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Interstate 2

Route map:
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Interstate 2 marker
Interstate 2
Map
I-2 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length46.80 mi[1][2][3] (75.32 km)
Existed2013 (2013)[4]–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end SH 364 in Palmview
Major intersections SH 107 in Mission
SH 336 in McAllen
I-69C / US 281 in Pharr
East end I-69E / US 77 / US 83 in Harlingen
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesHidalgo, Cameron
Highway system
← PR 1→ SH 2

Interstate 2 (I-2[a]) is a partially completed Interstate Highway running through the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. It begins at an interchange with Showers Road (SH 364) in Palmview and heads eastward before terminating at I-69E/US 77/US 83 in Harlingen. A US 83 bypass, separate from I-2, was constructed to interstate standards around Peñitas, La Joya, and Sullivan City and was completed in phases from 2023 to 2024.[6][7][8]

For its entire length, I-2 runs concurrently with US 83. I-2 also parallels Mexican Federal Highway 2 (Fed. 2), another major east–west route that traces the Mexico–US border along the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. It was signed as an Interstate in 2013.

TxDOT studies have explored the possibility of extending I-2 along the US 83 corridor to a western terminus of Laredo.[8] The potential extension is a part of broader planning for an expansion of the Interstate System into southern Texas that includes the three branches of I-69 throughout the Rio Grande Valley, as I-2 intersects with I-69E in Harlingen and I-69C in Pharr. If extended to Laredo, it would terminate at the future I-69W corridor as well.[7] This complex of Interstate Highways does not currently connect to the rest of the system, with buildout of the Rio Grande Valley freeways providing connections to I-35 and I-37.

Route description

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I-2 begins at an interchange with Showers Road/SH 364 in Palmview.[2] The Interstate heads eastward as a six-lane freeway through the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The route curves southeastward around Mission and McAllen to the south, running near McAllen Miller International Airport, through the urbanized McAllen-Edinburg-Mission Metropolitan Area in the Rio Grande Valley. The route curves northeastward around Pharr, where it intersects with I-69C/US 281 north of the city center. This is the southern terminus of I-69C, and provides a key connection to US 281, providing a key connection to northern cities such as San Antonio. Continuing eastward, the route passes by San Juan, Alamo, Donna, Weslaco, Mercedes, and La Feria roughly paralleling Bus. US 83. The route ends at an interchange with I-69E/US 77/US 83 in Harlingen.

History

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On April 1, 2013, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) applied to use the I-2 designation on US 83 from Palmview to Harlingen.[2] Approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials at their May meeting, this 46.8-mile-long (75.3 km) freeway was already constructed as an Interstate-grade limited-access facility. It connects with I-69E at Harlingen;[9] and likewise with I-69C in the city of Pharr.[10]

The Federal Highway Administration approved the designation on May 24, 2013,[11] and TxDOT followed suit on May 30, 2013.[12] This action finalized the designation of I-2. The signage was installed in mid-2013.[13]

Interstate 2 in 2020

Due to increasing congestion, the US 83 La Joya Relief Route was built, a nine-mile (14 km) bypass built to interstate standards, bypassing Penitas, La Joya, and Sullivan City in three phases. Two phases were set for completion in May 2023, although this did not occur until July 2023. Traffic opening was delayed until August. Two phases of the segment from west of Palmview to east of Sullivan City were estimated to cost $183-197 million according to TxDOT.[14][15]

A portion of the US 83 La Joya relief route opened in August 2023. It opened the eastbound and westbound US 83 main lanes and frontage roads from the US 83 west connector in Peñitas —located east of Showers Road — to Jara Chinas Road as well as the westbound US 83 frontage road between FM 2221 and the US 83 East connector in Sullivan City. The final phase, which built the main lanes west of FM 2221, was completed in early 2024.[16] The total cost for construction was estimated at $197 million.[17]

Interstate 69 (Rio Grande Valley Interstate Network)

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Due to the nature of the Interstate 69 Corridor and branches, they have always been linked to the I-2 project, as a part of the interstate network in the Rio Grande Valley. When the Federal Highway Administration approved the I-2 designation on May 24, 2013,[11] and TxDOT followed suit on May 30, 2013,[18] the designations of the sections of I-69E from Brownsville to Raymondville, I-69C from Pharr north to the end of the US 281 freeway facility near Edinburg, and I-369 along a short segment of US 59 freeway west of Texarkana, which will be part of the proposed 115-mile (185 km) connector between the main I-69 trunk in Tenaha and Texarkana were all also finalized.[11] These approvals added over 100 miles (160 km) to the Interstate Highway System in the Rio Grande Valley.[19]

