U.S. Route 54 in Texas
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US 54 highlighted in red | ||||
Route information | ||||
Maintained by TxDOT | ||||
Length | 111.583 mi[1] (179.575 km) | |||
Existed | 1927–present | |||
Trans-Pecos section | ||||
South end | ||||
Major intersections | ||||
North end | ||||
Panhandle section | ||||
South end | ||||
Major intersections | ||||
North end | ||||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Texas | |||
Counties | El Paso; Hartley, Dallam, Sherman | |||
Highway system | ||||
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U.S. Route 54 (US 54) in Texas is a U.S. Highway that travels through two portions of the state: one in the far western point, and the other in the far northwest Panhandle.
Route description
US 54 begins in El Paso, Texas, as a controlled access highway at an intersection with Loop 375. The route then travels northward, joining up with I-110 within the first mile. A mile later, these highways intersect Interstate 10 at a complex, three level high expressway interchange which the locals call the "Spaghetti Bowl." I-110 ends here, while US 54 continues north through El Paso. The route turns northeast, becoming a rare example of a collector–express freeway in Texas (until the Pershing Drive exit) before entering New Mexico. The route re-enters Texas in the northwest Panhandle, traveling northeast through sparsely populated country. The route intersects US Route 87 and US Route 385 in Dalhart and US Route 287 in Stratford, before exiting into the Oklahoma Panhandle at Texhoma.
History
The southwestern portion was originally part of the Ozark Trails, paralleling the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad, and was originally given the numbering of State Highway 33. SH 33 continued into Texas farther south in the Panhandle, following the former Ozark Trail. The northern Panhandle portion was originally assigned to State Highway 56, paralleling the Chicago, Rock Island, and Gulf Railroad.
When the U.S. Highway System was unveiled in 1926, the northern section was assigned to U.S. Highway 54, while the southwestern portion was assigned to U.S. Highway 366. The US 366 designation was canceled in 1932 when other sections of the highway were added to an adjusted US Route 70. This section was added to US 54 in 1934, and has retained its numbering since. By 1939, the corresponding state highway designations had been canceled.
The highway continues on its original routing except for realignment in 1990 in El Paso, with the old route becoming US Business Route 54 and Texas Loop 478. Most of the current US 54 in El Paso is a limited-access highway known as the Patriot Freeway which, as of 2016, was only partially completed.
Future
US 54 from Haggerty Drive in northeast El Paso to the New Mexico state line is planned to eventually be upgraded to freeway status.[2]
Major intersections
County | Location | mi[3][4] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
El Paso | El Paso | 0.00 | 0.00 | - | National western terminus of US 54; left exit; Loop 375 exit 58 | ||
20 | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||||||
20A | Signed as exit 20 eastbound | ||||||
20B | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||||||
21 | Signed as exits 21A (east) and 21B (west); no exit 21A eastbound (I-10 east is signed at exit 20); no access from I-10 to US 54 west; I-10 exit 22B | ||||||
21C | Montana Avenue | Signed as part of exit 21B eastbound | |||||
22B | Pershing Drive | Signed as exit 22 westbound | |||||
23 | Cassidy Road - Fort Bliss | Signed as part of exit 22 westbound | |||||
24A | Fred Wilson Avenue / Broaddus Avenue / Railroad Drive | ||||||
24B | |||||||
25 | Ellerthorpe Avenue / Broaddus Avenue | ||||||
26 | |||||||
27 | Hondo Pass Drive | ||||||
28 | Diana Drive | ||||||
29 | Loop 375 exit 21 | ||||||
30 | Sun Valley Drive | No direct westbound exit (signed at exit 31) | |||||
31 | |||||||
32 | Sean Haggerty Drive | At-grade intersection; temporary east end of freeway | |||||
13.6 | 21.9 | 33 | At-grade intersection; future east end of freeway | ||||
Texas–New Mexico line | 20.0 | 32.2 | - | ||||
Continuation into New Mexico | |||||||
US 54 crosses through New Mexico | |||||||
Hartley | | 0.00 | 0.00 | New Mexico–Texas line | |||
| 8.5 | 13.7 | |||||
| 9.3 | 15.0 | |||||
| 35.2 | 56.6 | Counterclockwise terminus of FM 694 | ||||
| 37.5 | 60.4 | |||||
| 38.0 | 61.2 | Clockwise terminus of FM 694 | ||||
| 39.0 | 62.8 | |||||
Dallam | Dalhart | 40.8 | 65.7 | West end of US 87 Bus. overlap | |||
41.3 | 66.5 | Northern terminus of US 87 Bus.; east end of US 87 Bus. overlap; no access from FM 297 to US 54 west | |||||
| 46.4 | 74.7 | Serves Miller Airfield | ||||
Chamberlin | 51.5 | 82.9 | |||||
Conlen | 59.8 | 96.2 | |||||
60.7 | 97.7 | West end of FM 807 overlap | |||||
61.0 | 98.2 | East end of FM 807 overlap | |||||
Sherman | | 69.3 | 111.5 | ||||
Stratford | 72.3 | 116.4 | |||||
72.5 | 116.7 | ||||||
73.0 | 117.5 | ||||||
| 89.5 | 144.0 | |||||
Texhoma | 91.8 | 147.7 | |||||
91.9 | 147.9 | Continuation into Texhoma, Oklahoma | |||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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El Paso business loop
Location | El Paso |
---|---|
Length | 12.466 mi[5] (20.062 km) |
Existed | 1990–present[5] |
Business U.S. Highway 54-A or Bus. US 54-A is a business route of US 54 at El Paso commissioned in 1990. The 12.5-mile (20.1 km) route begins at US 54 and State Highway Loop 478 at the Patriot Freeway. The route runs along Dyer Street through Northeast El Paso near Fort Bliss to its northern terminus at the New Mexico state line. Access to US 54 eastbound continues forward into New Mexico for 0.3 miles (0.5 km) over a local road not recognized by New Mexico as a state highway that becomes a one-way entrance ramp merging with US 54. Highway signs in New Mexico direct westbound US 54 traffic to turn left on Edge of Texas Street at the state line to access Bus. US 54-A.[6]
Bus. US 54-A and Loop 478 are the former route of US 54 prior to construction of the Patriot Freeway. Bus. US 54-A was created when Loop 478, which originally followed the route to New Mexico, was shortened to its current terminus at the beginning of the business loop.[5][7] Loop 478 was first intended in 1969 to be the replacement for US 54 over the route and was planned to be signed as Business US 54 once the current US 54 was completed.[7] Bus. US 54-A was concurrent with US 54 until 1991.[5]
- Major intersections
The entire route is in El Paso County.
Location | mi[6] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
El Paso | 0.00 | 0.00 | Southern terminus; US 54 exit 26; Dyer St. continues as Loop 478 | ||
3.8 | 6.1 | Loop 375 exit 22 eastbound, 24A westbound | |||
4.0 | 6.4 | ||||
Texas–New Mexico line | 12.5 | 20.1 | Northern terminus | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
See also
References
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "U.S. Highway No. 54". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
- ^ Purvis, John (October 17, 2017). "When will U.S. 54 be a complete freeway?". KFOX. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ Google (July 28, 2010). "Route of US 54 in El Paso" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ Google (July 28, 2010). "Route of US 54 in the Texas Panhandle" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 54-A". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Google (November 18, 2010). "Route of Bus. US 54-A"" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
- ^ a b Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Loop No. 478". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 30, 2010.