Interstate 2
{{Short description|Interstate Highway in South Texas}}
{{Confuse|Interstate H-2}}
{{other uses|I2 (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the current Interstate Highway|the former state highway|Texas State Highway 2}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox road
| state = TX
| type = I
| route = 2
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 2}}}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-2 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 46.80
| length_ref = {{cite web |last=Starks |first=Edward |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table01.cfm |access-date=December 24, 2022 |work=FHWA Route Log and Finder List |publisher=Federal Highway Administration}}{{TxDOT|IH|2|access-date=September 3, 2013}}{{cite web |url= http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/adm/2013/documents/presentations/8_presentation.pdf |title= Interstate 69 |publisher= Texas Department of Transportation |author= Staff |date= May 31, 2013 |access-date= June 7, 2013 |archive-date= February 1, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160201050450/http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/adm/2013/documents/presentations/8_presentation.pdf |url-status= dead }}
| direction_a = West
| terminus_a = {{jct|state=TX|US|83|US-Bus|83|dab2=McAllen}} in La Joya
| junction = {{jct|state=TX|US|83}} in Peñitas
{{jct|state=TX|TX|364}} in Palmview
{{jct|state=TX|TX|107}} in Mission
{{jct|state=TX|TX|336}} in McAllen
{{jct|state=TX|I|69C|US|281}} in Pharr
| direction_b = East
| terminus_b = {{jct|state=TX|I|69E|US|77|US|83}} in Harlingen
| previous_type = PR
| previous_route = 1
| next_type = SH-old
| next_route = 2
}}
Interstate 2 (I-2{{refn|Some sources use "IH-2", as "IH" is an abbreviation used by TxDOT for Interstate Highways.{{cite web |author = Transportation Planning and Programming Division |date = n.d. |url = https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/transportation-planning/highway-designation/glossary.html |title = Highway Designations Glossary |publisher = Texas Department of Transportation |access-date = May 20, 2020 }}|group=lower-alpha}}) is a partially completed Interstate Highway running through the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. It begins at the intersection of US Highway 83 (US 83) and Business US 83 (Bus. US 83) in Peñitas and heads eastward before terminating at I-69E/US 77/US 83 in Harlingen. A westward extension around La Joya has been completed, and is designated as I-2 East. For almost 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. When completed, the western terminus will be the city of Laredo. The route is one of the more recently designated Interstate Highways; it was signed as an Interstate in 2013. Its construction is part of an expansion of the Interstate System into southern Texas that includes the three branches of I-69. It currently intersects I-69E and I-69C and will, when completed to Laredo, terminate I-69W as well. This complex of Interstate Highways does not yet connect to the rest of the system.
Route description
I-2 begins at an at-grade intersection with Bus. US 83 in Peñitas before becoming concurrent with US 83 at the east end of the La Joya Relief Route. The Interstate heads eastward as a four-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. The route curves northeastward around Pharr, where it intersects with I-69C/US 281 north of the city center. Continuing eastward, the route passes by many small cities, roughly paralleling Bus. US 83. The route ends at an interchange with I-69E/US 77/US 83 in Harlingen.
History
File:US Highway 83 in McAllen, Texas.jpg in 2005]]
On April 1, 2013, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) applied to use the I-2 designation on US 83 from Palmview to Harlingen. Approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials at their May meeting, this {{convert|47|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} freeway was already constructed as an Interstate-grade limited-access facility. It connects with I-69E at Harlingen;{{AASHTO minutes |year= 2013S |access-date= May 16, 2013}} and likewise with I-69C in the city of Pharr.{{AASHTO minutes |year= 2012A |access-date= December 23, 2012}} The Federal Highway Administration approved the designation on May 24, 2013, and TxDOT followed suit on May 30, 2013.{{cite news |first= Mark |last= Nino |url= http://www.kveo.com/news/texas-transportation-commission-approves-interstate-69-system |title= Texas Transportation Commission Approves Interstate 69 System |location= Brownsville, TX |publisher= KVEO-TV |date= May 31, 2013 |access-date= June 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019184845/http://www.kveo.com/news/texas-transportation-commission-approves-interstate-69-system |archive-date=October 19, 2013}} This action finalized the designations of not only I-2 but also 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 also I-369 along a short segment of US 59 freeway west of Texarkana, which will be part of the proposed {{convert|115|mi|km|adj=on}} connector between the main I-69 trunk in Tenaha and Texarkana.