Can You Believe How Many Intrastate Interstates Texas Potentially Could Have?

Basically, the worst-kept secret in the United States is that Texas is a very, very big state. That, we already gather. But have you taken a good look at our interstate highway system to see how many such highways are long and don't ever leave the state?

Not counting the loops (410, 635, 820, and 610), Texas has the following interstate highways that never leave this state: 45, 14, 2, 369, 37, and 27. Those would be labeled as intrastate interstates in the modern lexicon. Now, consider just how much more we could end up having, provided the support and funding come into place, let alone feasibility studies, environmental evaluations, right-of-way clearing, and design....

I'll start with Interstate 27. Currently, its southern terminus is in Lubbock, but can you imagine how much further it could go? The potential is there for the road to extend down to I-35 just north of Laredo. That would put mile marker 524 approximately in the vicinity of Downtown Lubbock. The northern terminus, Amarillo, will be close to 650. Imagine an interstate with 650 miles and not having to leave Texas. Not only that, but it'd be a great western alternative to I-35.

Now, the aforementioned I-14 is part of a national project for five states, but is, at the moment, an intrastate interstate. It's nearly thirty miles long now, but later on, it will have the potential for 570 miles in Texas alone, depending on how the mainline route will play out. If you add the proposed northern route from Brady to Midland (assuming that the mainline will follow U.S. Highway 190), then that's an extra 190 miles to the I-14 network. Wow!

Then, there's I-369, which, for now, is only three miles on the west side of Texarkana. When completed, it's expected to be approximately 130 miles in length, from Tenaha to just north of Texarkana.......and still stay within the state of Texas.

And I don't have to tell you about I-45, do I? Still goes from Galveston to Downtown Dallas, but really should be routed all the way to I-244 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Disappointing, considering that Okies and Texans have had a golden opportunity to connect with I-44. But, no. Okies are worried, reportedly, about any road taking away from Oklahoma City and I-35. They're apparently not seeing the big picture. Getting Tulsa and Dallas connected has needed to be a goal for both states since the 1970s. It would not hurt OK City in the least, and 45 would be a boon for the eastern part of Oklahoma, creating a safe route for moving goods faster. As it is, though, I-45 remains an intrastate interstate in the Lone Star State. I won't give up this campaign, though.

Let me take you to South Texas, where I-37 runs from Corpus Christi up to San Antonio. There are no plans to bring it any further north from Downtown SA. It, too, stays in Texas, but it's not terribly long (just 140 miles). Heck, U.S. 281 north of town is an adventure in and of itself that you won't need no dang interstate.

In the deepest part of South Texas, you have Interstate 2 going east-to-west from near McAllen over to Harlingen. Eventually, the road's western terminus will be up north in Laredo but will maintain an east-west designation..............and never leave Texas. Hey, something's got to give here.

And now, some potential future routes:

I-XX - Lubbock, Abilene, Austin, and Houston connected with U.S. highways 380, 83, 183, and 290. We won't let anything like I-14 disrupt the process. 14, by the way, was the original number I assigned this potential route before some dingleberry got hold of it and decided to initiate the current routing for it. I had then given this endeavor I-18, and it's actually still up for grabs. That'd still be the best number for such an undertaking.

I-XX - Amarillo to Fort Worth along an improved U.S. 287. Wichita Falls will, most definitely, be part of this. It's long overdue, and yet, it won't leave Texas if built. The prominent number being thrown around is 32.

I-269 - That's the running name for now, since I got this from another online source. If this comes to pass, then it will connect from Woodsboro (at I-69E) and go through Corpus Christi, traversing across their brand-new bay bridge (expected to be completed next year), and then swinging southwest to Kingsville. Guess what? Won't leave Texas.

I-127 - This is a potential connector from Midland up to Lamesa, where it would intersect with a potential I-27 extension south of Lubbock. The number is not official, but it would make the most sense, as it could become a spur route.

So, there's your summary of interstate roads (existing or otherwise) which never set foot out of Texas. All the more reason why my state is so big.