U.S. Route 83 in Texas

U.S. Highway 83 marker
U.S. Highway 83
Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Map
US 83 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length906.5 mi (1,458.9 km)
Existed1932–present
Major junctions
South endUnited States-Mexico border in Brownsville
Major intersections I-69E / US 77 from Brownsville to Harlingen
I-2 from Harlingen to Peñitas
I-69C / US 281 in Pharr
I-35 in Laredo
I-69W / US 59 in Laredo
I-10 / US 377 in Junction
I-20 / US 84 / US 277 in Abilene
I-40 in Shamrock
North end US 83 at OK state line near Perryton
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesCameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata, Webb, Dimmit, Zavala, Uvalde, Real, Kerr, Edwards, Kimble, Menard, Concho, Runnels, Taylor, Jones, Fisher, Stonewall, King, Cottle, Childress, Collingsworth, Wheeler, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree
Highway system
SH 82 SH 83

U.S. Highway 83 (US 83), dedicated as the Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, is a U.S. Highway in the U.S. state of Texas that begins at US 77 (Interstate 69E, I-69E) in Brownsville and follows the Rio Grande to Laredo, then heads north through Abilene to the Oklahoma state line north of Perryton, the seat of Ochiltree County.

In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, US 83 is a freeway that is at or close to interstate standards from Brownsville to Peñitas. In May 2013, the Texas Department of Transportation applied to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to designate this 48-mile (77 km) section as I-2. After the Special Committee on Route Numbering initially disapproved the application, the AASHTO Board of Directors approved the I-2 designation, conditional on the concurrence of the Federal Highway Administration.[1] On May 29, 2013, the segment of US 83 was approved as an I-69 connector using the I-2 designation extending approximately 46 miles (74 km) from Harlingen to west of Mission.[2]

At a length of 906.5 mi (1,458.9 km), it is the longest numbered highway in Texas, besting the east west I-10, which runs 880 miles. It is also the longest stretch of a single US Highway within a single US state.

  1. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (May 4, 2013). "Special Committee on US Route Numbering Report to SCOH on May 3, 2013 Meeting" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  2. ^ Essex, Allen (May 30, 2013). "I-69 Comes to the Valley: 111 Miles Added to Interstate System". Valley Morning Star. Harlingen, TX. Retrieved June 3, 2013.