Interstate 110 in Texas is the portion of the U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway south of Interstate 10 in El Paso. This freeway is only signed as U.S. 54 because it is a very short route, and it is easier to refer to both the short Interstate and the much longer Patriot Freeway under one number, U.S. 54. This route was added to the Interstate System on March 28, 1967 per the Texas DOT webpage route log. Interstate 110 features a direct connection to Texas Loop 375, but its southern terminus is at the Cordova Port of Entry after crossing U.S. 62/Montana Avenue.
Even though this route is not signed as Interstate 110 in the field, it is shown on several maps, including the 2003 Mapquest Road Atlas map of El Paso. Unfortunately, the Mapquest map shows Interstate 110 terminating at Texas Loop 375. It does not end there; instead, it travels to the southwest to cross into Mexico. Interstate 110 is one of two three-digit Interstate highways that cross into a foreign country (the other is Interstate 190 in Niagara Falls, New York). The 2004 Official Texas State Map correctly shows the Interstate 110 portion of the U.S. 54 freeway in a dark red color, but it is not designated with a route marker on that map.
Source: October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
Southern Terminus - Cordova Port of Entry - downtown El Paso, Texas
Perspective from Interstate 110/U.S. 54 (Patriot Freeway) south
After the Interstate 10 interchange, southbound Interstate 110 and westbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway are briefly merged together. However, Interstate 110 leaves U.S. 54 at Exit 0B, which is signed solely as "Juarez." U.S. 54 continues south to connect with U.S. 62 (Exit 0A) and ultimately with Loop 375. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from Interstate 110 south
After splitting from U.S. 54, Interstate 110 south passes under the U.S. 62/Paisano Drive interchange. It is a three-level diamond interchange. Photo taken by Robert Lee (06/06).
Continuing south and emerging from the U.S. 62 underpass, this sign provides lane identification for travelers en route to Ciudad Juarez via the Cordova International Bridge over the Rio Grande. All traffic will default into Mexico with the exception of the final U-turn (from the left lane). Photo taken by Robert Lee (06/06).
Approaching the point where Interstate 110 leaves the United States and enters Mexico, the final U-turn is the last chance to remain within the United States. Along with Interstate 190 in New York, Interstate 110 in Texas is one of the two three-digit Interstate routes to provide direct access to a foreign country. (Future Interstate 905 in San Diego, California will also meet this rule once the California 905 freeway is completed and upgraded to Interstate standards.) Interstate 110 comes to an end here; there are no END shields. Photo taken by Robert Lee (06/06).
Perspective from Interstate 110 north
After crossing from Mexico into the United States after the Rio Grande bridge, Interstate 110 begins at this zero milepost. The milepost is located just north of the port of entry and is in the median next to the sign advising traffic for Interstate 10, U.S. 54, and U.S. 180 to continue straight ahead. A welcome to Texas sign (not shown) is also posted on this sign bridge. From here, Interstate 110 travels north to merge with U.S. 54 and then meet transcontinental Interstate 10. Photo taken by Robert Lee (06/06).
Perspective from U.S. 54 south
After the point where Interstate 110 and U.S. 54 separate, U.S. 54 continues south to interchange with U.S. 62/Paisano Drive (Exit 0B), then meets Loop 375. Note: in more recent photos from June 2006, it appears that the exit numbers are changing. Exit 0B now shows as Exit 20B. It is not clear where the new zero milepost will be during this renumbering. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Continuing south on U.S. 54 after Exit 0B (Junction U.S. 62/Paisano Drive), the freeway prepares to end at Loop 375. This interchange marks the southern terminus of U.S. 54 but not of Interstate 110. There is no END U.S. 54 shield, which is standard practice in the Lone Star State. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from Loop 375 West
Traveling west on Loop 375, the highway approaches the junction with U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway. The exit is signed as a connection to both U.S. 54 north and U.S. 62/Paisano Drive (Exit 0). Note the fence to the left of Loop 375; the Rio Grande and Mexico are just south and west of here. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
This is the first reassurance shield for U.S. 54, which actually appears on westbound Loop 375. Perhaps it would have been more appropriate to have an arrow below the shield and use it as a trailblazer rather than reassurance shield. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Westbound Loop 375 reaches its junction with U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway north to U.S. 62/Paisano Drive (Exit 0). Use U.S. 54 north to connect to Interstate 110 north to Interstate 10 and U.S. 180. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from U.S. 54 North
After departing from Loop 375, U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway begins its northbound journey. Its first interchange is with U.S. 62/Paisano Drive. To Interstate 110 south to Ciudad Juarez, use U.S. 62/Paisano Drive west, then follow the signs to Juarez. To Interstate 110 north, continue north (east) on U.S. 54. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Crossing over U.S. 62/Paisano Drive, the overpass carrying northbound Interstate 110 over northbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway comes into view. U.S. 54 and Interstate 110 do not merge per se; instead, they parallel each other between the point where they merge and the interchange with Interstate 10. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from U.S. 62 west
