Interstate 2

I-2 Texas
History
East End
West End

Overview

The Interstate 2 designation applies to 46.8 miles of preexisting U.S. 83 freeway between a point west of Mission and the new Interstate 69E in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The route serves McAllen, Pharr (Interstate 69C), Donna, Weslaco, Mercedes and Harlingen. Long range plans may extend I-2 northwest along U.S. 83 to Laredo.

History

An application by TXDOT to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for the designation of Interstate 2 was approved at the May 5, 2013 Route Numbering Committee meeting. The new route was coupled with the designations of Interstate 69C (Central) and 69E (East), and signs for all three debuted at ceremonies held in both Pharr and Harlingen on July 15, 2013.1

Interstate 2 was sought to form an Interstate connector between the legs of I-69 by the Alliance for I-69 Texas and Lower Rio Grande Valley community leaders.2 Signing of the route and Interstates 69C and 69E was made possible by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) legislation passed in 2012.2

Exit numbers and mileposts were added to Interstate 2 through the Rio Grande Valley by January 2016. They reflect the distance from Laredo, the long range planned west end of IH 2.

Route Information

  • West End – Palmview, TX

  • East End – Harlingen, TX

  • Mileage – 46.80

  • Cities – Mission, Pharr, Harlingen

  • Junctions – 

Source: December 31, 2018 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

U.S. 83 was rerouted between Mission and Harlingen between 1963 and 1966. This bypass was upgraded to a freeway in 1971-72.

The U.S. 77 freeway southeast from Harlingen to San Benito was constructed at the same time as the U.S. 83 freeway.

Highway Guides

East End   – Harlingen, Texas

west to

Spur 206 forms a one-way couplet along Tyler Avenue east and Harrison Avenue west to Downtown Harlingen. The state highway forms the initial frontage roads for IH 2 below the directional T interchange with IH 69E and U.S. 77-83. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (03/16/16).

High speed flyovers connect the Interstate 69E mainline with Interstate 2 & U.S. 83 leading west to McAllen. Spur 206 travels at-grade below the ramps to connect Harlingen with IH 2 via an on-ramp beyond Dixieland Road. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (03/16/16).

West End – at Showers Road – Palmview, Texas

Interstate 2 follows all of the U.S. 83 freeway to the Showers Road interchange at Palmview, where the limited access highway transitions into a surface arterial.

Sources:

  1. “Valley’s highways become one interstate.” ValleyCentral.com (KGBT TV-4), July 9, 2013.
  2. “Another 116 miles added to I-69 system in Texas.” Wharton Journal Spectator, June 5, 2013.
  3. “Re: Interstate 2” online posting by JotheC11, AARoads Forum, January 18, 2016.

Page updated April 5, 2016.