U.S. Route 67 (Texas)
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| U.S. Route 67 (Texas) | |
|---|---|
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| State | TX |
| Route | 67 |
| Type | US |
| Length mi | ~763 |
| Established | 1926 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Presidio |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | Texarkana |
| Counties | Presidio County, Brewster County, Pecos County, Jeff Davis County, Crockett County, Reeves County, Ward County, Ector County, Midland County, Martin County, Glasscock County, Howard County, Dawson County, Borden County, Scurry County, Taylor County, Jones County, Wise County, Tarrant County, Dallas County, Rockwall County, Hunt County, Franklin County, Rusk County, Smith County, Harrison County, Bowie County |
U.S. Route 67 (Texas) is a major United States Numbered Highway running southwest–northeast across the state from Presidio on the Rio Grande to Texarkana on the Red River and Arkansas border, connecting remote border communities to the Dallas–Fort Worth and Northeast Texas. The route serves a mix of desert, oilfield, agricultural, and urban corridors and intersects with numerous federal and state facilities including Interstate 10, Interstate 20, Interstate 30, and U.S. Route 287. It is a vital link for freight movements tied to Permian Basin, energy logistics, and cross-border commerce near Port of Entry (Presidio).
Route description
U.S. Route 67 begins at Presidio near the Rio Grande and trends northeast through the Big Bend toward Alpine, passing military and rail facilities associated with Fort Stockton and energy infrastructure used by ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Occidental Petroleum. It traverses the Trans-Pecos region and cuts across the Permian Basin communities including Pecos, Fort Stockton, Midland, and Odessa where it intersects U.S. 385, Interstate 20, and U.S. 80, providing access to Midland International Airport and oilfield service centers serving Halliburton, Schlumberger, and Baker Hughes. Northeast of Midland County the highway continues through agricultural zones near Lamesa and Sweetwater, linking Texas Department of Transportation preservation projects and rural healthcare nodes associated with Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas Health Resources facilities. Entering the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, U.S. Route 67 joins freeway sections concurrent with Interstate 35E, Interstate 20, and Interstate 30 at various points, serving suburbs including Irving, Garland, Mesquite, and Rockwall before proceeding northeast through Sulphur Springs and Mount Pleasant. Approaching Texarkana, it intersects Interstate 30 and connects to border crossings toward Arkansas and Louisiana freight networks.
History
The corridor that became U.S. Route 67 traces antecedent paths used by Spanish explorers, Mexican colonists, and 19th‑century freight trails tied to Republic of Texas commerce and Transcontinental Railroad supply lines. Designated in the initial 1926 U.S. Highway plan, the route absorbed preexisting state highways such as State Highway 4 and later adjustments paralleled U.S. Route 80 and U.S. Route 385. Mid‑20th century realignments reflected growth in oil production following major discoveries like the Permian Basin oil field and transportation policy shifts under the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, prompting freeway upgrades near Dallas–Fort Worth and bypasses around towns such as Pecos and Sweetwater. During the 1970s–1990s, projects funded by ISTEA and TEA-21 further modernized segments, while public–private partnerships facilitated bypass construction serving firms like Fluor Corporation and Bechtel. Preservation and safety improvements in the 21st century have engaged agencies including the Federal Highway Administration, Texas Department of Transportation, and regional councils of governments such as the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission and North Central Texas Council of Governments.
Major intersections
Key junctions include termini at Presidio and Texarkana, interchanges with U.S. 90 near Ojinaga, junctions with I-10 at Fort Stockton, crossings of U.S. 285 and U.S. 385 in the Permian Basin, connections with Interstate 20 at Odessa/Midland, overlap with U.S. 84 and U.S. 380 in sections across West Texas, interchanges with Interstate 30 and Interstate 635 in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and intersections with U.S. 69, U.S. 59, and U.S. 82 in northeast Texas before meeting Interstate 369 and U.S. 71 near Texarkana. These junctions serve facilities like DFW Airport, Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and major freight terminals linked to Port of Longview and inland ports.
Business routes and special designations
Several business routes and spurs retain historic alignments through municipalities such as Marfa, Pecos, Sweetwater, Vernon, Sulphur Springs, and Mount Pleasant, many designated by Texas Department of Transportation as Business U.S. 67 routes. Special designations include scenic corridors near Big Bend National Park, commemorative namings honoring veterans and public figures in Taylor County and Dallas County, and truck route overlays facilitating movements for companies such as J.B. Hunt, Swift Transportation, and Knight-Swift Transportation. Historic preservation initiatives involve National Register of Historic Places sites along older alignments and municipal heritage programs in towns like Alpine and Marfa.
Future plans and improvements
Planned projects encompass capacity expansions, interchange reconstructions, and safety upgrades coordinated by Texas Department of Transportation divisions and metropolitan planning organizations such as North Central Texas Council of Governments and Permian Basin MPOs. Priorities include widening segments near Dallas–Fort Worth to address congestion tied to Sun Belt economic growth, reconstructing rural two‑lane stretches to reduce crash rates identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and enhancing freight corridors to support export corridors linked to Mexico via Ojinaga. Funding sources include federal programs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, state bonds, and targeted tolling studies involving agencies like North Texas Tollway Authority and private investors. Environmental reviews reference U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental Protection Agency consultations where projects intersect sensitive habitats.
Related transportation and impact
U.S. Route 67 interfaces with freight rail corridors operated by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, regional airports including Midland International Air and Space Port and Dallas Love Field, and inland port logistics at Shreveport and Longview. Its role in linking the Permian Basin energy complex to refining centers and export routes influences markets served by Valero Energy Corporation, Phillips 66, and Tesoro Corporation (Andeavor). The highway shapes regional development patterns affecting municipalities such as Midland, Odessa, Dallas, and Texarkana and intersects with passenger rail ambitions promoted by Amtrak and commuter planning by DART and TEXRail. Emergency evacuation planning involving Texas Division of Emergency Management and cross‑border coordination with Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transportation use the corridor for disaster response, energy resilience, and long‑haul trucking supporting firms like FedEx, UPS, and J.B. Hunt.