'd have an Interstate that connected to every international bridge in the El Paso-Juarez area. But if the traffic to justify this Interstate doesn't exist...



You mean I-40, don't you?

Yes -- I-40 -- but it's also not all that bad up to I-44 either-- . Maybe if I-25 is becoming very congested, then the expense of another route would be justified.

I wonder if gas prices stay very high, if there will be less travel and less justification for added interstates. Maybe there will be a return to rail services, and if gas prices stay very high, there will be less goods being moved around.

[case44]

Originally Posted by atrabilius

Well, an Interstate following US 54 from El Paso north to I-40 at Santa Rosa, New Mexico and then along US 84 to I-25 south of Las Vegas, New Mexico would be pretty much a direct route to Juarez from I-40, I-70 at Denver and I-80 at Cheyenne (major national east-west highways), bypassing Albuquerque, where maybe there's congestion. I-25 doesn't connect to the Mexican border except through I-10.

If this proposed Interstate were to be continued southeast to I-10 at McNary ...... But if the traffic to justify this Interstate doesn't exist...

I just can't see any interstate going all the way up to Santa Rosa from El Paso. You have small cities such as Hobbs and Roswell that potentially could see nearby interstate connections. I can see any new road that originates from El Paso heading up into NM, and then going east from Alamogordo, returning into Texas to connect with Lubbock. You could have as many as three different possibilities for future alignments, and we've alluded to those already. And U.S. 54 will suffice just fine all by itself when north of Alamogordo. I can't see I-25 being bypassed with anything. Regarding your connection to McNary, I-10 already goes through it, and you can exit from U.S. 54 onto I-10 and go eastbound. So new roads to McNary are not necessary. By the way, as I stated earlier, this road is just simply an idea not even on the drawing board yet. It's just a thought that hopefully would lead to an idea.

Originally Posted by malamute

Yes -- I-40 -- but it's also not all that bad up to I-44 either-- . Maybe if I-25 is becoming very congested, then the expense of another route would be justified.

I wonder if gas prices stay very high, if there will be less travel and less justification for added interstates. Maybe there will be a return to rail services, and if gas prices stay very high, there will be less goods being moved around.

Still, whether gas prices are high or not, if towns and cities were to add population and commerce, you still need to connect cities and towns. I'm not suggesting getting rid of all the "mother roads" of yesteryear, but just being able to offer fast connections for travelers, truckers, and others when we need them.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by case44

I just can't see any interstate going all the way up to Santa Rosa from El Paso. You have small cities such as Hobbs and Roswell that potentially could see nearby interstate connections. I can see any new road that originates from El Paso heading up into NM, and then going east from Alamogordo, returning into Texas to connect with Lubbock. You could have as many as three different possibilities for future alignments, and we've alluded to those already. And U.S. 54 will suffice just fine all by itself when north of Alamogordo. I can't see I-25 being bypassed with anything. Regarding your connection to McNary, I-10 already goes through it, and you can exit from U.S. 54 onto I-10 and go eastbound. So new roads to McNary are not necessary.

Well firstly the federal highway fund is in the hole by 9 billion if i heard correctly so there's no federal interstates planned for now at least.

Secondly it's not so much as what towns it will pass thru but from what point to the farthest point. When i travel I-54 from Carrizozo to Alamogordo alot that highway is inundated with Semi's like you wouldn't believe. Why??? because they are going from El Paso/Juarez to the the midwest of the United States to places like Oklahoma City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville and Chicago as examples so that highway is the connector to and from those regions.

Anyway NM DOT has stated that they will widen 54 from Tularosa to Santa Rosa to 4 lane divided Highway so that would help the feds. Rememeber U.S. 54 between El Paso and Alamogordo for 50 years was only 2 lane and now it's 4 lane divided (Thankyou NM Gov Gary Johnson) and looks like an Interstate.

Anyway just my thoughts........

6/3

[case44]

Originally Posted by 6/3

Well firstly the federal highway fund is in the hole by 9 billion if i heard correctly so there's no federal interstates planned for now at least.

Secondly it's not so much as what towns it will pass thru but from what point to the farthest point. When i travel I-54 from Carrizozo to Alamogordo alot that highway is inundated with Semi's like you wouldn't believe. Why??? because they are going from El Paso/Juarez to the the midwest of the United States to places like Oklahoma City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville and Chicago as examples so that highway is the connector to and from those regions.

Anyway NM DOT has stated that they will widen 54 from Tularosa to Santa Rosa to 4 lane divided Highway so that would help the feds. Rememeber U.S. 54 between El Paso and Alamogordo for 50 years was only 2 lane and now it's 4 lane divided (Thankyou NM Gov Gary Johnson) and looks like an Interstate.

Anyway just my thoughts........

6/3

***********

The feds don't have any money right now. What a shame. Can you imagine what would happen if they get money again?? I have ideas elsewhere in Texas. That topic was explored in the General U.S. threads page. If you're interested in what was shared there, here's that link:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/gener...southwest.html

[Qwerty314]

Originally Posted by 6/3

When i travel I-54 from Carrizozo to Alamogordo alot that highway is inundated with Semi's like you wouldn't believe. Why??? because they are going from El Paso/Juarez to the the midwest of the United States to places like Oklahoma City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville and Chicago as examples so that highway is the connector to and from those regions.

If they built this highway, it'd be a direct shot to my home state of Missouri (and home town of STL). I'm for it! haha

I doubt this will happen anytime soon, our government money is going to too many things right now besides roads. And thoughts of suspending the gas tax? Yikes. Even though we pay a lot more in gas, people fail to realize how cheap it still is compared to other countries.

Why gas in the U.S. is so cheap - May. 1, 2008
Regardless, how do we pay for such an interstate when we frankly don't have the money.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Qwerty314

If they built this highway, it'd be a direct shot to my home state of Missouri (and home town of STL). I'm for it! haha

I doubt this will happen anytime soon, our government money is going to too many things right now besides roads. And thoughts of suspending the gas tax? Yikes. Even though we pay a lot more in gas, people fail to realize how cheap it still is compared to other countries.

Why gas in the U.S. is so cheap - May. 1, 2008
Regardless, how do we pay for such an interstate when we frankly don't have the money.

You can take it right now. Hwy 54 is a beautiful route just as it is. You can often see deer along the highway, it's a nice quiet drive. You can stop in the little towns that are widely scattered, get a view of big-sky country, sometimes it's just a few cars and a long train running parallel.

When you get north enough, you start finding parts of the old historic route 66. Those old motels that are still open for business. It's nice that we still have something of all that left, so close and we can still experience it.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by Qwerty314

If they built this highway, it'd be a direct shot to my home state of Missouri (and home town of STL). I'm for it! haha

I doubt this will happen anytime soon, our government money is going to too many things right now besides roads. And thoughts of suspending the gas tax? Yikes. Even though we pay a lot more in gas, people fail to realize how cheap it still is compared to other countries.

Why gas in the U.S. is so cheap - May. 1, 2008
Regardless, how do we pay for such an interstate when we frankly don't have the money.

Yeah i agree about the Gas Tax suspension is a stupid ploy as we need our Freeways and Interstates to be improved. We americans love the freedom of driving and especially out west we're not much into mass transit like back in the east coast.

My Auto Tags doubled here in New Mexico but thats for the ''GRIP'' which is 2 billion dollars in new Freeway and Highway projects being built all around New Mexcio as i support it and i see road construction everywhere in the state.

Infact NM will widen I-10 to 3 lanes from Las Cruces to Anthony with GRIP monies as that should make those in EP happy especially on the west side.

6/3