Interstate 35

Interstate 35 marker

Interstate 35
Route information
Length: 1,569.06 mi[1] (2,525.16 km)
Existed: 1956 (completed 1982)[2] – present
Major junctions
South end: BL I-35 / US 83 / SH 359 in Laredo, TX
(to MX 85)
 
North end: MN 61 / London Road / 26th Avenue in Duluth, MN
Location
States: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota
Highway system

Interstate 35 (IH-35 or I-35) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the American-Mexican border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 (London Road) and 26th Avenue East.[3] Many Interstate Highways formerly had splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters (N/S/E/W), and I-35 was the only one that still had such divisions, before the recent opening of I-69C, I-69E, and I-69W in South Texas. In two stretches, both through twin cities, the highway splits into Interstate 35E—at Dallas and at Saint Paul, Minnesota—and Interstate 35W—at Fort Worth, Texas, and at Minneapolis.

At 1,568 mi (2,523 km), Interstate 35 is the ninth-longest Interstate Highway following Interstate 94, and it is the third-longest north-south Interstate Highway, following Interstate 75 and Interstate 95. Even though the route is generally considered to be a border to border highway, this highway does not directly connect to either international border. I-35's southern terminus is a traffic signal in Laredo, Texas, just short of the Mexican-American border. Travelers going south can take one of two toll bridges across the Rio Grande and the Mexican border, either straight ahead into the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, or via Interstate 35 Business through downtown Laredo into the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge.

To the north, I-35 terminates in Duluth, Minnesota, with connections to Canada from the interstate's terminus via Minnesota Highway 61 to Grand Portage, or north to the border at International Falls, Minnesota via U.S. Route 53 in Duluth, but that route is more typically accessed from the south by Minnesota Highway 33 at Cloquet, Minnesota.

Route description

Lengths
  mikm
TX 503.96 811.04
OK 235.96 379.74
KS 235.53 379.05
MO 114.74 184.66
IA 219.23 352.82
MN 259.64 417.85
Total 1569.06 2525.16

Texas

Interstate 35 starts at this traffic signal in Laredo, Texas

Interstate 35 northbound begins at a traffic-signaled intersection with Business Spur I-35 in Laredo, Texas, just north of the Rio Grande and the international border between Mexico and the US. Through Webb, La Salle, and Frio Counties, it has a mostly north-northeastern course, turning more northeastly around Moore.[4] It then cuts across the corners of Medina and Atascosa Counties before entering Bexar County and San Antonio.

Interstate 35 is named the Pan Am Expressway in San Antonio. There, it has brief concurrencies with both Interstate 10 and Interstate 410, and it serves as the northern terminus of Interstate 37. I-35 heads northward out of the city towards the state capital, Austin, Texas.

In Austin, Interstate 35 is the Interregional Highway.[5] Throughout Austin, elevated express lanes were constructed on either side of the original freeway. Prior to this expansion, this section included an at-grade railroad crossing, which is extremely unusual for a freeway. From Austin, I-35 goes through Round Rock, Temple, and Waco. In Waco, I-35 is the Jack Kultgen Freeway. The campuses of the University of Texas at Austin and Baylor University are located adjacent to I-35.

I-35 then heads to Hillsboro, where it splits up into I-35W and I-35E and runs through the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The official mile markers follow I-35E through Dallas—I-35W, which is 85 miles (137 km) in length, carries its own mileage from Hillsboro to Denton, as though it were an x35 loop. In Dallas, I-35 is the R.L. Thornton Freeway south of I-30, which picks up the name heading east. North of I-30, it is the Stemmons Freeway.

After passing through Dallas and Fort Worth, I-35's two forks merge in Denton near the University of North Texas campus. The unified interstate then continues north to Gainesville before crossing the Red River into Oklahoma.

Oklahoma

Interstate 35 in Goldsby, Oklahoma at milemarker 102.

In Oklahoma, I-35 runs from the Red River at the Texas border to the Kansas state line near Braman. It passes through or adjacent to many of the state's major cities. From south to north these cities include Ardmore, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Norman, Moore, Oklahoma City, Del City, Midwest City, Yukon, Edmond, El Reno, Guthrie, Stillwater, and Ponca City. In Downtown Oklahoma City, I-35 has a major junction with I-40 and spurs into I-235 through the north central inner city as heavy traffic follows through the city into the northern area of the state.

Kansas

A view from the I-35 portion of the Turnpike, between mileposts 29 and 30.

Between the Oklahoma state line and Emporia, I-35 is part of the Kansas Turnpike. This section of interstate serves Wichita and passes through the Flint Hills area. At Emporia, I-35 branches off on its own alignment. This free section of I-35 provides access to Ottawa before entering the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, where it serves Johnson County, and Kansas City, Kansas.