{{cite press release |author= Staff |url= http://www.i69texasalliance.com/NewsUpdates/update5.30.13RGV1.html |publisher= Alliance for I-69 Texas |title= Interstate 69 Comes to Texarkana and the Valley |date= May 30, 2013 |access-date= May 31, 2013}} These approvals added over {{convert|100|mi|km}} to the Interstate Highway System in the Rio Grande Valley.{{cite news |first= Steve |last= Taylor |date= May 30, 2013 |title= Over 100 Miles of Valley Highways To Be Designated Interstate |url= http://www.riograndeguardian.com/rggnews_story.asp?story_no=2 |work= Rio Grande Guardian |location= McAllen, TX |access-date= June 1, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130504165931/http://www.riograndeguardian.com/rggnews_story.asp?story_no=2 |archive-date= May 4, 2013 |url-status= dead }} The signage was installed in mid-2013.{{cite news |first= Jared |last= Janes |title= Valley's I-69 signage the latest stop along superhighway dream |url= http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_1bb15a3c-edb6-11e2-96fd-001a4bcf6878.html |work= The Monitor |date= July 15, 2013 |access-date= July 17, 2013}}
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 Robstown and to complete the southern end of the previously signed portion of the I-69 corridor connecting with 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 {{convert|91|mi|km|adj=on}} routing, was obtained through a Finding of No Significant Impact statement issued on July 13, 2012;{{cite press release |author= Staff |publisher= Alliance for I-69 Texas |title= Agency Gives US 77 Upgrades Final Environmental Clearance |url= http://www.i69texasalliance.com/NewsUpdates/update7.13.12%20us77.html |date= July 13, 2012 |access-date= June 7, 2013}}
Due to increasing congestion, a {{Convert|9|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} segment of future I-2 bypassing La Joya were constructed in three phases. The first two phases were set for completion in May 2023, although this did not occur until July 2023. Two of the phases of the segment from west of Palmview to east of Sullivan City were estimated cost $183 million according to TxDOT.{{cite news |first= Dave |last= Hendricks |date= February 28, 2021 |title= With new highway about halfway complete, Peñitas poised for growth |url= https://www.progresstimes.net/2021/02/28/with-new-highway-about-halfway-complete-penitas-poised-for-growth/ |work= Progress Times |access-date= December 13, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot-info/phr/projects/us59-relief/111512_presentation.pdf |title= La Joya Bypass Presentation |publisher= Texas Department of Transportation |author= Staff |date= November 15, 2012 |access-date= December 13, 2021}} A portion of the La Joya relief route officially opened on August 28, 2023. It opens 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 that built the main lanes west of FM 2221 were completed in early 2024.{{cite news |title=TxDOT opens portion of U.S. 83 Relief Route in western Hidalgo County |url=https://www.krgv.com/news/txdot-opens-portion-of-u-s-83-relief-route-in-western-hidalgo-county/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=KRGV |date=29 July 2023 |language=en}} The final cost for construction is estimated at $197 million.{{cite news |title=Celebrating Opening of the U.S. 83 Relief Route |url=https://texasborderbusiness.com/celebrating-opening-of-the-u-s-83-relief-route/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=Texas Border Business |date=31 July 2023}}
Future
The extension of I-2 west of La Joya to Laredo is currently in its study phase. It would follow the US 83 corridor before shifting to the Loop 20 corridor in Laredo and terminating at US 59 (Future I-69W). The study, which included collecting and analyzing date and requesting public feedback, began in April 2022 and was completed in August 2023.{{cite web |title=US 83 Regional Corridor Study (from I-2 to US 59/State Loop 20 Junction) |url=https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/statewide/us83-corridor.html |website=www.txdot.gov |access-date=17 August 2023 |language=en}} Part of the study looked into another relief route in Starr County.{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Steve |last2=Gomez |first2=Blanca |title=Alvarez: TxDOT wants to build a relief route to US 83 in Starr County |url=https://riograndeguardian.com/alvarez-txdot-wants-to-build-a-relief-route-to-us-83-in-starr-county/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=Rio Grande Guardian |date=17 August 2023}}
Exit list
The exit numbers are set up to reflect the likely future western terminus of I-2, which would be in Laredo.