The cluster consisting of the recently designated portions of I-2, I-69C, and I-69E in the Rio Grande Valley is not connected to the national Interstate network. This situation is slated to be remedied by scheduled projects to complete I-69E along US 77 between Raymondville and Kingsville and to connect to I-37 west of Corpus Christi. Environmental Protection Agency approval for the expansion of the US 77 alignment to Interstate standards, including bypasses of the towns along the 91-mile (146 km) routing, was obtained through a Finding of No Significant Impact statement issued in July 2012.[20] Gradual work continues on the segments, consisting of upgrades to existing 4-lane highway, widening, and bypass relief routes, to ultimately convert the route to I-69E.

Future

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In August of 2023, TxDOT completed the US 83 Corridor Study, which evaluated improvements to the US 83 corridor from the I-2/US-83 junction in Palmview to the I-69W/US 59/Loop 20 junction in Laredo. The corridor follows US 83 before shifting to Loop 20 in Laredo and terminating at US 59 (Future I-69W corridor). The study, which included collecting and analyzing data and requesting public feedback, began in April 2022 and was completed in August 2023.[21] Part of the study looked into another relief route in Starr County.[22]

Exit list

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The exit numbers are set up to reflect the likely future western terminus of I-2, which would be in Laredo.

CountyLocationmikmExit[2]DestinationsNotes
Hidalgo​0.000.00– US 83 – Sullivan City, Rio Grande CityTemporary western terminus
La Joya2.003.22123
 Bus. US 83		Opened August 2023
3.305.31124 US 83 (Frontage Road)Opened August 2023
5.709.17126 FM 2221 (Jara Chinas Road)Opened August 2023; signed as exit 125 eastbound
7.1011.43127ATom Gill RoadOpened August 2023
7.5012.07127B US 83 (Frontage Road)Opened August 2023
Peñitas8.1013.04128A
 Bus. US 83 – Peñitas, La Joya		Opened August 2023
8.4013.52128B US 83 (Frontage Road)Opened 2022
​0.000.00130Showers RoadWestern terminus; No exit number eastbound.
Palmview1.502.41131 FM 492 (Goodwin Road) / Abram Road
3.365.41133 SH 364 (La Homa Road) / Bentsen Palm Drive
Mission4.677.52134
 Bus. US 83 / Inspiration Road
5.288.50135Los Ebanos Road
6.4210.33136

 SH 107 north / FM 1016 south (Conway Avenue)
7.4411.97137 FM 396 (Bryan Road, Anzalduas Highway)
8.9214.36138 FM 494 (Shary Road)
McAllen10.4716.85140 FM 2220 (Ware Road)
11.5018.51141A Spur 115 (23rd Street) – Airport
11.9119.17141B Main Street, Bicentennial Boulevard – Airport
12.4520.04142 SH 336 (10th Street) / 2nd Street2nd Street not signed eastbound
12.5520.20143A 2nd StreetEastbound exit only
12.9020.76143BMcColl Road, Jackson Avenue
McAllen–Pharr line13.5721.84144

 Bus. US 83 / FM 2061 to FM 3362 (Jackson Road)
Pharr17.2227.71146A
 US 281 south – Pharr		Signed as exit 146B westbound
146B

