Farm to Market Road 170
Encyclopedia
Farm to Market Road 170, Farm Road 170, or FM 170 is a 114.6 miles (184.4 km) highway maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
in Presidio
and Brewster
counties in Texas
. The route, known locally as the River Road, runs along the United States
side of the Rio Grande
which in Texas forms the international boundary between the U.S. and Mexico
. The road runs from Candelaria
through the city of Presido
as well as several smaller communities and former settlements to State Highway 118 in Study Butte
near Big Bend National Park
. The road also passes through the southern portion of Big Bend Ranch State Park
.
The highway was first designated in 1945 and over the years was gradually extended outward from Presidio. Eastern portions of the road in Brewster County, however, had several previous highway designations going back to 1939.
In addition to SH 118 in Study Butte, FM 170 has highway intersections in Presidio with U.S. Route 67
and its auxiliary route Business U.S. Route 67-A along with State Highway Spur 203
.
The earliest portion of the present route to be designated as part of the state highway system was the section between Terlingua and Study Butte which was assigned in September 1939 as part of a spur to SH 227. This spur continued on to connect with the main highway at the present junction of the north end Old Maverick Road and the road to Panther Junction within Big Bend National Park. SH 227 at the same time was newly designated as a road from Santa Elena Canyon to Panther Junction via the Old Maverick Road and then to Persimmon Gap and Marathon along the present US 385.
One month later, this spur was reassigned as part of SH 118. At that time, SH 118 south of Alpine departed from its present route near Adobe Walls Mountain to Terlingua rather than going directly to Study Butte as it does today. From Terlingua, SH 118 then proceeded eastward through Study Butte to SH 227.
. The road was extended in 1953 further to the northwest 13.9 miles (22.4 km) to Pinto Canyon. Further construction to the northwest would then undergo a long hiatus.
Two years later, with construction focusing toward the southeast, the road was extended 5.2 miles (8.4 km) beyond Redford. In 1959 the road was extended an additional 13.9 miles (22.4 km). The following year, FM 170 received its final extension to the southeast to RM 2462 at the Brewster County line. The RM 2462 designation was then canceled with that road combined with FM 170 for a total extension of 19 miles (30.6 km) to its present terminus at SH 118.
With southeastward road-building complete, expansion to the northwest resumed in 1967 with an 8.5 miles (13.7 km) to Ruidosa
. Ruidosa would remain the northwest terminus for fourteen years until the road was finally extended an additional 11.6 miles (18.7 km) to its present terminus at Candelaria in 1981.
In 1996, FM 170 was rerouted on Presidio's north side to follow concurrently
along the route of US 67 and Bus. US 67-A abandoning a short section of road east of US 67. This was due to the relocation of US 67 away from the town center toward the Presidio-Ojinaga International Bridge
with much of US 67's former route through town being replaced by the newly designated Bus. US 67-A and Spur 203.
counties that connects to US 90
by way of FM 2017
between Van Horn
and Valentine
. Although the two-lane road follows along the Rio Grande between Candelaria and Presidio, the river is largely obscured from the road by farm land.
Approximately 12 miles (19 km) from Candelaria, the road reaches Ruidosa where the road passes directly by the ruins of an historic adobe
Catholic
church and intersects the Pinto Canyon Road, an unpaved county road to Marfa
by way of RM 2810
. Along the remaining 36 miles (58 km) to Presidio, the road passes through the former communities or ghost town
s of Chinati
, Adobes, Indio, and Ochoa.
The road merges with US 67 just north of Presidio, the only incorporated
city along its route. At a point where Bus. US 67-A separates from US 67, FM 170 follows the business route. At Erma Ave., the route intersects Spur 203 and the route turns south to O'Reilly St. where FM 170 separates from Bus. US 67-A. FM 170 then follows a winding path west along O'Reilly St., then south along Hurd Ave. where it crosses the South Orient Rail Line
, then west along Millington Blvd., then south along Fourth St. before leaving the city's street grid to the southwest. Just outside of Presidio, FM 170 passes Fort Leaton State Historic Site.
West of Redford, FM 170 intersects Casa Piedra Road, an unpaved county route that provides access to the headquarters of Big Bend Ranch State Park
and Marfa by way of RM 169
. From this point forward to Lajitas, much of the road passes through Big Bend Ranch State Park where the road becomes more mountainous with sharp curves and steep grades. Within the park, there are several campgrounds, picnic areas, trail heads, and an old movie set. The road briefly turns away from the river at Colorado Canyon.
At Lajitas, the road permanently turns away from the river to go to Terlingua. Just east of Lajitas is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's
Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center. At Terlingua, FM 170 passes near the old ghost town of this former mining community. The road then terminates at Study Butte 3 miles (5 km) from the entrance to Big Bend National Park.
