Site Navigation Arkansas Louisiana Oklahoma New Mexico Texas       Corpus Christi @ LoneStarRoads Corpus Christi, the sparking city by the bay, is a major deepwater port along the Texas Gulf Coast, as well as being the gateway to North Padre Island and a tourist destination. The city is home to the USS Lexington museum, as well as Whataburger, a Texas hamburger chain. Ocean Boulevard was created in the 1930s, in a project that created the Corpus Christi Seawall and the T-head docks of Corpus Christi Marina for pleasure boats. More recently, Corpus Christi became known for Selena, the Tejano music star who was tragically killed in 1995. Interstate 37 begins at Waco Street before heading west through the city. Beginning at US 181, the road heads west to meet SH 286 and SH 358, continuing west to reach US 77 in Calallen before heading north toward San Antonio. IH-37 is 6 lanes through Corpus Christi, and is seeing increased traffic volume as development moves west of the city and out toward small towns such as Orange Grove. The first section of IH-37, the interchange with US 181, opened in November 1959. For more, see Interstate 37 North (Corpus Christi to Three Rivers) and Interstate 37 South (Mathis to Corpus Christi). US 77 enters the Corpus Christi area co-signed with IH-37. Branching off in Calallen, the road continues south to Robstown before heading south to Brownsville. US 77 is part of the future IH-69 corridor. The interchange with IH-37 was reconstructed in the late 1980s, with upgrade to full freeway status between FM 624 and Robstown scheduled for completion in 2005. US 181 where IH-37 ends, at Waco Street downtown, then heads north across the Corpus Christi ship channel (on what is locally known as "High Bridge") before heading northwest to eventually reach San Antonio. High Bridge opened in November 1959. For more photos, see US Highway 181. Agnes Street SH 44 paralells IH-37 into Corpus Christi from Robstown. At the airport, SH 44 becomes a freeway, and continues as a freeway to SH 358. SH 44 then follows SH 358 to IH-37. Originally, SH 44 followed Agnes Street into downtown - this is now signed "Business SH 44" but actually known as SS 544. For more photos, see Texas SH 44. Crosstown Expressway The Crosstown Expressway begins at IH-37 just west of US 181, and travels south through the city to reach SH 358. The first portion of the freeway was built in 1964, with the south portion constructed by 1969. Originally ending at SH 358, the Crosstown Expressway is being extended south to SH 357. SH 286 continues to the Chapman Ranch south of Corpus Christi. For more information, see Texas SH 286. Padre Island Drive SH 358 begins at IH-37 approximately 5 miles from downtown, and loops through the city to Corpus Christi NAS. The busiest section, from SH 286 to Ayers Street, is Corpus Christi's busiest freeway. SH 358 was upgraded to a freeway from the Crosstown Expressway to Airline Road in 1971, with the last gap between the Crosstown Expressway and IH-37 completed by 1992. The busiest section, officially named South Padre Island Drive, is locally known as "SPID". For more information, see Texas SH 358 (East) and Texas SH 358 (West). Padre Island Drive Park Road 22 begins at SH 358 in Flour Bluff, and continues east across the John F. Kennedy Causeway to Padre Island and Padre Island National Seashore. The road is freeway until reaching Padre Island, and continues Padre Island Drive from SH 358. For more information, see Texas PR 22. FM 624 begins in Calallen, and runs north to the rapidly growing town of Orange Grove. Orange Grove, long a sleepy farming town, is experiencing rapid growth as a suburb of Corpus Christi due to the small town atmosphere, good schools and proximity to Corpus Christi. FM 624 shield as seen from US 77 south in Calallen. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle. Page Updated August 10, 2005.