Interstate 20 in Texas

Infobox road
state=TX
route=20
type=I


maint=
length_mi=636.08
length_round=2
length_ref=cite web | author=Texas Department of Transportation | title=Highway Designation File - Interstate Highway 20 | url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/tpp/hwy/ih/ih0020.htm | accessdate=2007-07-08 ]
year_established=1959
direction_a=West
terminus_a=Jct|state=TX|I|10 east of Kent
junction=Jct|state=TX|I|30 west of Fort Worth
Jct|state=TX|I|35W in Fort Worth
Jct|state=TX|I|35E in Dallas
Jct|state=TX|I|45 in Dallas
direction_b=East
terminus_b=Jct|state=LA|I|20 near Greenwood, LA
previous_type=TX
previous_route=19
next_type=TX
next_route=20

Interstate 20 in Texas (abbreviated I-20 or IH-20) is a major east-west interstate highway in the Southern United States, running east from a junction with Interstate 10 east of Kent, Texas, through the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to the border with Louisiana near Waskom, Texas. The original distance of Interstate 20 was 647 miles from I-10 to the Louisiana border, reduced to the current distance of 636 miles with the rerouting of I-20 in the 1980s and 1990s.

History

Route description

West Texas

I-20 begins at a junction with I-10 in a desolate region of West Texas about convert|6|mi|km|0 east of the town of Kent. I-20 leaves the interchange with I-10 and generally heads to the east-northeast passing by the cities of Odessa and Midland while transitioning from the West Texas desert to the prairie. I-20 runs concurrently with the La Entrada al Pacifico corridor from its junction with US 385 in Odessa to its junction with FM 1788 near Midland International Airport. Near Sweetwater, I-20 begins to head due east as it heads towards the city of Abilene. In Abilene, I-20 curves towards the north and transverses the northern part of the city while also forming the northern arc of the loop around the city. I-20 continues heading east from Abilene until the town of Eastland when I-20 takes a more northeasterly route towards Weatherford while transitioning from the West Texas prarie to the central plains of North Texas the terrain grows hilly. In Weatherford, I-20 again heads back towards the east as it heads towards the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

I-20 interchanges with I-30 west of Fort Worth with I-30 heading east and I-20 to the southeast. I-20 heads back towards the east when it interchanges with Interstate 820. I-20 forms the southern arc of the complete loop around the city of Fort Worth, and serves as the southernmost west-east freeway in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Interchanging with I-35W south of downtown, I-20 heads east towards Dallas passing through Arlington (where it is also known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway). From Arlington, I-20 passes into Dallas County at Grand Prairie and heads east in to Dallas, interchanging with I-35E south of downtown and I-45 shortly after. I-20 intersects with I-635 (where it completes a three-quarter loop around the city) on Dallas' southeast side before heading east towards East Texas.

East Texas

I-20 leaves the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and heads generally to the east-southeast through East Texas. I-20 begins heading to the east as it passes to the north of the city of Tyler going through pine belt region of East Texas. I-20 leaves the state of Texas near Waskom and just west of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Exit list

Auxiliary route

Interstate 20 has one auxiliary route in Texas.

, [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/tpp/hwy/ih/ih0820.htm Highway Designation File - Interstate Highway 820] ]

References