Of note on the route, at several points between Cassoday and Emporia in the Flint Hills dirt driveways that provide direct access without a ramp, for cattle trucks, may be found in either direction along the highway.

BETO Junction is a highway intersection in Coffey County, Kansas that is the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and I-35. It derives its name from the four major cities nearest the intersection: Burlington, Emporia, Topeka, and Ottawa. It is located 16 miles (26 km) north of Burlington at exit 155. Historically, the intersection referred to as "BETO Junction" before I-35 was constructed was located on the old US 75 highway alignments 2 miles (3.2 km) south and 2 miles (3.2 km) east, near Waverly, Kansas.

Missouri

Bond (new) and Paseo (old), carries I-35 in Kansas City

I-35 enters Missouri two miles (3 km) southwest of Kansas City's Central Business District as a six-lane highway. After merging with Southwest Trafficway and Broadway, it becomes eight lanes and continues north to downtown Kansas City, where it serves as the west and north legs of the downtown freeway loop. Along the north edge of the loop, I-35 joins with I-70 immediately west of Broadway and carries six lanes of traffic with a speed limit of 45 mph (72 km/h). Upon leaving the loop, Interstate 29 begins, concurrent with I-35. The two interstates cross the Missouri River together on the Bond Bridge.

After crossing the river, I-29 and I-35 split. I-35 heads north to Cameron, Missouri, and then continues northward to the Iowa state line.

Iowa

Main article: Interstate 35 in Iowa
Interstate 35 in Iowa, near Exit 182. The town of Swaledale is about one mile to the east.

I-35 is part of the Avenue of the Saints between Clear Lake and St. Paul, Minnesota. A four-lane link has been completed between Clear Lake and Interstate 380 in Waterloo, Iowa.

In the southern sections of the state, I-35 is parallel to U.S. Route 69 for much of its course.

In Des Moines, I-35 has a 12-mile (19 km) overlap with I-80. The concurrency takes place northwest of the downtown district of the city. At exit 127 of I-80, the overlap turns east and terminates at exit 137 via an interchange with Interstate 235.

North of Des Moines, I-35 is mainly parallel with US 69, traversing a vast and rural area of Iowa.[6]

Minnesota

Interstate 35's northern terminus is at this intersection with London Road (MN 61) in Duluth, Minnesota, with Lake Superior in the background.

All of I-35 in the state of Minnesota from the Iowa state line to the city of Duluth is officially designated the Red Bull Highway, after the 34th Infantry (Red Bull) Division.

At Medford, Minnesota, the on/off ramps lead to roundabouts rather than standard cross intersections.[7] This is the first site in the state linked to a major highway to use roundabouts.

I-35 splits again into I-35W and I-35E in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota area. The mile- and exit-numbering sequence continues along I-35E. At one sharp turn in I-35W near the junction with I-94, drivers are advised to slow to 35 mph (55 km/h) (although many drivers are able to maintain the speed limit of 55 mph (90 km/h)). Additionally, it is not possible to go from westbound I-94 to northbound I-35W, from southbound I-35W to eastbound I-94, from eastbound I-94 to southbound I-35E, or from northbound I-35E to westbound I-94 without resorting to surface streets.

On I-35E in Minnesota between Minnesota Highway 5 and Interstate 94, in both directions, trucks weighing more than 9,000 lbs (4,082 kg) are banned from the freeway, and the speed limit drops to 45 mph (70 km/h) but is rarely obeyed. This section was not completed until the late 1980s (although the route was cleared and graded earlier) due to opposition from the historic Crocus Hill neighborhood, which sits only a few hundred feet from the alignment. The four-lane alignment, "parkway" design was a compromise. The truck bypass for this section is signed on I-494 and I-694 to the east of Saint Paul.

I-35 has an interchange with I-535/U.S. 53 in Duluth, Minnesota, known locally as the "Can of Worms". This junction features a pair of left exits from I-35, a stoplight, and lane drops over the I-35 bridge.[8]

The national northern terminus of I-35 is at an intersection in eastern Duluth. Drivers' options include merging with London Road/Minnesota Highway 61 northbound, proceeding through the stop lights onto 26th Avenue East, or turning left onto London Road southbound.

