Interstate 69C

I-69C begins at a partially-completed stack interchange with I-2/US 83 and North Cage Boulevard (US 281) in the northern part of Pharr. {{As of|2020|12}}, I-69C only has direct connections from its southbound lanes to westbound (exit 1A) and eastbound (exit 1B) I-2/US 83 and flyover ramps coming from either direction of I-2/US 83 to I-69C northbound; traffic approaching the interchange from the south on US 281, or wanting to head south on US 281 from the interchange, can only access either Interstate via its frontage roads, and vice versa. This can be disorienting for traffic wishing to continue south on US 281 from I-69C toward downtown Pharr and Hidalgo or north from the same; the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is currently working to complete the interchange.

Immediately north of I-2, North Cage Boulevard splits into a one-way couplet and sandwiches mainline I-69C in between, with North Cage Boulevard, still carrying US 281 at this point, serving as a frontage road. The parallel roads head north past State Highway 495 (SH 495; East Ferguson Avenue). Beyond it to the north, a southbound offramp (exit 1C) provides access to SH 495 and US 281 beyond I-69C's current southern terminus. Northbound, an onramp from North Cage Boulevard carries US 281 onto the Interstate's mainline. The two routes are coterminous from this point for the entire current length of I-69C.

After another pair of onramps from North Cage Boulevard and a southbound offramp to Sioux Road (exit 1D), the road enters Edinburg. I-69C provides access to Farm to Market Road 3461 (FM 3461; Nolana Loop) via a single northbound offramp (exit 1E) before coming to its first full diamond interchange, with Business US 281-W (Bus. US 281-W), which continues north on a reunited North Cage Boulevard through central Edinburg on US 281's former routing; meanwhile, I-69C/US 281 curves to the northeast for about {{Convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} before it turns due north again. After reuniting with Bus. US 281-W on the northern edge of town, I-69C leaves Edinburg, skirting the small community of Faysville on its western flank before terminating at its overpass over FM 490 (exit 17). The freeway downgrades to an expressway beyond here and continues on as US 281.

File:Hidalgo_County_Courthouse.jpg

File:Live oak courthouse.jpg in George West near the future northern terminus of I-69C]]

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the designation for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Segment on May 24, 2013, and the Texas Transportation Commission 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= July 17, 2013 |archive-date= October 19, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131019184845/http://www.kveo.com/news/texas-transportation-commission-approves-interstate-69-system |url-status= dead }} This action finalized the designations of not only I-69C but also of the sections of I-69E from Brownsville north to north of Raymondville and also I-2 which is a {{convert|46.8|mi|km|adj=on}} freeway connecting with I-69C and I-69E in Pharr and Harlingen.{{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= July 17, 2013 |archive-date= October 19, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131019193855/http://www.i69texasalliance.com/NewsUpdates/update5.30.13RGV1.html |url-status= live }} 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/bordernews_story.asp?story_no=22 |work= Rio Grande Guardian |location= McAllen, TX |access-date= July 17, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131018221502/http://www.riograndeguardian.com/bordernews_story.asp?story_no=22 |archive-date= October 18, 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}}

{{As of|2021|07}}, the cluster consisting of the recently designated portions of I-69C, I-69E, and I-2 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 the southern end of the previously signed portion of the I-69 corridor connecting with I-37 west of Corpus Christi. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for the upgrade 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= July 17, 2013 |archive-date= April 4, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200404223703/http://www.i69texasalliance.com/NewsUpdates/update7.13.12%20us77.html |url-status= live }} funding for the various upgrade projects became available after 2015.{{cite news |first= Steve |last= Clark |title= Interstate Link to Valley Moves Closer to Reality, Official Says |url= http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/article_1edf9abe-c784-5219-97b6-492162f500f8.html?mode=image&photo=0 |work= Brownsville Herald |date= August 8, 2011 |access-date= July 17, 2013 |archive-date= April 4, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200404223704/https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/article_1edf9abe-c784-5219-97b6-492162f500f8.html?mode=image&photo=0 |url-status= dead }} During August 2014, exit numbering began on the south most segment of I-69C in Edinburg.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

