Interstate 69E (I-69E) is a north–south Interstate Highway running through South Texas. Once complete, the freeway will begin in Brownsville and head northward before terminating near Victoria as both I-69W and I-69E merge into I-69 toward Houston. For its entire length, I-69E runs concurrently with U.S. Highway 77 (US 77). The route currently exists in two segments: a 56.894-mile (91.562 km) segment from its southern terminus in Brownsville to the Willacy–Kenedy county line and a shorter 24.106-mile (38.795 km) segment south of Corpus Christi. The route has one auxiliary Interstate route, I-169 in Brownsville.

Route description

The interchange between I-37 and US 77 (Future I-69E corridor) in Corpus Christi in 2005

I-69E begins at an at-grade intersection just north of the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates in Brownsville. I-69E has a concurrency with US 77. I-69E intersects the eastern terminus of I-2 in Harlingen. After leaving Brownsville–Matamoros, I-69E temporarily ends and becomes US 77, a four-lane expressway. Another piece of I-69E picks up in Kingsville. I-69E passes through Bishop, Driscoll, and Robstown before terminating at a freeway-to-freeway style interchange with I-37 west of Corpus Christi.

History

A stated goal of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) I-69 initiative is that "existing suitable freeway sections of the proposed system be designated as I-69 as soon as possible". A bill was introduced and passed by the House of Representatives that allows Interstate quality sections of US 59, US 77, and US 281 to be signed as I-69 regardless of whether or not they connected to other Interstate Highways.

TxDOT submitted an application to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to designate 75 miles (121 km) of US 59 in Greater Houston and eight miles (13 km) of US 77 near Corpus Christi as I-69, as these sections are already built to Interstate Highway standards and connect to other Interstate Highways. In August 2011, TxDOT received approval from the FHWA for a six-mile (9.7 km) segment of US 77 between I-37 and State Highway 44 (SH 44) near Corpus Christi and was approved by AASHTO in October 2011. Officials held a ceremony on December 5, 2011, to unveil I-69 signs on the Robstown–Corpus Christi section.

The FHWA approved the designation for the eastern Lower Rio Grande Valley segment on May 24, 2013, and the Texas Transportation Commission followed suit on May 30, 2013. This action finalized the designations of not only I-69E but also of the sections of I-69C from Pharr north to the end of the US 281 freeway facility near Edinburg, and also I-2, which is a 46.8-mile (75.3 km) freeway that runs from Peñitas to Harlingen and connects with I-69C and I-69E. These approvals added over 100 miles (160 km) to the Interstate Highway System in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The signage was installed in mid-2013.

As of 2025[update], the cluster consisting of the recently designated portions of I-69E, I-69C, and I-2 in the Lower 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 the southern end of the previously signed portion of the I-69 corridor connecting with I-37 west of Corpus Christi. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for the upgrade 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.

During its 2019 Annual Meeting in October 2019, AASHTO approved an extension of the I-69E designation along US 77 from Farm to Market Road 892 (FM 892) to FM 2826 in Nueces County. The 3.3-mile (5.3 km) extension completes I-69E from I-37 in Calallen to the north end of the Driscoll Bypass. The northbound lanes of the Driscoll Bypass opened in 2021 while the southbound lanes opened on August 16, 2023. An additional bypass is also expected to be constructed around Riviera as well. This project received $177.7 million in funding in August 2023 and construction will begin 2027. Most of the projects between Raymondville and Riviera are not funded but still planned. A project to make upgrades near Norias had an official groundbreaking on July 31, 2024; this project is expected to be completed in three to four years.

Future

The section of I-69E north of Corpus Christi to Victoria is still in the early stages of development. Currently, plans have been released for I-69E to be built through Odem and then bypass Sinton; further north, it will be built through Woodsboro and then bypass Refugio. The Odem project has received partial funding while the others have received full funding. No other upgrade plans have been released. TxDOT held open houses in Refugio in late October 2023 in order to receive public feedback on the project.