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
in Presidio
Presidio County, Texas
Presidio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 7,304. Its county seat is Marfa. Presidio County is in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and is named for the ancient border settlement of Presidio del Norte.-Geography:Presidio County is triangular in...
and Brewster
Brewster County, Texas
Brewster County is a county located in western part of the US state of Texas, along the border with Mexico. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. As of the 2000 census, the population is 8,866. In 2009, the population was estimated to be 9,481. Its...
counties in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The route, known locally as the River Road, runs along the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
side of the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
which in Texas forms the international boundary between the U.S. and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The road runs from Candelaria
Candelaria, Texas
Candelaria is an unincorporated community in Presidio County, Texas, United States, with about 75 inhabitants.The town stands in the Chihuahuan Desert on the north bank of the Rio Grande, just across from the small Mexican town of San Antonio Del Bravo...
through the city of Presido
Presidio, Texas
Presidio is a city in Presidio County, Texas, United States. It stands on the Rio Grande , on the opposite side of the U.S.-Mexico border from Ojinaga, Chihuahua. The population was 4,167 at the 2000 census....
as well as several smaller communities and former settlements to State Highway 118 in Study Butte
Study Butte-Terlingua, Texas
Study Butte-Terlingua is a census-designated place in Brewster County, Texas, United States. The population was 267 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Study Butte-Terlingua is located at ....
near Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Texas. Big Bend has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, which includes more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56...
. The road also passes through the southern portion of Big Bend Ranch State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park (Texas)
Big Bend Ranch State Park is a state park located on the Rio Grande in Brewster County and Presidio County, Texas. It is the largest state park in Texas. The closest major town is Presidio, Texas, where the state park's head office is located.-Features:...
.
The highway was first designated in 1945 and over the years was gradually extended outward from Presidio. Eastern portions of the road in Brewster County, however, had several previous highway designations going back to 1939.
In addition to SH 118 in Study Butte, FM 170 has highway intersections in Presidio with U.S. Route 67
U.S. Route 67 in Texas
U.S. Route 67 is a major U.S. highway in the state of Texas. It runs from the US-Mexico Border south of Presidio to Texarkana at the Texas-Arkansas border. US 67 is part of the La Entrada al Pacifico international trade corridor from its southern terminus to US 385 in McCamey.-US-Mexico Border to...
and its auxiliary route Business U.S. Route 67-A along with State Highway Spur 203
Texas State Highway Spur 203
Spur 203 is a state highway spur near Presidio in Presidio County, Texas.-Route description:Spur 164 begins at Erma Avenue, signed as Bus. US 67-A / FM 170, in Presidio. The highway travels north for 0.77 miles before ending.-History:...
.
State Highway 227
State Highway 118
State Highway Spur 121
In 1941, the designation of SH 118 along the road between Alpine and Terlingua was canceled and returned to county maintenance. The road from Terlingua through Study Butte to SH 227 was re-designated as Spur 121 until that designation was canceled in 1946. The portion within the newly created Big Bend National Park was incorporated into the park's road system. The remainder between Terlingua to the park boundary near Study Butte reverted to county maintenance.Ranch to Market Road 2462
By 1951, SH 118 had been incrementally extended south of Alpine to the park boundary along its present alignment through Study Butte and over the portion of the former spur road to the park boundary. State maintenance between Terlingua and Study Butte was reestablished as RM 2462 in 1956. RM 2462 was then extended westward to the Presidio County line just west of Lajitas in 1957.Current designation and extensions beyond Presidio
FM 170 was originally designated as a 5 miles (8 km) highway from US 67 in Presidio northwest to Ochoa. In 1948, the road was extended to the northwest an additional 13.9 miles (22.4 km) to Adobes and to the southeast to a point 6.3 miles (10.1 km) from Presidio. The following year, the road was extended 11.7 miles (18.8 km) to RedfordRedford, Texas
Redford is a census-designated place in Presidio County, Texas, United States. The population was 132 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Redford is located at ....
. The road was extended in 1953 further to the northwest 13.9 miles (22.4 km) to Pinto Canyon. Further construction to the northwest would then undergo a long hiatus.
Two years later, with construction focusing toward the southeast, the road was extended 5.2 miles (8.4 km) beyond Redford. In 1959 the road was extended an additional 13.9 miles (22.4 km). The following year, FM 170 received its final extension to the southeast to RM 2462 at the Brewster County line. The RM 2462 designation was then canceled with that road combined with FM 170 for a total extension of 19 miles (30.6 km) to its present terminus at SH 118.
With southeastward road-building complete, expansion to the northwest resumed in 1967 with an 8.5 miles (13.7 km) to Ruidosa
Ruidosa, Texas
Ruidosa is an unincorporated community in Presidio County, Texas, United States.-Education:Ruidosa is zoned to schools in the Presidio Independent School District. In 2000 the population was 43-External links:...
. Ruidosa would remain the northwest terminus for fourteen years until the road was finally extended an additional 11.6 miles (18.7 km) to its present terminus at Candelaria in 1981.
