U.S. Route 57
Encyclopedia
U.S. Highway 57 is a north–south United States highway that follows a nearly east–west route in southwest Texas
. The highway's northern (eastern) terminus is about 50 miles (80 km) south of San Antonio, Texas
, between Devine
and Pearsall
, at an intersection with Interstate 35 (old U.S. Highway 81). Its southern (western) terminus is in Eagle Pass
, at the Rio Grande (Río Bravo)
, where it continues into Piedras Negras, Coahuila
, as Mexican Federal Highway 57
.
In 1970, the route was commissioned as a United States Highway, and retained its "57" designation to prevent confusion. The route is signed north–south, even though most of the route is due east–west. However, Mexican Federal Highway 57
heads south to Mexico City
, so the unusual directional signing again prevents confusion.
in Eagle Pass. The route travels eastward through Eagle Pass on Garrison Street. On the east side of town, it turns northeast briefly and intersect with Business Route 277 on Main Street, turning back to the east. Six blocks later it reaches the intersection with the main branch of U.S. Route 277
and FM 3443. US 57 continues east, now concurrent with south US 277. About a mile further, the highways diverge, with US 57 veering to the northeast. The route continues northeast, travelling through ranchland, before entering croplands around the town of La Pryor. In La Pryor, the route intersects with U.S. Route 83
. The route continues eastward through ranch and farmlands, intersecting various Farm to Market roads, before reaching its eastern terminus, intersecting with Interstate 35
just southwest of the town of Moore.
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 highway's northern (eastern) terminus is about 50 miles (80 km) south of San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, between Devine
Devine, Texas
Devine is a city in Medina County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,140 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Devine is located at ....
and Pearsall
Pearsall, Texas
Pearsall is a city in and the county seat of Frio County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,001 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pearsall is located at ....
, at an intersection with Interstate 35 (old U.S. Highway 81). Its southern (western) terminus is in Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass, Texas
Eagle Pass is a city in and the county seat of Maverick County The population was 27,183 as of the 2010 census.Eagle Pass borders the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is to the southwest and across the Rio Grande. The Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Metropolitan Area is one of six...
, at the Rio Grande (Río Bravo)
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...
, where it continues into Piedras Negras, Coahuila
Piedras Negras, Coahuila
-Natural Resources:This region generates a large amount of the national production of coal, one of the most economically important non-metallic minerals in the state.-Tourism:Piedras Negras' main tourist attractions are:...
, as Mexican Federal Highway 57
Mexican Federal Highway 57
Mexican Federal Highway 57 is a Federal Highway of Mexico.The 1248 kilometre highway connects Mexico City with Piedras Negras, Coahuila. This road links many major highways in the country, forming the backbone of the road network in Mexico...
.
History
This 103 miles (166 km) route was originally designated by 1933 as Texas State Highway 76, which was previously designated in 1926 on a route from Nacogdoches to Joaquin which was replaced by SH 7 in 1933. From 1942 to 1964, its eastern half was reassigned to Farm to Market Road 394. In 1966, the state changed the route's number to 57 to provide continuity with a similarly-numbered route across the Mexican border.In 1970, the route was commissioned as a United States Highway, and retained its "57" designation to prevent confusion. The route is signed north–south, even though most of the route is due east–west. However, Mexican Federal Highway 57
Mexican Federal Highway 57
Mexican Federal Highway 57 is a Federal Highway of Mexico.The 1248 kilometre highway connects Mexico City with Piedras Negras, Coahuila. This road links many major highways in the country, forming the backbone of the road network in Mexico...
heads south to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, so the unusual directional signing again prevents confusion.
Route description
U.S. Route 57 begins at the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras International BridgeEagle Pass-Piedras Negras International Bridge
The Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras International Bridge is an international bridge which crosses the Rio Grande connecting the United States-Mexico border cities of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila...
in Eagle Pass. The route travels eastward through Eagle Pass on Garrison Street. On the east side of town, it turns northeast briefly and intersect with Business Route 277 on Main Street, turning back to the east. Six blocks later it reaches the intersection with the main branch of U.S. Route 277
U.S. Route 277
U.S. Route 277 is a north–south United States Highway. It is a spur of U.S. Route 77. It runs for 633 miles across Oklahoma and Texas. US 277's northern terminus is in Newcastle, Oklahoma at Interstate 44, which is also the northern terminus of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. Its southern...
and FM 3443. US 57 continues east, now concurrent with south US 277. About a mile further, the highways diverge, with US 57 veering to the northeast. The route continues northeast, travelling through ranchland, before entering croplands around the town of La Pryor. In La Pryor, the route intersects with U.S. Route 83
U.S. Route 83
U.S. Route 83 is one of the longest north–south U.S. Highways in the United States, at . Only four other north–south routes are longer: U.S. Routes 1, 41, 59 and 87. The highway's northern terminus is north of Westhope, North Dakota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as...
. The route continues eastward through ranch and farmlands, intersecting various Farm to Market roads, before reaching its eastern terminus, intersecting with Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
just southwest of the town of Moore.
External links
- Endpoints of US highways
- Texas Department of Transportation: Texas Highway Designation Files