Interstate 69E | |
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Route information | |
Maintained by TxDOT | |
Existed: | December 5, 2011 | (as I-69) – present
East Rio Grande Valley segment | |
Length: | 53.3 mi (85.8 km) |
South end: | US 77 / US 83 / University Blvd. in Brownsville (Will be extended to Mexico border) |
Major junctions: |
I-169 / SH 550 Toll in Olmito I-2 / US 83 in Harlingen |
North end: |
US 77 / Bus. US 77 near Raymondville |
Southern unbuilt segment | |
South end: |
I-69E south / US 77 south / Bus. US 77 near Raymondville |
North end: | I-69E north / US 77 north / SH 44 in Robstown |
Corpus Christi area segment | |
Length: | 7.8 mi (12.6 km) |
South end: | US 77 / SH 44 in Robstown |
North end: | I-37 / US 77 in Corpus Christi |
Northern unbuilt segment | |
South end: | I-69E south / I-37 south / US 77 south in Corpus Christi |
Major junctions: |
I-37 north near Corpus Christi |
North end: | I-69 north / I-69W south / US 59 north / US 77 north in Victoria |
Highway system | |
Interstate 69E (I-69E) is a relatively short south–north freeway running through South Texas. Once complete the freeway will begin in Brownsville and head northward before terminating near Victoria as both I-69W and I-69E intersect into Interstate 69 towards Houston. For its entire length, I-69E shares its alignment with US 77.
A stated goal of Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) I-69 initiative is that "existing suitable freeway sections of the proposed system be designated as I-69 as soon as possible." A bill was introduced and passed by the House of Representatives that allows interstate quality sections of US 59, US 77, and US 281 to be signed as I-69 regardless of whether or not they connected to other interstate highways.
Texas Department of Transportation submitted an application to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to designate 75 miles of US 59 in the Houston area and 8 miles of US 77 near Corpus Christi as I-69, as these sections are already built to interstate standards and connect to other interstate highways. In August 2011, TxDOT received approval from FHWA for a six-mile segment of US 77 between I-37 and SH 44 near Corpus Christi, and was approved by the AASHTO in October 2011. Officials held a ceremony on December 5, 2011 to unveil I-69 signs on the Robstown-Corpus Christi section.