U.S. Route 54 in Texas
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 54
in Texas is a U.S. Highway that travels through two portions of Texas: one in the far western point, and the other in the far northwest Panhandle.
, at an intersection with Loop 375
. The route then travels northward, joining up with Interstate 110
within the first mile. A mile later, these highways intersect Interstate 10
. I-110 ends here, while US 54 continues north through El Paso. The route turns northeast, before entering New Mexico
. The route re-enters Texas in the northwest Panhandle, travelling 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.
, 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 in 2010 was only partially completed.
at the Patriot Freeway. The route runs along Dyer St. through northeast El Paso near Fort Bliss
to its northern terminus at the New Mexico state line. The roadway continues forward into New Mexico for 0.3 mile (0.482802 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 southbound traffic to turn on State Line Drive just within Texas to access Bus. US 54-A.
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. 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. Bus. US 54-A was concurrent with US 54 until 1991.
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. It enters and leaves Texas twice...
in Texas is a U.S. Highway that travels through two portions of Texas: one in the far western point, and the other in the far northwest Panhandle.
Route description
US 54 begins in El Paso, TexasEl Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, at an intersection with Loop 375
State Highway Loop 375 (Texas)
Loop 375 partially encircles the city of El Paso, Texas. Locally, it is known as Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive in the Northern section, Purple Heart Memorial Freeway in the Northeastern section, the Cesar E...
. The route then travels northward, joining up with Interstate 110
Interstate 110
Interstate 110 may refer to:*Interstate 110 , a north-south freeway running through Los Angeles, California*Interstate 110 , a spur route in Pensacola, Florida*Interstate 110 , a spur route in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
within the first mile. A mile later, these highways intersect Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
. I-110 ends here, while US 54 continues north through El Paso. The route turns northeast, before entering New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The route re-enters Texas in the northwest Panhandle, travelling 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
Oklahoma Panhandle
The Oklahoma Panhandle is the extreme western region of the state of Oklahoma, comprising Cimarron County, Texas County, and Beaver County. Its name comes from the similarity of shape to the handle of a cooking pan....
at Texhoma.
History
The southwestern portion was originally part of the Ozark Trails, paralleling the El Paso and Southwestern RailroadEl Paso and Southwestern Railroad
The El Paso and Southwestern Railroad was a short-line American railway company which operated in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, with line extensions across the international border into Mexico. The railroad was known as the Arizona and South Eastern Railroad from 1888 to 1902.-Founding:James...
, 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
Ozark Trail
Ozark Trail may refer to:* Ozark Trail , a hiking and backpacking trail in Missouri* Ozark Highlands Trail, a hiking and backpacking trail in Arkansas* Ozark Trail , an early network of locally maintained roads and highways...
. The northern Panhandle portion was originally assigned to State Highway 56, paralleling the Chicago, Rock Island, and Gulf Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
. 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 in 2010 was only partially completed.
Major intersections
El Paso business loop
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 miles (20.1 km) route begins at US 54 and State Highway Loop 478Texas State Highway Loop 478
State Highway Loop 478 is a state highway loop in El Paso in El Paso County, Texas.-Route description:The southern terminus of Loop 478 is at in El Paso near the Bridge of the Americas. The route travels north along Copia St. before turning onto Pershing Dr. and Dyer St before ending at US 54 /...
at the Patriot Freeway. The route runs along Dyer St. through northeast El Paso near Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
to its northern terminus at the New Mexico state line. The roadway continues forward into New Mexico for 0.3 mile (0.482802 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 southbound traffic to turn on State Line Drive just within Texas to access Bus. US 54-A.
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. 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. Bus. US 54-A was concurrent with US 54 until 1991.