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Crosstown Expressway

SH 286 was commissioned in 1939 from Corpus Christi to the Chapman Ranch, a route it still follows today. The current Crosstown Expressway was proposed in a 1958 expressway plan for Corpus Christi as part of a "freeway triangle" through the city.

SH 286 was originally routed along Port Avenue at US 181 to Ayers Street, then south along Ayers Street to Chapman Ranch Road. The section from Port Avenue to Ayers Street where Ayers Street meets SH 358 was decommissioned with construction of the Crosstown Expressway.

There is one business loop along SH 286. BS 286A is routed along Ayers Street from SH 358 to SH 357, and was commissioned in 1995 with the completion of the frontage roads along the Crosstown Expressway extension.

Construction Timeline

  • 1958: Freeway proposed in Corpus Christi.
  • 1963: Construction begins on February 19 between IH-37 and Morris Street.
  • 1964: Freeway opens between IH-37 and Morris Street on June 18.
  • 1965: Freeway opens between Morris Street and Tarlton Street in December.
  • 1969: Freeway opens between Tarlton Street and Gollihar St.
  • 1970: Freeway opens between Gollihar Street and SH 358. Original freeway is completed.
  • 1980: Freeway extension plans reactivated between SH 358 and SH 357.
  • 1984: Crosstown Expressway extension approved by TxDOT.
  • 1988: Final FHWA approval for Crosstown Expressway extension received.
  • 1995: Frontage roads open along Crosstown Expressway extension. Plans for main freeway lanes dropped by TxDOT due to focus on Houston freeway funding. Ayers Street re-signed Business State(BS) 286A in December.
  • 1998: Plans for freeway lanes reactivated.
  • 2000: SH 286/358 interchange plans designed. Some controversy generated when existing SH 286 south ramp to Ayers Street is deleted from proposed interchange.
  • 2002: SH 286/358 Interchange reconstruction begins.

The Crosstown Expressway is unusual in that there is limited commercial development along the freeway. The freeway was routed through residential neighborhoods during initial construction. The neighborhoods have remained residential, leading to an unusual feel for a Texas freeway - one that does not have extensive commercial development along the frontage roads.

Perspective from SH 286 North
Just north of SH 358, we find the road under construction due to the rebuild of the SH 286/358 interchange. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Leaving the construction zone, we see this typical view of the at-grade freeway. The next exit is Horne Road. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Horne Road is the first exit northbound. The next exit is Port Avenue and Tarlton Street. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Notice the lack of commercial development along SH 286 in this picture, south of Port Avenue. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
The Crosstown Expressway replaced Port Avenue, which was formerly SH 286. Port Avenue and Tarlton Street exit here. The next exit is Baldwin Avenue. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Use Baldwin Avenue to reach Del Mar College, east campus. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Looking north along the freeway from the Port Avenue overpass. This is a typical view along the Crosstown Expressway. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Baldwin Avenue exits here. The next exit is 19th Street and Morgan Avenue. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
19th Street and Morgan Avenue exit here. The next exit serves Agnes Street and Laredo Street. The Agnes Street sign used to carry a shield for SH 44 until SH 44 was truncated at SH 358. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
This view shows the residential nature of SH 286, with the freeway routed through residential neighborhoods. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Another drivers-eye view, south of Agnes Street. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Agnes Street and Laredo Street exit here. The old sign, with room for a SH 44 shield, has been replaced with a new Clearview sign. The next exit serves Comanche Street and Lipan Street. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Comanche Street and Lipan Street exit here. The next exit is Leopard Street. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Leopard Street exits here. The Crosstown Expressway, and SH 286, is about to come to an end. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Use the left lane to reach IH-37 north (in a ramp that goes under IH-37), and the right lane to reach US 181 north. SH 286 ends here. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Perspective from SH 286 South
Baldwin Avenue exits here. The next exit serves Tarlton Street and Port Avenue. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Tarlton Street and Port Avenue exit here. The next exit serves Horne Rd. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
This VMS (variable message sign) tells travelers to take the Gollihar Road exit to reach SH 358 west, due to the construction ahead on the SH 286/358 interchange. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Horne Road exits here. The next exit is Gollihar Road which also serves SH 358 west. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Gollihar Road exits here. There is no direct connection between SH 286 south and SH 358 west. The button copy sign on the left advises of the junction with SH 358 ahead. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Looking ahead at the SH 286/358 interchange. As constructed in 1970, SH 286 south merges onto SH 358 east, with an exit for Ayers Street (current Business 286A, formerly SH 286). Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
The Crosstown Expressway main lanes exit here for SH 358 east. There is no direct connection between the SH 286 south freeway lanes and SH 286 south of the SH 286/358 interchange. Photo taken 7/11/05 by Kevin Trinkle.

Page Updated July 23, 2005.