Texas State Highway 35

State Highway 35 (SH 35) is a largely north–south highway in southeastern and southern Texas between Houston, junction of I-45 on the southeast side of the city and Corpus Christi, where it terminates at I-37.

Not to be confused with Interstate 35 in Texas.

State Highway 35
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length	206.5 mi[1] (332.3 km)
Existed	1917–present
Major junctions
South end	I-37 / US 181 near Corpus Christi
	US 87 in Port Lavaca I-610 in Houston
North end	I-45 in Houston
Highway system
Highways in Texas Interstate US State Toll Loops Spurs FM/RM Park Rec ← I-35W SH 36 → ← Loop 5 Spur 5 FM 5 →

SH 35 takes a generally north–south route from Houston to Angleton, junction SH 288, and then roughly parallels the inlets of the Gulf of Mexico in a roughly northeast-southwest course through a low, flat coastal plain. To the south and west of Palacios it gives vistas of several inlets of the Gulf of Mexico, becoming one of the more scenic routes of southern Texas.

At Gregory it meets and joins U.S. Highway 181, which coincide to their mutual terminus over Nueces Bay causeway and bridge over Corpus Christi Bay, meeting I-37 and SH 286 at a freeway interchange.

Only in its southernmost part near Corpus Christi is State Highway 35 a freeway, although significant stretches of it are divided highway. It is not to be confused with Interstate 35, which it never meets. It is not the shortest or quickest route between Houston and Corpus Christi, which consists largely of US 59 and US 77.

Route description

SH 35 begins at an interchange with Interstate 37 near downtown Corpus Christi concurrent with US 181. The two highways run as a freeway near Corpus Christi Bay before crossing Nueces Bay into the town of Portland. In Portland, US 181 leaves SH 35, traveling towards Sinton. Just outside Gregory, the freeway segment of SH 35 ends. After crossing FM 136, SH 35 begins to run in an east-west direction to Aransas Pass, before turning towards the northeast. In the town of Rockport, SH 35 runs as a divided expressway before returning to its business loop. The highway passes by the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge before entering into Refugio County.

Future of SH 35

Spur 5

In Houston, SH 35 is Telephone Road and Reveille Street from its northern terminus at Interstate 45. An upgrade of the facility (in a slightly different corridor) to freeway standards is planned, tentatively named the Alvin Freeway. As of 2006, only 1.3 miles (2.1 km) had been built, under the sign Spur 5 (constructed between 1996–99; officially opened September 1999; designated 1998). However, the mainlanes extend less than half a mile south of Interstate 45 adjacent to the campus of the University of Houston.

Loop 5

The number was previously used for Loop 5, which was designated on September 26, 1939 from US 81 through Kyle to US 81 as a renumbering of SH 2 Loop.[2] On September 28, 1950, the section along Burleson St was cancelled and the rest along Center St became Spur 5. On October 27, 1952, Spur 5 was cancelled and transferred to FM 150 (now RM 150). On June 30, 1958, another route, also called Spur 5, was designated from FM 1406 and SH 124 to Interstate 10. On October 31, 1962, The section of the Spur 5 from FM 1406 to SH 73 became a rerouting of SH 124. On August 4, 1988, Spur 5 was cancelled and mileage was transferred to FM 1663. The current route was designated on October 29, 1998.

An overlap of Highway 35 with the Gulf Freeway was also constructed in the 1980s. This portion extends from Spur 5 to Dowling Street, a distance of about 1.6 miles (2.6 km). This section contains three elevated lanes in each direction (briefly four southbound lanes near the southern terminus). This overlap section is 22 lanes wide, including mainlanes, feeder roads, and a reversible HOV lane.[3]

Once built, the Alvin Freeway is planned to follow a corridor near Mykawa Road from the terminus to Beltway 8 before returning to its normal undivided state.

Browse numbered routes
← SH 5	Loop 5	Spur 5 →

History

Historic SH 35

SH 35 was originally proposed on November 19, 1917 as a route from Paris to Houston.[4] On August 21, 1923, the northern half of the highway had been renumbered as SH 49, with the new northern end now going east to the Louisiana border.[5] On November 14, 1927, it extended to Alvin.[6] On April 10, 1934, it had been extended southwest along cancelled SH 58 and SH 57, ending in Gregory.[7] SH 35 Spur was designated from 35 to the Retrieve Prison Farm. This SH 35 Spur was cancelled on July 15, 1935. On February 21, 1938, a new SH 35 Spur was designated to Danbury, as SH 35 was rerouted to bypass Danbury. On September 26, 1939, the section north of Houston was removed when it was renumbered as U.S. Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 84. SH 35 Spur was renumbered as Spur 28. On October 5, 1972, SH 35 was extended to Corpus Christi along US 181. On January 15, 1986, an Angleton bypass opened, with the old route becoming Loop 558. On February 25, 1987, SH 35 was rerouted back over Loop 558, and the bypass became Loop 558 instead (now FM 523). On April 27, 1995, another bypass opened, so that SH 35 no longer goes through Aransas Pass or Rockport. On March 29, 2007, an Old Ocean bypass opened, with the old route becoming Loop 419 (now Spur 419).