{{Jcttop|exit|state=TX|exit_ref=Texas Department of Transportation, [ftp://planuser:txdotplans@plans.dot.state.tx.us/State-Let-Maintenance/February%2015/02%20Plans/Hidalgo%206273-50-001.exe plans of proposed highway maintenance contract]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} (1.58 GB ZIP file), December 2014}}
{{TXint|exit
|county=Hidalgo
|cspan=48
|location=Sullivan City
|mile=
|type=future
|exit=123
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|886|name1=El Faro Road}}
|notes=Proposed; construction starts in 2030
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=La Joya
|lspan=5
|mile=
|exit=124
|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|83|dab1=McAllen}}
|notes=Temporary western terminus; opened August 2023
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=
|exit=125
|road={{jct|state=TX|US|83|name1=Frontage Road}}
|notes=Opened August 2023
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=
|exit=126
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2221|name1=Jara Chinas Road}}
|notes=Opened August 2023
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=
|exit=127A
|road=Liberty Boulevard / Tom Gill Road
|notes=Opened August 2023
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=
|exit=127B
|road={{jct|state=TX|US|83|name1=Frontage Road}}
|notes=Opened August 2023
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Peñitas
|lspan=3
|type=
|mile=0.00
|exit=128A
|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Spur|83|dir1=west|to2=y|US-Bus|83|dab1=La Joya|dab2=McAllen|city1=Peñitas|city2=La Joya}}
|notes=Opened August 2023; Former western terminus of I-2
}}
{{TXint|exit
|type=
|mile=0.20
|exit=128B
|road={{jct|state=TX|US|83|name1=Frontage Road}}
|notes=Opened 2022
}}
{{TXint|exit
|type=proposed
|mile=0.40
|exit=129
|road={{jct|state=TX|Toll|365|name1=Section A West/Section C}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=none
|mile=1.09
|exit=130
|road=Showers Road
|notes=No exit number eastbound.}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Palmview
|lspan=2
|mile=2.59
|exit=131
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|492|name1=Goodwin Road|road|Abram Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=4.45
|exit=133
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|364|name1=La Homa Road|road|Bentsen Palm Drive}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Mission
|lspan=5
|mile=5.76
|exit=134
|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|83|dab1=McAllen|road|Inspiration Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=6.37
|exit=135
|road=Los Ebanos Road
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=7.51
|exit=136
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|107|dir1=north|FM|1016|dir2=south|name2=Conway Avenue}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=8.53
|exit=137
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|396|name1=Bryan Road / Anzalduas Highway}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=10.01
|exit=138
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|494|name1=Shary Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=McAllen
|lspan=5
|mile=11.56
|exit=140
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2220|name1=Ware Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=12.59
|exit=141
|road={{jct|state=TX|Spur|115|name1=23rd Street|road|Main Street|extra=airport|location1=Airport}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=13.54
|exit=142
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|336|name1=10th Street|road|Main Street / 2nd Street|extra=airport|location1=Airport}}
|notes=Main Street not signed westbound
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=14.64
|type=incomplete
|exit=143A
|road=McColl Road / 2nd Street
|notes=No direct westbound exit (signed at exit 143B).
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=14.99
|exit=143B
|road=Jackson Avenue / Sam Houston Avenue
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location1=McAllen
|location2=Pharr
|mile=15.66
|exit=144
|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|83|dab1=McAllen|FM|2061|FM|3362|name3=Jackson Road}}
|notes=FM 3362 is to be added to signs
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Pharr
|lspan=4
|type=incomplete
|mile=16.42
|exit=145
|road=Sugar Road / Polk Avenue
|notes=No exits and entrances only due to the construction of the I-2/I-69C interchange, and to be removed and replaced by proposed exit 145 (US 281 south (Cage Boulevard) — Pharr) eastbound.
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=17.22
|exit=146A
|mspan=3
|road={{jct|state=TX|US|281|dir1=south|name1=Cage Boulevard|city1=Pharr}}
|notes=Southern terminus of I-69C; I-69C exits 1A-B southbound; tri-stack interchange; To be proposed exit 145 eastbound
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=146B
|road={{jct|state=TX|I|69C|dir1=north|US|281|dir2=north|city1=Edinburg}}
|notes=To be proposed exit 146 eastbound
}}
{{TXint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|exit=146C
|road=Frontage Road
|notes=No exits due to the construction of the I-2/I-69C interchange, and to be removed.