 I-69C north / US 281 north – Edinburg		Southern terminus of I-69C; I-69C exits 1A-B southbound; tri-stack interchange; signed as exit 146A westbound
Pharr–San Juan line18.2429.35147AVeterans BoulevardFormerly I Road
San Juan18.7230.13147B
 FM 1426 to FM 2557 – San Juan
20.4032.83149Cesar Chavez Road
Alamo21.1534.04150A FM 907 (Alamo Road)
21.9035.24150BTower Road
Donna22.3535.97151
 SH 68 north		Future southern terminus of SH 68[23]
23.4137.67152 FM 1423 (Val Verde Road)
24.6639.69153Hutto Road
25.5241.07154 Spur 433 (Main Street)
26.2342.21155A FM 493 (Salinas Boulevard)
​27.0343.50155BVictoria Road, Midway RoadMidway Road not signed westbound
Weslaco28.4245.74157Westgate Drive, Mile 6 West Road
29.4247.35158 FM 88 (Texas Boulevard)
30.4549.00159 Airport Drive, Pike BoulevardServes Mid Valley Airport
31.6450.92160 FM 1015 (International Boulevard)
Mercedes32.7952.77161 Spur 31 (Mile 2 West Road)
34.1955.02163AVermont Avenue
34.6455.75163B FM 491 (Texas Avenue)
35.8757.73164Mile 1 East Road
36.8859.35165 FM 1425 (Mile 2 East Road)
Hidalgo–Cameron
county line		Mercedes–La Feria line37.8760.95166Mile 3 East RoadNo direct westbound exit (signed at exit 167)
CameronLa Feria39.0962.91167 FM 2556 (Cantu Road)
39.5263.60168Rabb RoadNo direct eastbound exit (signed at exit 167)
40.2964.84169 FM 506 – La Feria, Santa Rosa
​40.9765.93170 FM 733 (Kansas City Road)
White Ranch Road		FM 733 (Kansas City Road) not signed westbound
Harlingen42.9369.09171 FM 800 (Bass Boulevard)
43.9070.65172Altas Palmas Road
44.7572.02173 FM 3195 (Stuart Place Road)
46.5074.83174
 Bus. US 83 / Lewis Lane		Bus. US 83 not signed westbound
47.0475.70175Downtown – Tyler Avenue
Dixieland Road
Bass Pro Drive		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; access via Bus. US 83; I-69E exit 26C
47.3176.14176

 I-69E north / US 77 north – Raymondville, Corpus Christi		Eastbound left exit and westbound entrance; I-69E exit 26B; serves Valley International Airport



 I-69E south / US 77 south / US 83 south – Brownsville		Eastern terminus; eastern end of US 83 concurrency; I-69E exit 26B
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Some sources use "IH-2", as "IH" is an abbreviation used by TxDOT for Interstate Highways.[5]

References

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  1. ↑ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Interstate Highway No. 2". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  3. ↑ Staff (May 31, 2013). "Interstate 69" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  4. ↑ Essex, Allen (May 30, 2013). "State Adds I-69 to Interstate System". Brownsville Herald. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  5. ↑ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Highway Designations Glossary". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  6. ↑ "U.S. 83 relief route construction nearing completion". KRGV. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  7. 1 2 "US 83 Regional Corridor Study (from I-2 to US 59/State Loop 20 Junction)". Texas Department of Transportation.
  8. 1 2 "US 83 Regional Corridor Study" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. July 1, 2023.
  9. ↑ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (May 4, 2013). "Special Committee on US Route Numbering Report to SCOH on May 3, 2013 Meeting" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  10. ↑ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (November 16, 2012). "SCOH Report from Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering Annual Meeting" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 3, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 Staff (May 30, 2013). "Interstate 69 Comes to Texarkana and the Valley" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  12. ↑ Nino, Mark (May 31, 2013). "Texas Transportation Commission Approves Interstate 69 System". Brownsville, TX: KVEO-TV. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  13. ↑ Janes, Jared (July 15, 2013). "Valley's I-69 signage the latest stop along superhighway dream". The Monitor. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  14. ↑ Hendricks, Dave (February 28, 2021). "With new highway about halfway complete, Peñitas poised for growth". Progress Times. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  15. ↑ Staff (November 15, 2012). "La Joya Bypass Presentation" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  16. ↑ "TxDOT opens portion of U.S. 83 Relief Route in western Hidalgo County". KRGV. July 29, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Celebrating Opening of the U.S. 83 Relief Route". Texas Border Business. July 31, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  18. ↑ Nino, Mark (May 31, 2013). "Texas Transportation Commission Approves Interstate 69 System". Brownsville, TX: KVEO-TV. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  19. ↑ Taylor, Steve (May 30, 2013). "Over 100 Miles of Valley Highways To Be Designated Interstate". Rio Grande Guardian. McAllen, TX. Archived from the original on May 4, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  20. ↑ Staff (July 13, 2012). "Agency Gives US 77 Upgrades Final Environmental Clearance" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  21. ↑ "US 83 Regional Corridor Study (from I-2 to US 59/State Loop 20 Junction)". www.txdot.gov. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  22. ↑ Taylor, Steve; Gomez, Blanca (August 17, 2023). "Alvarez: TxDOT wants to build a relief route to US 83 in Starr County". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Future SH 68". Texas Department of Transportation. February 23, 2023.
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