Interstate 69C Texas

Interstate 69C

History
North End
South End

Overview

Interstate 69C was approved at the AASHTO meeting on November 15, 2012 for 13.5 miles of U.S. 281 freeway within Hidalgo County. The route initially ended 0.5 miles north of the U.S. 281 junction with FM 2812, where the pre-existing freeway transitioned into an at-grade divided highway.1

The Texas Transportation Commission approved another 4.5 miles of IH 69C on November 20, 2014. The section runs north from the previous freeway end to FM 490 by Edinburg Airport. This designation was made official during fall 2015 following formal notification that the work was completed to Interstate standards and approved by the Administrator of the FHWA.3

IH 69C will ultimately run north to IH 69W at George West.

History

The Edinburg bypass of U.S. 281 opened to traffic in 1980 as the first project to upgrade the corridor in Hidalgo County to limited access standards. The letter “C” in Interstate 69C relates to the I-69 branch designated “I-69 Central” in planning documents.2

A ceremony was held on July 15, 2013 in Pharr for the signing of both Interstates 2 and 69C on the same day a similar event took place in McAllen for Interstates 2 and 69E.

Route Information

  • North End – Edinburg, TX

  • South End – Pharr, TX

  • Mileage – 18.0

  • Cities – McAllen

  • Junctions – I-2

Texas Department of Transportation – Highway Designation File for INTERSTATE HIGHWAY NO. 69C, December 31, 2018 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

Rio Grande Valley – 1983 Texas Official Highway Map

Old U.S. 281 through Edinburg was established as SL 113 on April 14, 1980. The 6.9-mile route was renumbered as Business U.S. Highway 281-W on June 21, 1990.

North End US 281 FM 490 – Edinburg, Texas

Presently Interstate 69C ends at the diamond interchange with FM 490 and transition of U.S. 281 from a freeway to a divided highway.

South End I-2 US 83 / Pharr, Texas

Perspective from Interstate 2 east & U.S. 83 south
Exit numbers were added to IH 2 by 2016, reflecting the ultimate planned terminus at Laredo. Pictured here is the one mile approach to the directional T interchange (Exits 146A/B) with IH-69C and U.S. 281. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (03/16/16).

Sources

  1. SCOH Report from Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering Annual Meeting, November 16, 2012.
  2. I-69 from McAllen to Victoria, I69Info.com: Interstate 69, web site (Chris Lawrence).
  3. “Another 6.1 Miles Added to I-69 Texas System.” Alliance for I-69 Texas web site, November 30, 2015.

Page updated April 5, 2016.