Historic SH 35A

SH 35A was a proposed spur route off SH 35 designated on March 18, 1918, with a route splitting off at Livingston, and travelling west to New Waverly.[8] On September 17, 1918, a branch of SH 35 was designated from Livingston via Liberty and Devers to Anahuac.[9] On January 20, 1919, the section of SH 35A south of Coldspring was cancelled, and the section north of Coldspring became the main route. The route from Livingston via Liberty and Devers to Anahuac was renamed SH 35A. On August 21, 1923, the section from Anahuac to Devers was renumbered as SH 61, and the section north of Devers was cancelled.[5] By 1928, the Livingston to Liberty section was restored as SH 132. By 1933, that became a portion of SH 146.

SH 35B was a spur of SH 35 designated on November 27, 1922 from Jefferson to the Louisiana border.[10] On August 21, 1923, this was renumbered as SH 49.

Business routes

SH 35 has four business routes and one former business route.

Alvin business loop

Business State Highway 35-C (formerly Loop 409) is a business loop that runs through Alvin. The road was bypassed on April 1, 1965 by SH 35 and designated Loop 409. The road was redesignated as Business SH 35-C on June 21, 1990.[11]

West Columbia business loop

Business State Highway 35-E is a business loop that runs through West Columbia. The route was created in 1998 when SH 35 was rerouted north and west of town.[12]

Palacios business loop

Business State Highway 35-H (formerly Loop 141) is a business loop that runs through Palacios. The road was bypassed on September 21, 1944 by SH 35 and designated Loop 141. The road was redesignated as Business SH 35-H on June 21, 1990.[13]

Rockport-Aransas Pass business loop

Business State Highway 35-L (formerly Loop 70) is a business loop that runs through Rockport. The road was created in 1939 when SH 35 was rerouted south and east of town. The route was redesignated as Business SH 35-L on June 21, 1990. On April 27, 1995 the route was extended north to SH 35 and FM 3036 and south to SH 35 in Aransas Pass over former SH 35 and was also rerouted in Rockport with the old route redesignated as Loop 70.[14]

Former Aransas Pass business loop

Business State Highway 35-M (formerly Loop 81) was a business loop that ran through Aransas Pass. The route was created in 1939 when SH 35 was rerouted in town. The route was redesignated as Business SH 35-M on June 21, 1990, but was redesignated as Loop 90 on April 27, 1995.[15]

Junction list

All exits are unnumbered.

