Interstate 2

Interstate 2 (I-2[lower-alpha 1]) 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 partially completed, but not yet part of I-2. 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.

Not to be confused with Interstate H-2.
For other uses, see I2 (disambiguation).

Interstate 2 marker

Interstate 2

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
 Bus. US 83 in Peñitas
Major intersections US 83 in Peñitas
SH 364 in Palmview
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

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
US 83 (Future I-2 corridor) running through a major retail district of McAllen 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 47-mile-long (76 km) freeway was already constructed as an Interstate-grade limited-access facility. It connects with I-69E at Harlingen;[6] and likewise with I-69C in the city of Pharr.[7] The Federal Highway Administration approved the designation on May 24, 2013,[8] and TxDOT followed suit on May 30, 2013.[9] 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 115-mile (185 km) connector between the main I-69 trunk in Tenaha and Texarkana.[8] These approvals added over 100 miles (160 km) to the Interstate Highway System in the Rio Grande Valley.[10] The signage was installed in mid-2013.[11]

As of August 2023, 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 91-mile (146 km) routing, was obtained through a Finding of No Significant Impact statement issued on July 13, 2012;[12] funding for the various projects to effect the expansion is slated to become available after 2015.[13]

Future

Due to increasing congestion, a nine-mile (14 km) segment of future I-2 bypassing La Joya is being 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.[14][15] 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 will build the main lanes west of FM 2221 are projected to be completed in early 2024.[16] The final cost for construction is estimated at $197 million.[17]

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.[18] Part of the study looked into another relief route in Starr County.[19]

Exit list

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

CountyLocationmikmExit[20]DestinationsNotes
HidalgoPeñitas0.000.00
 Bus. US 83 – Peñitas, La Joya		At-grade intersection; temporary western terminus
​


 Future I-2 west / US 83 west (La Joya Relief Route) – Sullivan City, Rio Grande City		Partially opened August 28, 2023; west end of US 83 concurrency; not yet signed as I-2[17]
​1.091.75130Showers RoadNo exit number eastbound.
Palmview2.594.17131 FM 492 (Goodwin Road) / Abram Road
4.457.16133 SH 364 (La Homa Road) / Bentsen Palm Drive
Mission5.769.27134
 Bus. US 83 / Inspiration Road
6.3710.25135Los Ebanos Road
7.5112.09136

 SH 107 north / FM 1016 south (Conway Avenue)
8.5313.73137 FM 396 (Bryan Road / Anzalduas Highway)
10.0116.11138 FM 494 (Shary Road)
McAllen11.5618.60140 FM 2220 (Ware Road)
12.5920.26141 Spur 115 (23rd Street) / Main Street – Airport
13.5421.79142 SH 336 (10th Street) / Main Street / 2nd Street – Airport
14.6423.56143AMcColl Road / 2nd StreetNo direct westbound exit (signed at exit 143B).
14.9924.12143BJackson Avenue / Sam Houston Avenue
McAllen–Pharr line15.6625.20144
 Bus. US 83 / FM 2061 / FM 3362 (Jackson Road)
Pharr16.4226.43145Sugar Road / Polk Avenue
17.2227.71146
 I-69C north / US 281 – Edinburg, Pharr		Southern terminus of I-69C; signed as exits 146A (south) and 146B (north); I-69C exits 1A-B southbound; tri-stack interchange.
146CFrontage RoadEastbound exit only.
Pharr–San Juan line18.2429.35147AVeterans BoulevardFormerly I Road.
San Juan18.7230.13147B FM 1426 – San Juan
20.4032.83149
 FM 2557 south (Stewart Road) / Cesar Chavez Road		Direct access to FM 2557 eastbound only; eastbound exit permanently closed on June 9, 2023[21]
Alamo21.1534.04150A FM 907 (Alamo Road)
21.9035.24150BTower Road
Donna23.4137.67152 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 Road
Weslaco28.4245.74157Westgate Drive / Mile 6 West Road
29.4247.35158 FM 88 (Texas Boulevard)
30.4549.00159Airport 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		37.8760.95166Mile 3 East Road
CameronLa Feria39.0962.91167 FM 2556 (Solis Road)No direct westbound exit (signed at exit 166).
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
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.
47.0475.70175Tyler Avenue (Spur 206 east) / Dixieland Road / Bass Pro Drive - Downtown HarlingenEastbound 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; east end of US 83 concurrency; I-69E exit 26B.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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

References
  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. 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. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Staff (May 30, 2013). "Interstate 69 Comes to Texarkana and the Valley" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Janes, Jared (July 15, 2013). "Valley's I-69 signage the latest stop along superhighway dream". The Monitor. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  12. Staff (July 13, 2012). "Agency Gives US 77 Upgrades Final Environmental Clearance" (Press release). Alliance for I-69 Texas. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  13. Clark, Steve (August 8, 2011). "Interstate Link to Valley Moves Closer to Reality, Official Says". Brownsville Herald. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 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. "US 83 Regional Corridor Study (from I-2 to US 59/State Loop 20 Junction)". www.txdot.gov. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  19. 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.
  20. Texas Department of Transportation, plans of proposed highway maintenance contract (1.58 GB ZIP file), December 2014
  21. Gonzalez, Gabriela (June 2, 2023). "Cesar Chavez Road, I-2 exit ramp to permanently close". ValleyCentral.com. KVEO-TV. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
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