History

Some sections of I-35 in Oklahoma City were already built in 1953, before the Interstate system was created.[9] Through Norman, Oklahoma, the interstate opened in June 1959. In Moore, it opened in two parts: the northern half, connecting Moore to Oklahoma City, opened in January 1960. The southern half, linking it to Norman, was opened to traffic in June 1967.[10]

I-35 through Oklahoma largely parallels U.S. Route 77. This is in large part due to efforts of the towns of Wynnewood, Paoli, and Wayne, which fought to keep I-35 as close as possible to U.S. 77. This was successful due to a threat from Governor Henry Bellmon to build a toll road rather than I-35, and legislation preventing state funds for the interstate from being spent if it were more than 1-mile (1.6 km) from the U.S. route.[11]

I-35 was completed in Oklahoma in 1971, when parts of the interstate running through Carter Co. and Murray Co. were opened to traffic.[9]

The final segment of I-35 (as originally planned) to open was in north central Iowa, between Mason City and US 20 near Iowa Falls. This segment was delayed due to some controversy. Originally, I-35 was to follow the alignment of US 69 from Des Moines all the way to the Minnesota border. However, Mason City's business community lobbied for the route to be moved closer to their city. On September 1, 1965, the alignment was changed to instead parallel US 65 through northern Iowa, which brought the highway much closer to Mason City. This, however, created a long diagonal section through Wright and Franklin counties. Local farmers objected to their farms being bisected into triangular pieces, and resulting litigation delayed I-35 for several years. A November 1972 ruling rejected a lawsuit filed by the farmers, and the final segment of I-35 was allowed to proceed, eventually opening in 1975. One of the final pieces of the highway puzzle happened in Faribault, Minnesota. For approximately 25 years, Highway 35 actually went through the town and travelers had to deal with several traffic lights. In 1975, the highway went around Faribault where today a traveler actually has three exit choices for this southern Minnesota town.

The Paseo Bridge over the Missouri River in Kansas City, Missouri was replaced by the dual-span cable-stayed Christopher S. Bond Bridge in December 2010.[12]

"NAFTA Superhighway" controversy

Further information: NAFTA superhighway
Interstate 29 and Interstate 35.

The proposed Trans-Texas Corridor toll-road project includes one proposal (TTC-35) to primarily parallel I-35 from the Mexican border up to the Oklahoma border.[13] There are major disagreements as to what impact this parallel route would have on I-35 in terms of traffic, maintenance, and commerce.

The Trans-Texas Corridor was first proposed by Texas Governor Rick Perry in 2002. It consists of a 1,200 foot (366 m) wide highway that also carries utilities such as electricity, petroleum and water as well as railway track and fiber-optic cables.[14] In July 2007, U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter successfully offered an amendment to House Resolution 3074, the FY2008 Transportation Appropriations Act, prohibiting the use of federal funds for Department of Transportation participation in the activities of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). Hunter stated that: "Unfortunately, very little is known about the NAFTA Super Highway. This amendment will provide Congress the opportunity to exercise oversight of the highway, which remains a subject of question and uncertainty, and ensure that our safety and security will not be compromised in order to promote the business interests of our neighbors."[15] Fellow Republican Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul brought the issue to mainstream prominence during the December 2007 CNN-YouTube GOP debate, where he rejected the concept and also called it the NAFTA Superhighway after the North American Free Trade Agreement and, like Hunter, framed it within the ultimate goal of creating a North American Union.

In 2011, the Texas Legislature formally repealed its authority for the establishment and operation of the Trans-Texas Corridor. with the passage of HB 1201.[16] [17]