Exit list

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
CameronBrownsville0.0000.000To Veterans International BridgeBridge over the Rio Grande to Mexico; south end of US 77/US 83 concurrency
Brownsville Veterans Port of Entry
0.2100.338University Boulevard / East AvenueTraffic controlled level intersection
Southern end of the freeway
0.3210.5170Polk StreetSouthbound exit only
0.607– 1.4910.977– 2.4001ASH 4 (International Boulevard) – International Airport, Gateway International Bridge
1.727– 1.7802.779– 2.8651B12th Street / 14th StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
2.3223.7371C6th StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
1.989– 3.3283.201– 5.3562SH 48 (Boca Chica Boulevard) – Airport
2.594– 4.4404.175– 7.1453Price Road / Old Alice Road
3.597– 5.7025.789– 9.1764Bus. US 77 south / FM 802 (Ruben M. Torres Sr. Boulevard)To Brownsville Baptist Medical Center
4.450– 6.4727.162– 10.4165Pablo Kisel Boulevard / Morrison Road
5.2008.3695BMorrison RoadClosed; was northbound exit only
5.854– 7.0229.421– 11.3016FM 3248 (Alton Gloor Boulevard)To Valley Regional Medical Center
7.193– 7.91311.576– 12.7357Stillman Road / Old Alice Road
8.233– 8.98813.250– 14.4658Merryman Road
9.083– 9.84314.618– 15.8419FM 1732 – Olmito
9.962– 11.03216.032– 17.75410ASH 550 to FM 511 – Port of Brownsville
10.725– 10.85717.260– 17.47310BI-169 south / SH 550 Toll east – Port of BrownsvilleSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
11.177– 12.30417.988– 19.80111FM 803 – Rancho Viejo
12.502– 13.35620.120– 21.49412Carmen AvenueRoad not connected yet
13.525– 14.27321.766– 22.97013Roberta Road
14.629– 15.39523.543– 24.77614SH 100 / FM 1421 – South Padre Island
15.761– 17.25425.365– 27.76816Frontage Road
16.400– 17.25426.393– 27.768Parking Area
​16.400– 17.15126.393– 27.60217Bus. US 77 north / FM 732 – San BenitoNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
​-Frontage RoadClosed; was northbound exit and southbound entrance
San Benito17.953– 18.74828.893– 30.17218FM 510 / FM 732 – San Benito
18.964– 20.70830.520– 33.32619AMcCulloch StreetNo direct southbound exit (signed at exit 19B)
19.532– 20.51231.434– 33.01119BSH 345 (Sam Houston Boulevard north) / FM 2520 (Sam Houston Boulevard south) / Ratliff StreetRatliff Street signed at exit 21 southbound
20.512– 21.84433.011– 35.15521Spur 486 (Williams Road) / Ratliff Street
21.973– 22.72435.362– 36.57122FM 509 (Paso Real Highway)
Harlingen22.887– 23.90336.833– 38.46823ALoop 499 east (Ed Carey Drive) / FM 801 west – AirportTo Valley Baptist Medical Center; signed as exit 23 northbound
24.194– 24.80538.936– 39.92023BNew Hampshire StreetNo direct northbound exit (signed at exit 23A)
24.191– 25.73238.932– 41.41224FM 1479 (Rangerville Road) / F Street
25.20240.55925M StreetNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
25.756– 25.79141.450– 41.50726ALincoln AvenueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
26.178– 27.27742.129– 43.89826BI-2 west / US 83 west – McAllen Bus. US 83 beginsEastern terminus of westbound Bus. US 83; north end of US 83 overlap; south end of northbound Bus. US 83 overlap; I-2 exit 176; eastern terminus of I-2
26.348– 26.97542.403– 43.41226CBus. US 83 west (Harrison Avenue) / Tyler Avenue (Spur 206 east) – DowntownEastern terminus of eastbound Bus. US 83; north end of northbound Bus. US 83 concurrency; Bus. US 83 not signed southbound
27.441– 27.63644.162– 44.47627Spur 54 west / Fairpark Boulevard east Bus. US 83 endsNo direct northbound exit (signed at exit 26C)
27.754– 28.70944.666– 46.20328FM 2994 (Wilson Road)
Harlingen–Combes line28.981– 29.82646.640– 48.00029ABus. US 77 / Loop 499 (Primera Road)Signed as exit 29 southbound
29.56247.57529BBus. US 77 northNorthbound exit only
Combes30.392– 31.18748.911– 50.19130SH 107 / FM 508 – Santa Rosa, Rio Hondo
​32.337– 33.16552.041– 53.37432Bus. US 77 south
​34.447– 35.22455.437– 56.68834Orphanage Road / V Road
​35FM 1925 west / Outer ParkwayProposed
​36.732– 37.68959.114– 60.65536Bus. US 77 north – Sebastian
WillacySebastian38.033– 38.78561.208– 62.41838Spur 413 west / FM 2629 east
39.007– 39.85362.776– 64.13739FM 1018
​41.86467.37442AFM 498 (Parker Road)No direct southbound exit (signed at exit 42B)
Lyford42.556– 43.58968.487– 70.15042BSpur 112 (Broadway Street)
​44.150– 45.25171.053– 72.82444Spur 56
​45.617– 46.38573.413– 74.64945FM 490
Raymondville46.729– 47.58475.203– 76.57947FM 3168
47.793– 48.65476.915– 78.30148SH 186 – Raymondville, Port Mansfield
​49.32479.37949FM 1762 / Conley RoadNo direct northbound exit (signed at exit 51)
​51.01151.71182.09483.22151Bus. US 77 south – RaymondvilleMileposts at northern end of the exit reflect US 77
​52.669– 53.15784.763– 85.54852Frontage RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