This sign is found on westbound U.S. 62/Paisano Drive at the point where it meets Interstate 110 just south of the Interstate 110/U.S. 54 split. Use this ramp to connect to Interstate 10, U.S. 54, and Interstate 110 to Ciudad Juarez. Exit here, then turn right (north) to follow the frontage road to the Interstate 110/U.S. 54 north onramp. To Ciudad Juarez, exit here, then turn left at the western frontage road (Gateway Boulevard South) to connect with Interstate 110 south to Mexico. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Westbound U.S. 62/Paisano Drive passes over Interstate 110. To the south is Chamizal National Memorial. The highway continues at near freeway standards until reaching the San Marcial Road traffic signal. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from U.S. 62 east
Now in the other direction, eastbound on U.S. 62/Paisano Drive reaches the offramp to Interstate 110 south to Ciudad Juarez and Interstate 110 north to U.S. 54 north and Interstate 10. The actual interchange with U.S. 54 is still further east of here. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from East San Antonio Avenue
Due to the odd configuration of the U.S. 62 and Interstate 110 interchange, there is only one ramp that connects to northbound Interstate 110 from either direction of U.S. 62, and it is from East San Antonio Avenue (which briefly parallels Interstate 110 between U.S. 62 and U.S. 54). Here, the connecting ramp from U.S. 62 splits into East San Antonio Avenue (eastbound) and Interstate 110 north to U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway, Interstate 10, and U.S. 180. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from Interstate 110/U.S. 54 (Patriot Freeway) north
After crossing over the Rio Grande and interchanging with U.S. 62/Paisano Drive, northbound Interstate 110 interweaves with U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway and parallels U.S. 54 for a short distance. It will remain that way (dual freeway between Interstate 110 and U.S. 54 north) until reaching the junction with Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 (Exits 1A-B-C). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Northbound Interstate 110 and U.S. 54 reaches Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 east. This sign was removed as part of an interchange reconstruction project in 2005. Note the construction in the preceding and following photos. The interchange between the U.S. 54 and Interstate 10 freeways is a multilevel stack. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (12/00).
After Exit 1A (Junction Interstate 10/U.S. 180 east), the right lane becomes exit only for Exit 1B, Junction Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 west and Exit 1C, Montana Avenue. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Northbound Interstate 110 ends as it splits at this point, with the left two lanes connecting to northbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway and the right lane connecting to Exits 1B-C, Junction Interstate 10/U.S. 180 west and Montana Avenue. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
This view shows the transition ramp to westbound Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 at the point where it splits with Montana Avenue. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from Interstate 10 east
Traveling on eastbound Interstate 10, the first indication for the junction with U.S. 54 and secret Interstate 110 appears at Exit 21A, Dallas Street/Cotton Street. The next exit is Exit 21B, Piedras Street, followed by Exit 22A, Junction Loop 478/Copia Street and Exit 22B, Junction Interstate 110/U.S. 54, Patriot Freeway. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 10 is Exit 21B, Piedras Street. A mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits, which includes Exit 22B, Junction Interstate 110 and U.S. 54. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Use the left three lanes to continue east on Interstate 10 to Van Horn and San Antonio. The right lane exits only to Exit 22A, Junction Loop 478/Copia Street, while the other lanes connect to Exit 22B, Junction U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway north to Alamogordo, New Mexico, and Junction Interstate 110/U.S. 54 south to the International Border and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Eastbound Interstate 10 reaches Exit 22A, Junction Loop 478/Copia Street. After this offramp, the two right lanes will directly connect to U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway. Use U.S. 54 north to Fort Bliss and New Mexico; use Interstate 110/U.S. 54 south to Loop 375 and the spur into Mexico. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
U.S. 54 is a major diagonal route that originates only a mile south of here at the junction with Loop 375. From there, the federal highway travels north into New Mexico, then northeast back into Texas, through Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, before ending at Interstate 72 and U.S. 36 in western Illinois. It used to continue all the way to Chicago before the route was truncated in 1972. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Eastbound Interstate 10 reaches Exit 22B, Junction Interstate 110 south and U.S. 54 to Alamogordo and Ciudad Juarez. The next exit on eastbound Interstate 10 is Exit 23A, Raynolds Street. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Now on the transition ramp from eastbound Interstate 10, the ramp partitions here, with the left two lanes continuing onto northbound U.S. 54 (east), while the right lane offers an optional connection to southbound Interstate 110/U.S. 54 to Ciudad Juarez. Note the lack of a route number for this particular offramp. Although the right exit is signed for Juarez, there is an exit for the connection to Loop 375 and Chamizal National Memorial. Since Interstate 110 ends at the border crossing, the last U.S. U-turn is the final chance for turning around before crossing the Rio Grande and entering Mexico. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Connecting to northbound U.S. 54 from eastbound Interstate 10, this view shows the below-grade freeway that continues north toward Fort Bliss and New Mexico. It is not part of Interstate 110. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from U.S. 54 (Patriot Freeway) south