Junction list

Southern segment
Texas
US 83 in Laredo. The highways travel concurrently to Botines.
I‑69W / US 59 in Laredo
US 57 in Moore
I‑410 in San Antonio
I‑10 / US 87 / US 90 in San Antonio. I-10/I-35/US 87 travels concurrently through San Antonio.
I‑37 / US 281 in San Antonio
I‑410 on the San Antonio–Windcrest city line
US 290 in Austin. The highways travel concurrently through Austin.
US 183 in Austin
US 79 in Round Rock
US 190 in Belton. The highways travel concurrently to Temple.
US 77 in Waco. The highways travel concurrently to northeast of Hillsboro.
US 84 on the Waco–Bellmead city line
I‑35E / I‑35W north-northeast of Hillsboro
Central segment
Texas
I‑35E / I‑35W in Denton
US 380 in Denton
US 77 in Denton. The highways travel concurrently to south of Thackerville, Oklahoma.
US 82 in Gainesville
Oklahoma
US 70 in Ardmore. The highways travel concurrently through Ardmore.
US 77 north of Springer
US 77 in Davis
US 77 in Norman. The highways travel concurrently to Oklahoma City.
I‑240 / US 62 in Oklahoma City. I-35/US 62 travels concurrently through Oklahoma City.
I‑40 / I‑235 / US 77 / US 270 in Oklahoma City. I-35/I-40/US 270 travels concurrently through Oklahoma City.
I‑44 in Oklahoma City. The highways travel concurrently through Oklahoma City.
US 77 in Edmond. The highways travel concurrently to Guthrie.
US 77 in Perry
US 64 in Perry. The highways travel concurrently to north-northwest of Perry.
US 64 / US 412 north-northwest of Perry
US 60 in Tonkawa
US 177 north-northwest of Braman
Kansas
US 166 east-northeast of South Haven
US 160 east of Wellington
I‑135 in Wichita
US 54 / US 400 in Wichita
US 77 north of El Dorado
I‑335 in Emporia
US 50 in Emporia
US 50 east of Emporia. The highways travel concurrently to Lenexa.
US 75 south-southeast of Olivet
US 59 in Ottawa. The highways travel concurrently to east-northeast of Ottawa.
US 56 in Gardner. The highways travel concurrently to Merriam.
US 169 in Olathe. The highways travel concurrently to Merriam.
I‑435 / US 50 in Lenexa
US 69 in Lenexa. The highways travel concurrently to Merriam.
I‑635 / US 69 in Mission. I-35/US 69 travels concurrently to Kansas City.
US 169 in Kansas City
Missouri
I‑670 in Kansas City
I‑70 / US 24 / US 40 / US 169 in Kansas City. The highways travel concurrently through Kansas City.
I‑29 / I‑70 / US 40 / US 71 in Kansas City. I-29/I-35/US 71 travels concurrently through Kansas City.
US 69 in Kansas City
I‑435 in Claycomo
US 69 in Pleasant Valley. The highways travel concurrently to Liberty.
US 69 south of Cameron
US 36 in Cameron
US 69 southwest of Winston
US 69 north-northwest of Altamont
US 136 in Bethany
Iowa
US 69 on the Iowa state line south of Lamoni
US 34 in Osceola
I‑80 / I‑235 in West Des Moines. I-35/I-80 travels concurrently to Ankeny.
US 6 on the Clive–Urbandale city line
US 69 in Des Moines
I‑80 / I‑235 in Ankeny
US 30 southeast of Ames
US 20 southeast of Blairsburg
US 18 south-southeast of Clear Lake. The highways travel concurrently to Clear Lake.
Minnesota
US 65 southeast of Albert Lea
US 65 in Albert Lea
I‑90 northeast of Albert Lea
US 14 / US 218 in Owatonna
I‑35E / I‑35W in Burnsville
Northern segment
I‑35E / I‑35W in Columbus
US 8 in Forest Lake
US 61 in Wyoming
US 2 in Duluth. The highways travel concurrently through Duluth.
I‑535 / US 53 in Duluth
London Road and South 26th Avenue East in Duluth

References

  1. ↑ Staff (October 31, 2002). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
  2. ↑ Gyure, Joseph. "Interstate 35 dramatically changed Waco's face". Waco Tribune-Herald. Archived from the original on January 12, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2006.
  3. ↑ Google (February 15, 2008). "overview map of I-35" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  4. ↑ Texas Official Travel Map (Map). Cartography by TxDOT. Texas Department of Transportation. 2006.
  5. ↑ Bear, Jacci Howard. "Are Interstate Highway 35 and Interregional Highway 35 the Same Road?". About.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
  6. ↑ Motor Carriers' Road Atlas (Map) (Deluxe ed.). Rand McNally. 2007. p. 38.
  7. ↑ Staff (September 2004). "Excellence in Highway Design 2004". Focus: Accelerating Infrastructure Innovations. Federal Highway Administration. 21 (8). ISSN 1060-6637. FHWA-HRT-04-029. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2006.
  8. ↑ Google (June 8, 2009). "overview map and aerial photo of the Can of Worms interchange" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Cockerell, Penny (June 29, 2006). "50 Years: As the intersection of Interstates 35, 40, and 44, Oklahoma is at America's crossroads". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. p. 2A.
  10. ↑ Medley, Robert (June 29, 2006). "Highways continue to drive economy". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. p. 1D.
  11. ↑ McNichol, Dan (2006). The Roads that Built America: The Incredible Story of the U.S. Interstate System. New York: Sterling. ISBN 1-4027-3468-9.
  12. ↑ Jansen, Meghan (December 17, 2010). "All Interstate 29/35 Ramps and Lanes Open Tomorrow: On-Budget and Six Months Ahead of Schedule" (Press release). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  13. ↑ "I-35 Corridor Section". Trans-Texas Corridor Study. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007.
  14. ↑ Kovach, Gretel (December 10, 2007). "Highway to Hell?". Newsweek. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
  15. ↑ Kasper, Joe (July 25, 2007). "Hunter NAFTA Super Highway Amendment Passes House" (Press release). Office of Congressman Duncan Hunter. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Texas Legislature Online - 82(R) History for HB 1201". Texas Legislature. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Texas Legislature Online - 82(R) Text for HB 1201" (PDF). Texas Legislature. Retrieved August 13, 2013.

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