{{As of|2023}}, the only segment of US 281 to be constructed to Interstate standards not currently connected to I-69C is the segment through Falfurrias. Construction to upgrade a bypass that had been built around Alice began in 2023 with completion set for mid-2028.{{cite web |title=I-69 System Status Tabloids |url=https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/statewide/interstate-69-system/110723-i-69-tabloid.pdf |website=txdot.com |publisher=TXDOT |access-date=14 November 2023 |archive-date=November 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114171345/https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/statewide/interstate-69-system/110723-i-69-tabloid.pdf |url-status=live }} Another bypass for Premont has also been under construction since 2019.{{Cite web|title=U.S. 281 Premont|url=https://www.zachryconstructioncorp.com/projects/us-281-premont|website=Zachry Construction|access-date=March 5, 2023|archive-date=March 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305045432/https://www.zachryconstructioncorp.com/projects/us-281-premont|url-status=live}} The southbound lanes of the bypass opened to traffic on October 25, 2023 (the northbound lanes had been opened in 2022), but the project as a whole will not be completed until mid-2024.{{cite news |last1=Gibson |first1=Michael |title=Premont Hwy. 281 bypass celebrates milestone |url=https://www.kiiitv.com/article/news/local/premont-bypass-celebrates-milestone/503-e834df58-e25b-418c-be83-4ed867a2d114 |access-date=14 November 2023 |work=kiiitv.com |date=October 25, 2023}} In August 2023, $100.8 million in funding was allocated to upgrade US 281 to a freeway between Falfurrias and Premont, although construction will not begin until 2029.{{cite news |title=TxDOT's Refugio Relief Route receives $463.7 million from state |url=https://www.stexasnews.com/refugio_county_press/txdots-refugio-relief-route-receives-463-7-million-from-state/article_2eb3796c-3d47-11ee-90c4-db983f3bf9bc.html |access-date=14 November 2023 |work=STexasNews.com |date=17 August 2023 |language=en |archive-date=November 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114171347/https://www.stexasnews.com/refugio_county_press/txdots-refugio-relief-route-receives-463-7-million-from-state/article_2eb3796c-3d47-11ee-90c4-db983f3bf9bc.html |url-status=live }} Other projects between Alice and Faysville are in varying stages of planning and funding with plans north of Alice not announced yet.

{{jcttop|state=TX|county=Hidalgo|exit|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=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (1.58 GB ZIP file), December 2014}}

{{TXint|exit

|location=Pharr

|lspan=4

|mile=0.00

|exit=1

|road={{jct|state=TX|I|2|US|83|city1=McAllen|city2=Harlingen}}

|notes=Signed as exits 1A (west) and 1B (east); exits 146A-B on I-2; To be proposed exit unnumbered southbound

}}

{{TXint|exit

|type=concur

|mile=0.35

|exit=1C

|road={{jct|state=TX|US|281|dir1=south|SH|495|name2=Ferguson Avenue|city1=Pharr}}

|notes=South end of US 281 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance; To be proposed exit 1 southbound

}}

{{TXint|exit

|type=incomplete

|mile=0.85

|exit=1D

|road=Sioux Road

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; To be replaced by proposed exit 1 (US 281 south / SH 495 (Ferguson Avenue) – Pharr); To be removed

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=1.85

|exit=1E

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|3461|name1=Nolana Loop}}

}}

{{TXint|exit

|location1=Pharr

|location2=Edinburg

|mile=2.99

|exit=2

|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|281|dab1=Edinburg|dir1=north|road|Owassa Road|city1=Edinburg|extra=hospital}}

|notes=To Doctors Hospital at Renaissance

}}

{{TXint|exit

|location=Edinburg

|lspan=14

|mile=4.00

|exit=3

|road={{jct|extra=hospital}} Trenton Road

|notes=To Cornerstone Regional Hospital, Edinburg Regional Medical Center

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=5.15

|exit=4

|road=Canton Road / Veterans Boulevard

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=5.93

|exit=5

|road=Freddy Gonzalez Drive / Sprague Street

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=6.95

|exit=6

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|107|name1=University Drive}}

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=7.44

|exit=7

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2128|road|Schunior Road / Richardson Road / Chapin Road}}

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=8.98

|exit=8

|road=Russell Road / Rogers Road

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=9.48

|exit=9

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1925|name1=Monte Cristo Road}}

}}

{{TXint|exit

|type=incomplete

|mile=10.09

|exit=10

|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|281|dab1=Edinburg|dir1=south|city1=Edinburg}}

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=11.04

|mile2=11.61

|exit=11

|road=Davis Drive / Ramseyer Road

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=12.98

|exit=12

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2812}}

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=

|exit=14

|road=Faysville

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=15.16

|exit=15

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|162|name1=El Cibolo Road}}

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=17.56

|exit=17

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|490|extra=airport}}

|notes=To South Texas International Airport at Edinburg

}}

{{TXint|exit

|mile=18.15

|exit=18

|type=proposed

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|68|dir1=south}}

|notes=Future northern terminus of SH 68; future interchange{{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

|type=unbuilt

|location=none

|mile=19.30

|exit=19

|road=Laguna Seca Road

|notes=Future interchange

}}

{{TXint|exit

|type=unbuilt

|location=none

|mile=21.20

|exit=21

|road=Red Gate Road

|notes=Future interchange

}}

{{TXint|exit

|type=unbuilt

|location=none

|mile=23.10

|exit=23

|road=Los Venados Drive

|notes=Future interchange

}}

{{TXint|exit

|type=unbuilt

|location=Linn

|mile=25.00

|exit=25

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|186|FM|1017|US|281|dir3=north|city1=George West}}

|notes=Future interchange; continues north as US 281

}}

{{jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete,unbuilt}}

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• {{portal-inline|Texas}}

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• {{commons category-inline}}

{{I-69 aux}}

{{authority control}}

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C

Category:U.S. Route 281

Category:Interstate Highways in Texas

Interstate 69C

Interstate 69C

Interstate 69C

Interstate 69C