The first appearance of signage for the junction with Interstate 10 on southbound (westbound) U.S. 54 appears after the Pershing Drive interchange on the dual freeway segment. Through here, U.S. 54 has local and express lanes, with the local lanes providing the exit connections and the express lanes providing the most direct route with limited exits. Although unsigned, U.S. 54 west also carries Interstate 110 south to Ciudad Juarez. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Southbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway reaches Exit 1B, Junction Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 west to Las Cruces. The next exit is Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 east to Van Horn. Exit 1B (shown here from the express lanes) is nothing more than a slip ramp from the express lanes into the local lanes. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
This stout, all-capital-letters sign is found on the express lanes on southbound U.S. 54 after the slip ramp that connects to westbound Interstate 10. It simply advises that traffic to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, should continue straight ahead. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Looking at the local lanes from the express lanes on southbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway, this set of signs advises that through traffic on U.S. 54 and traffic en route to Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 10/U.S. 180 east should remain left, while traffic departing to Exit 1C, Montana Avenue and Exit 1B, Junction Interstate 10/U.S. 180 west should prepare to exit right. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
To Chamizal National Memorial, use U.S. 54 (Interstate 110) south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Again looking at the local lanes (as seen from the express lanes) on southbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway, this is another set of signs advising that the local lanes end and that motorists should stay right for Exits 1C (Montana Avenue) and 1B (Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 west to Las Cruces). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Southbound U.S. 54 (Local) reaches Exit 1C, Montana Avenue and approaches the exit only to Exit 1B, Junction Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 west to Las Cruces. A slip ramp here (see foreground) brings through traffic from the local lanes to the main lanes; U.S. 54 is again reunited with one set of main lanes. The next exit on the main lanes is Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 10 and U.S. 180 east to Van Horn and San Antonio. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
This is a closer view of the same set of overhead signs as U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway south approaches Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 10/U.S. 180 east. The right two lanes become exit only for this connection, and the massive stack interchange with Interstate 10 comes into view. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Although not signed, the pull-through sign could also include a shield for Interstate 110 south, which officially begins as the Patriot Freeway passes through the interchange with Interstate 10. Note that the left two lanes continue south toward Ciudad Juarez, while the right two lanes exit only to Interstate 10/U.S. 180 east (Exit 1A). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Southbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway reaches Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 10/U.S. 180 east to Van Horn and San Antonio. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
After the traffic for Exit 1A departs, the remaining two lanes pass through the massive Interstate 10 stack interchange. Merging traffic joins from Gateway Boulevard South. At this point, Interstate 110 south begins; it is still signed as U.S. 54 west. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Perspective from Interstate 110/U.S. 54 (Patriot Freeway) south
After the Interstate 10 interchange, southbound Interstate 110 and westbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway are briefly merged together. However, Interstate 110 leaves U.S. 54 at Exit 0B, which is signed solely as "Juarez." U.S. 54 continues south to connect with U.S. 62 (Exit 0A) and ultimately with Loop 375. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Incoming traffic from either direction of Interstate 10 is shuttled onto a collector-distributor lane to the right of the main lanes for southbound Interstate 110 and U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway. These signs advise of lane allocations for Exit 0B (Junction Interstate 110 south to Juarez) and Exit 0A, Junction U.S. 62/Paisano Drive. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
For Chamizal National Memorial, use Exit 0A, Junction U.S. 62/Paisano Drive. The mountains in the background are across the Rio Grande in Mexico. U.S. 54 has less than a mile until its end at Loop 375; Interstate 110 has a similar distance to make its way to the Rio Grande crossing into Mexico. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
Southbound U.S. 54/Patriot Freeway splits with Interstate 110 at Exit 0B. The pull-through sign for south U.S. 54 now shows Loop 375 rather than U.S. 54. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (01/14/06).