In 1996, FM 170 was rerouted on Presidio's north side to follow concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
along the route of US 67 and Bus. US 67-A abandoning a short section of road east of US 67. This was due to the relocation of US 67 away from the town center toward the Presidio-Ojinaga International Bridge
Presidio-Ojinaga International Bridge
The Presidio–Ojinaga International Bridge is an international bridge that crosses the Rio Grande between the cities of Presidio, Texas, and Ojinaga, Chihuahua, on the United States-Mexico border. The bridge is also known as "Presidio Bridge" and "Puente Ojinaga". The Presidio–Ojinaga International...
with much of US 67's former route through town being replaced by the newly designated Bus. US 67-A and Spur 203.
Route description
FM 170 begins at Candelaria at the termination of the Chispa Road, a rugged, unpaved county road in Presidio and Jeff DavisJeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 2,207, and 2,258 by 2009...
counties that connects to US 90
U.S. Route 90 in Texas
US 90 is a major east-west highway in the US state of Texas with large portions of it running concurrently with I-10. US 90 begins at I-10 in Van Horn, travels through the two largest cities in Texas, San Antonio and Houston, and continues on into the state of Louisiana.-Van Horn to San Antonio:US...
by way of FM 2017
Farm to Market Road 2017
Farm to Market Road 2017, Farm Road 2017, or FM 2017 is a road maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation between FM 1523 in Culberson County and U.S. Route 90 in Jeff Davis County between Van Horn and Valentine...
between Van Horn
Van Horn, Texas
Van Horn is a town in and the county seat of Culberson County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,435 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Van Horn is located at ....
and Valentine
Valentine, Texas
Valentine is a town in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The population was 187 at the 2000 census. It is the only incorporated municipality in Jeff Davis County....
. Although the two-lane road follows along the Rio Grande between Candelaria and Presidio, the river is largely obscured from the road by farm land.
Approximately 12 miles (19 km) from Candelaria, the road reaches Ruidosa where the road passes directly by the ruins of an historic adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
church and intersects the Pinto Canyon Road, an unpaved county road to Marfa
Marfa, Texas
Marfa is a town in the high desert of far West Texas in the Southwestern United States. Located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, it is also the county seat of Presidio County. The population was 1,981 at the 2010 census....
by way of RM 2810
Ranch to Market Road 2810
Ranch to Market Road 2810 or RM 2810 is the paved, state-maintained portion of the Pinto Canyon Road between Ruidosa and Marfa in Presidio County...
. Along the remaining 36 miles (58 km) to Presidio, the road passes through the former communities or ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
s of Chinati
Chinati, Texas
Chinati is an unincorporated community in Presidio County, Texas, United States.It is named after the surrounding Chinati Mountain Range. The word ´chinati´ derives from the Apache word ch'íná'itíh, which means gate or mountain pass.-External links:...
, Adobes, Indio, and Ochoa.
The road merges with US 67 just north of Presidio, the only incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
city along its route. At a point where Bus. US 67-A separates from US 67, FM 170 follows the business route. At Erma Ave., the route intersects Spur 203 and the route turns south to O'Reilly St. where FM 170 separates from Bus. US 67-A. FM 170 then follows a winding path west along O'Reilly St., then south along Hurd Ave. where it crosses the South Orient Rail Line
Texas Pacifico Transportation
Texas Pacifico Transportation Ltd. is a railroad operating company in West Texas that is owned by Grupo México. The company operates over the South Orient Rail Line under a lease and operating agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation and the South Orient Rural Rail Transportation...
, then west along Millington Blvd., then south along Fourth St. before leaving the city's street grid to the southwest. Just outside of Presidio, FM 170 passes Fort Leaton State Historic Site.
West of Redford, FM 170 intersects Casa Piedra Road, an unpaved county route that provides access to the headquarters of Big Bend Ranch State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park (Texas)
Big Bend Ranch State Park is a state park located on the Rio Grande in Brewster County and Presidio County, Texas. It is the largest state park in Texas. The closest major town is Presidio, Texas, where the state park's head office is located.-Features:...
and Marfa by way of RM 169
Ranch to Market Road 169
Ranch to Market Road 169, Ranch Road 169, or RM 169 is a Ranch to Market Road in the U.S. state of Texas located entirely within Presidio County and maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation .-Route description:...
. From this point forward to Lajitas, much of the road passes through Big Bend Ranch State Park where the road becomes more mountainous with sharp curves and steep grades. Within the park, there are several campgrounds, picnic areas, trail heads, and an old movie set. The road briefly turns away from the river at Colorado Canyon.
At Lajitas, the road permanently turns away from the river to go to Terlingua. Just east of Lajitas is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state's parks and historical areas...
Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center. At Terlingua, FM 170 passes near the old ghost town of this former mining community. The road then terminates at Study Butte 3 miles (5 km) from the entrance to Big Bend National Park.
Major intersections
See also
- List of Farm to Market Roads in Trans-Pecos Texas
- Farm to Market RoadFarm to Market RoadIn the United States, a farm-to-market road or ranch-to-market road is a state road or county road which serves to connect rural or agricultural areas to market towns...