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location1=Pharr
|location2=San Juan
|mile=18.24
|type=incomplete
|exit=147A
|road=Veterans Boulevard
|notes=Formerly I Road, and no westbound exit due to the construction of the I-2 / I-69C interchange.}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=San Juan
|lspan=2
|mile=18.72
|exit=147B
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1426|name1=Nebraska Avenue / Raul Longoria Avenue|city1=San Juan}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=20.40
|exit=149
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2557|dir1=south|name1=Stewart Road|road|Cesar Chavez Road}}
|notes=Direct access to FM 2557 eastbound only; eastbound exit permanently closed on June 9, 2023{{cite news |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Gabriela |title=Cesar Chavez Road, I-2 exit ramp to permanently close |url=https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/cesar-chavez-road-i-2-exit-ramp-to-permanently-close/ |work = ValleyCentral.com |publisher=KVEO-TV |date=June 2, 2023 |access-date = June 2, 2023}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Alamo
|lspan=2
|mile=21.15
|exit=150A
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|907|name1=Alamo Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=21.90
|exit=150B
|road=Tower Road
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Donna
|lspan=5
|mile=22.35
|exit=151
|type=proposed
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|68|dir1=north}}
|notes=Future southern terminus of SH 68{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2023 |title=Future SH 68 |url=https://www.txdot.gov/projects/hearings-meetings/pharr/2023/sh68-from-i2us-83-to-i69cus-281.html |website=TxDOT |language=en}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=23.41
|exit=152
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1423|name1=Val Verde Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=24.66
|exit=153
|road=Hutto Road
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=25.52
|exit=154
|road={{jct|state=TX|Spur|433|name1=Main Street}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=26.23
|exit=155A
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|493|name1=Salinas Boulevard}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=none
|mile=27.03
|exit=155B
|road=Victoria Road / Midway Road
|notes=Midway Road not signed westbound
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Weslaco
|lspan=4
|mile=28.42
|exit=157
|road=Westgate Drive / Mile 6 West Road
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=29.42
|exit=158
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|88|name1=Texas Boulevard}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=30.45
|exit=159
|road={{jct|state=TX|extra=airport}}Airport Drive / Pike Boulevard
|notes=Serves Mid Valley Airport.
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=31.64
|exit=160
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1015|name1=International Boulevard}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Mercedes
|lspan=6
|mile=32.79
|exit=161
|road={{jct|state=TX|Spur|31|name1=Mile 2 West Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=34.19
|exit=163A
|road=Vermont Avenue
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=34.64
|exit=163B
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|491|name1=Texas Avenue}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=35.87
|exit=164
|road=Mile 1 East Road
|notes=To be proposed exit 164A
}}
{{TXint|exit
|type=proposed
|mile=36.00
|exit=164B
|road={{jct|state=TX|Toll|365|name1=Section F/Section E}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=36.88
|exit=165
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1425|name1=Mile 2 East Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|county1=Hidalgo
|county2=Cameron
|location1=Mercedes
|location2=La Feria
|mile=37.87
|exit=166
|road=Mile 3 East Road
}}
{{TXint|exit
|county=Cameron|cspan=11
|location=La Feria|lspan=3
|mile=39.09
|exit=167
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2556|name1=Solis Road}}
|notes=No direct westbound exit (signed at exit 166).
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=39.52
|exit=168
|type=incomplete
|road=Rabb Road
|notes=No direct eastbound exit (signed at exit 167).
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=40.29
|exit=169
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|506|city1=La Feria|city2=Santa Rosa}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=none
|mile=40.97
|exit=170
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|733|name1=Kansas City Road|road|White Ranch Road}}
|notes=FM 733 (Kansas City Rd) not signed westbound
}}
{{TXint|exit
|location=Harlingen|lspan=7
|mile=42.93
|exit=171
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|800|name1=Bass Boulevard}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=43.90
|exit=172
|road=Altas Palmas Road
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=44.75
|exit=173
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|3195|name1=Stuart Place Road}}
}}
{{TXint|exit
|mile=46.50
|exit=174
|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|83|dab1=McAllen|road|Lewis Lane}}
|notes= Bus. US 83 not signed westbound.}}
{{TXint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=47.04
|exit=175
|road=Tyler Avenue (Spur 206 east) / Dixieland Road / Bass Pro Drive - Downtown Harlingen
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; access via {{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|83|dab1=McAllen|noshield=yes}}; I-69E exit 26C.
}}
{{TXint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=47.31
|mspan=2
|exit=176
|road={{jct|state=TX|I|69E|US|77|dir1=north|dir2=north|city1=Raymondville|city2=Corpus Christi|extra=airport}}
|notes=Eastbound left exit and westbound entrance; I-69E exit 26B; serves Valley International Airport.
}}
{{TXint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=none
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=TX|I|69E|US|77|US|83|dir1=south|dir2=south|dir3=south|city1=Brownsville}}
|notes=Eastern terminus; east end of US 83 concurrency; I-69E exit 26B.
}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,future,incomplete}}
See also
- {{portal-inline|Texas}}
- {{portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
Notes
{{noteslist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
- [https://www.aaroads.com/interstate-guide/i-002/ Interstate-guide.com: Interstate 2]
- [https://riograndeguardian.com/city-of-mission-makes-bryan-road-interstate-2-connector-is-its-no-1-legislative-priority/ City of Mission makes Bryan Road-Interstate 2 Connector is its No. 1 legislative priority]
{{interstates}}
Category:Transportation in Hidalgo County, Texas
Category:Transportation in Cameron County, Texas