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Nueces	Corpus Christi			I-37 north / Spur 544 west – San Antonio	I-37 exit 0 southbound; South end of US 181 overlap; continues south as Spur 544.
				Belden Street	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
				Burleson Street, Causeway Boulevard	No northbound entrance
				Beach Avenue	No southbound entrance
San Patricio	Portland			Nueces Bay
				Frontage Road	Southbound exit and entrance
				FM 893 (Moore Avenue) – Taft	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
				FM 2986 (Wildcat Drive)
				Frontage Road	No northbound entrance
				FM 3239 (Buddy Ganem Drive) / Broadway Boulevard
				Frontage Road	Northbound exit only
	Gregory			US 181 north – Sinton	North end of US 181 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance
				FM 3284 (Gregory Street)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
				SH 361 south / Spur 202 west – Aransas Pass, Port Aransas, Gregory	No northbound entrance
				FM 136 – Bayside	No northbound exit; north end of freeway
	​			FM 3512 south – Ingleside
	​			Bus. SH 35 north – Aransas Pass	Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance
	Aransas Pass			FM 1069 – Ingleside	Interchange; no northbound exit
Aransas	​			SH 188 – Sinton	Interchange
	Rockport			FM 1069 (Market Street) – Rockport	Interchange
				FM 2165 – Rockport	Interchange
				FM 3036 west	South end of FM 3036 overlap
				Bus. SH 35 south / FM 3036 east – Rockport	North end of FM 3036 overlap
	​			FM 1781 south
	Lamar			PR 13 east – Goose Island State Park
Refugio	​			FM 774 – Refugio, Austwell
	​			FM 1684 east
	​			SH 239 south – Austwell	South end of SH 239 overlap
	Tivoli			SH 239 north – Goliad	North end of SH 239 overlap
Calhoun	​			SH 185 south – Seadrift, Port O'Connor	South end of SH 185 overlap
	​			SH 185 north – Victoria	North end of SH 185 overlap
	​			FM 1679 north
	​			FM 2235 south
	​			FM 2541 south
	​			FM 2433 – Victoria, Indianola
	Port Lavaca			US 87 – Victoria, Port Lavaca
				FM 3084 west (Half League Road)
				FM 1090 (Virginia Street)
				SH 238 south – Port Lavaca, Seadrift
	Point Comfort			FM 1593 – Lolita, Matagorda Bay
	​			FM 2143 east
Jackson	​			SH 172 – La Ward
	​			FM 1862 north – Blessing
	​			FM 3280 south
Matagorda	Palacios			Bus. SH 35 north – Palacios
				Bus. SH 35 south – Palacios
	​			FM 2853 north
	​			FM 521 north – Simpsonville
	Blessing			FM 2853 south
				FM 616 west – La Ward
				SH 71 west – El Campo
	Elmaton			FM 1095 south – Simpsonville
	Markham			FM 1468 south	South end of FM 1468 overlap
				FM 1468 north – Markham	North end of FM 1468 overlap
	​			Colorado River Turnaround	Interchange
	Bay City			SH 60 – Wharton, Matagorda
				FM 2668 south
				FM 457 east – Cedar Lane
	Van Vleck			FM 2540 south
	​			FM 1728 north – Pledger
Brazoria	​			Loop 419 east – Old Ocean
	Old Ocean			FM 524 north – Danciger	South end of FM 524 overlap
	​			Loop 419 west – Old Ocean
	​			FM 524 south – Sweeny	North end of FM 524 overlap
	​			FM 1459 – Sweeny
	​			Bus. SH 35 north – West Columbia
	West Columbia			SH 36 – Rosenberg, Freeport
				Bus. SH 35 south (17th Street)
				FM 2851 north – Varner-Hogg Plantation
	Bailey's Prairie			FM 521 south – Brazoria	South end of FM 521 overlap
				FM 521 north – Rosharon	North end of FM 521 overlap
	Angleton			SH 288 (Nolan Ryan Expressway) – Houston, Freeport
				Loop 274 (Hancock Street)
				Bus. SH 288 – Houston, Lake Jackson
				FM 523 (Highway 35 Bypass) – Freeport
	​			Spur 28 south – Danbury
	​			FM 2917 south
	Alvin			FM 2403 south
				Bus. SH 35 north – Alvin
				FM 1462 west
				SH 6 – Sugar Land, Galveston	Interchange
				FM 517 (Dickinson Road) – League City
				FM 528 (Friendswood Road) – Friendswood, Webster
				Bus. SH 35 south – Alvin	Interchange
	​			FM 2351 north – Friendswood
	Pearland			FM 518 – Friendswood
Harris	Houston			Beltway 8 (Frontage Road) / Sam Houston Tollway
				I-610 (South Loop Freeway) to I-45 south (Gulf Freeway) – Galveston	I-610 exit 32B; interchange; northbound entrance from IH 45 closed until April 2018
				I-45 north (Gulf Freeway) – Downtown Houston	I-45 exit 40 southbound; interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

See also

• Copano Bay Fishing Pier

References

1. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 35". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
2. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 5". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
3. Chapter 4, The Spokes Archived 2006-09-04 at the Wayback Machine, p. 163 Houston Freeways, Erik Slotboom.
4. "Minutes from 6th State Highway Commission meeting" (PDF). November 19, 1917.
5. "Minutes from 73rd State Highway Commission meeting" (PDF). August 21, 1923.
6. (PDF) https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003676984.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
7. (PDF) https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673847.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
8. "Minutes from 10th State Highway Commission meeting" (PDF). March 18, 1918.
9. "Minutes from 16th State Highway Commission meeting" (PDF). September 17, 1918.
10. "Minutes from 70th State Highway Commission meeting" (PDF). May 21, 1923.
11. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business State Highway No. 35-C". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation.
12. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business State Highway No. 35-E". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation.
13. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business State Highway No. 35-H". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation.
14. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business State Highway No. 35-L". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation.
15. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business State Highway No. 35-L". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation.

External links

Media related to Texas State Highway 35 at Wikimedia Commons