​54.00086.90554Yturria County Road, H Yturria, La Chata North Gate
Willacy–Kenedy county line​56.00090.12356Thomas Ranch Road, H Yturria, Punta Del Monte
Gap in route, connection made via US 77
Kenedy​85.100136.95585U.S. Customs and Border Protection Inspection Station Check PointNorthbound exit and entrance
​93.300150.15293Kenedy County Safety Rest Area
Sarita98.600158.68198La Parra AvenueProposed
KlebergRiviera103.000165.762103Bus. US 77 northProposed
104.000167.372104FM 771 east – Riviera BeachProposed
106.000170.590106Bus. US 77 southProposed
​107.000172.200107RM 628 east – Loyola BeachProposed
​111.800179.925112FM 772Proposed
Ricardo114.000183.465114FM 1118 eastProposed
Kingsville116.000186.684116Bus. US 77 north / East County Road 2120Opened 2024
118.000189.903118FM 1717 east (South Brahma Boulevard)
119.000191.512119FM 1356 (General Cavazos Boulevard)No northbound entrance; access to CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital
120.000193.121120AFM 425 (Senator Carlos Truan Boulevard)Northbound exit only
120.500193.926120BSH 141 (King Avenue) / Kenedy Avenue / Caesar Avenue
122.000196.340122FM 1898 (Corral Avenue) / FM 2045 (Santa Gertudis Avenue)
​123.000197.949123Sage RoadSouthbound exit only
​124.000199.559124Embarque
Nueces​125.000201.168125County Road 4Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Bishop126.000202.777126FM 257 – BishopOpened 2023
127.000204.387127FM 70 – Chapman Ranch, Agua DulceOpened 2023
​129.000207.605129Bus. US 77 south / County Road 10Opened 2018
​130.000209.215130FM 3354 / County Road 12 – Bishop AirportOpened 2021
Driscoll132.000212.433132Bus. US 77 – DriscollNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; opened 2023
134.000215.652134FM 665Opened 2023
136.000218.871136Bus. US 77 – DriscollSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; opened 2023
La Paloma-Lost Creek138.000222.089138FM 2826 / Conley Road
Robstown141.578227.848140County Road 36Southbound exit and northbound entrance; mileposts at the southern end of the exit reflect US 77
142.693229.642141FM 892No direct northbound exit (signed at exit 140)
142.097– 143.986228.683– 231.723142 (EB) 143 (WB)SH 44 – Robstown, Corpus Christi, AliceSplit into east and west exits northbound
144.643232.780144County Road 44Northbound exit and southbound entrance
​146.729– 147.360236.137– 237.153147Bus. US 77 south to SH 44 west / County Road 48 – Robstown, Alice
Corpus Christi147.939238.085148ACounty Road 52No direct northbound exit (signed at exit 148B)
148.429– 148.532238.873– 239.039148BFM 624 (Northwest Boulevard) / Leopard StreetTo Corpus Christi Medical Center-Northwest; southbound exit and northbound entrance only
148.663– 148.811239.250– 239.488149AI-37 south – Corpus ChristiExit 14A on I-37 northbound.
149.253– 149.387240.199– 240.415149B-CI-37 north – San Antonio Sharpsburg RoadSouthern end of I-37 concurrency; signed as 149B (I-37 north) and 149C (Sharpsburg Road). Current northern terminus of I-69E segment; and on Sharpsburg Road, northbound exit only.
San Patricio​151.000243.011151A-BI-37 south – Corpus Christi, Kingsville I-37 north – San AntonioProposed northern end of I-37 concurrency; signed as 151A (south) and 151B (north) southbound, and 17 northbound.
Odem154.000247.839154Bus. US 77 north – OdemProposed Odem bypass
​158.000254.276158FM 631
​160.000257.495160FM 1944
Sinton163.000262.323163Bus. US 77 south / Bus. US 77 north / FM 1945 west – Odem, SintonExisting interchanges of US 77 (conversion to Interstate standards)
164.000263.932164SH 188 – Mathis
165.000265.542165US 181 – Beeville
166.000267.151166SH 89 to US 181 – Beeville, Gregory
167.000268.760167Bus. US 77 south – Sinton
RefugioWoodsboro182.000292.901182Locke Street / Wood Avenue FM 2441
​184.000296.119184AToup Road
​184.500296.924184BBus. US 77 north – Refugio
Refugio187.000300.947187FM 774
​188.000302.557188Commons StreetProposed access via Commons Street Connector
​190.000305.775190Bus. US 77 south – Refugio
​207.000333.134207SH 239 – Tivoli, GoliadInterchange
Victoria​210.000337.962210FM 445 east / San Antonio River Road west – McFaddin
Victoria220.000354.056220US 77 north to Bus. US 77 north (Refugio Highway) / I-69W west / US 59 south – Victoria, LaredoI-69W will go west along US 59 to Laredo; Future north end of US 77 concurrency
221.000355.665221I-69 north / US 59 north – HoustonI-69 will go north along US 59 to Houston; Future northern terminus of I-69E; Future eastern terminus of I-69W; Future southern terminus of I-69
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Closed/formerConcurrency terminusIncomplete accessRoute transitionUnopened

See also

Notes

External links

Media related to Interstate 69E at Wikimedia Commons