Amarillo: new I-27/Loop 335 project proposed

[-- US 175 --]

Work progressing on new I-40/Loop 335 interchange (to be ex-Helium Rd. exit)

https://www.amarillo.com/story/news/local/2021/08/11/40-state-loop-335-project-entering-next-phase/8096950002/

[sparker]

Work progressing on new I-40/Loop 335 interchange (to be ex-Helium Rd. exit)

https://www.amarillo.com/story/news/local/2021/08/11/40-state-loop-335-project-entering-next-phase/8096950002/

Looks like, as previously predicted by multiple posters, this is initially going to be a volleyball interchange.  If and when I-27 is rerouted over it in order to extend it north of Amarillo per P2P plans, a stack will likely materialize if lapses in judgment resulting in dense development occupying the corners doesn't occur. 

And in response to a previous post, if parties in central Amarillo express a preference that the existing I-27 from the loop up to I-40 near downtown remain an Interstate, that'll probably happen via a 3di (this isn't NY, so probably no multi-standard business loops!).  If they don't, it could well revert to a unsigned I-facility retaining the US 60/87 shields. 

[-- US 175 --]

Work continues on the SW side of Loop 335 west of I-27, although the reporter decides to do most of the video in the pre-dawn hours, so it's a bit hard to tell how workers are progressing.

https://www.newschannel10.com/2021/11/17/southwest-amarillo-loop-335-construction-be-done-by-this-spring/

[r15-1]

Work continues on the SW side of Loop 335 west of I-27, although the reporter decides to do most of the video in the pre-dawn hours, so it's a bit hard to tell how workers are progressing.

https://www.newschannel10.com/2021/11/17/southwest-amarillo-loop-335-construction-be-done-by-this-spring/

In the reporter's defense, this was a live report on the early morning (pre-7:00 AM) news program. Sunrise on November 17 in Amarillo was 7:24 AM.

A recorded report designed to be run on news programs at other times of the day wouldn't have been done before sunrise.

[MaxConcrete]

Webber posted these photos of work in progress on X

https://twitter.com/webberllc/status/1717240347959370162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

[Bobby5280]

The photos look like they're from the NW corner of the loop, near the Tascosa Road exit.

[-- US 175 --]

The first one is between Tascosa Rd. and Western, the second is the exit at Tascosa, the third is between Tascosa and W. 9th (the city would call it SW 9th).  I didn't know they were doing anything now between 9th and Western.

[-- US 175 --]

A ribbon cutting took place over the past week celebrating the end of the service road phase of the work on Loop 335's new/relocated section between SW 9th Ave. and I-27.  So, for now, no main lanes section along the same path until new funding comes along.

https://www.newschannel10.com/2024/06/04/txdot-hosts-ribbon-cutting-new-state-loop-335-southwest-segment/

[Plutonic Panda]

I just can't wait to see a five stack in Amarillo. Something about a massive stack interchange in a small city like Amarillo will complete Texas.

[Bobby5280]

Road work in Texas will never be complete.

While the prospect of a 5-level stack on Amarillo's West side seems pretty cool, I'm not going to be holding my breath waiting for it to be completed. West Texas cities have a lot of freeway to freeway interchanges in "volleyball" configuration (frontage road connections only) and others with maybe one or two flyover ramps. People in the Amarillo area have to hope the phases of the Loop-335 project have enough momentum to result in proper freeway to freeway interchanges. The proposed stack on the West side with I-40 has the best chances, followed by the one with I-27 on the South side.

[The Ghostbuster]

I'm still not fully convinced that Interstate 27 will continue north of Amarillo. If it were to follow US 87 towards New Mexico, bypasses would have to be constructed around the towns 87 passes through (not a big deal, although they better get a move on it if that's the route the proposed 27 extension takes). Also, New Mexico isn't gung-ho about upgrading their segment of US 87, and I also question whether proposed Interstate 27N will ever be built along the US 287 corridor (287 may not need to be an Interstate Standard Freeway all the way to the Oklahoma border).

[Plutonic Panda]

I think it would have a better chance of going through Oklahoma and into Colorado than it would New Mexico. Plus as others have stated the Raton Pass is brutal in the winter. I decided to hitchhike once through there in February some years ago and that's something I'll never do again. What a joker environment that place is.

[Bobby5280]

If I-27 is ever extended North of Amarillo the priority should be US-287 thru the TX & OK panhandles and into Eastern Colorado (up to Kit Carson and finally Limon and I-70). The upgraded route could act as both a relief valve for I-25 and an alternative cold weather route during the winter. If a blizzard is slamming Raton Pass it might still be possible for truckers to take an improved US-287 in/out Colorado instead.

Once the Loop 335 project is completed around Amarillo it might be more possible for US-287 to be upgraded to Interstate standards from Amarillo up to Dumas. Getting past that important location would be difficult without other states (such as Colorado) getting on board with the I-27 idea. Until then just about any real extensions of I-27 will be taking place South of Lubbock.

[DJStephens]

Road work in Texas will never be complete.

While the prospect of a 5-level stack on Amarillo's West side seems pretty cool, I'm not going to be holding my breath waiting for it to be completed. West Texas cities have a lot of freeway to freeway interchanges in "volleyball" configuration (frontage road connections only) and others with maybe one or two flyover ramps. People in the Amarillo area have to hope the phases of the Loop-335 project have enough momentum to result in proper freeway to freeway interchanges. The proposed stack on the West side with I-40 has the best chances, followed by the one with I-27 on the South side.

The "volleyball phase" seems to be what's happening with the Montana Avenue Frwy project in E El Paso, as well.   There were supposed to be flyovers at both Yarbrough and Loop 375 as well, there has been no progress towards those flyovers at either of those locations.  Am guessing, possibly similar to the long dead Montana/Airway grade separation proposal, it has been deemed too difficult and has been back-burnered.   

[Bobby5280]

It all comes down to money. And planning.

Yarbrough Drive is a divided surface street, so even in the best case scenario I wouldn't expect more than one or two flyovers getting built on the North side of the interchange (where there is vacant space to build such things). The South corners of the interchange are consumed by existing properties.

A 5-level stack can be built at the US-62/Loop-375 interchange, as long as vacant ROW is preserved around the four corners of the interchange. If the city allows short-sighted developers to build over those corner properties then that will take away any chances for flyover ramps to be piece-mealed into place over time as funding becomes available.

IMHO US-62 is just as important an East-West outlet for El Paso as I-10. Whether they can afford to build new stack interchanges or not TX DOT needs to continue transforming US-62/Montana Avenue into an urban freeway farther East to the Hueco Mountains. And the highway thru the mountain pass needs to at least be improved to a barrier separated divided highway, if not a freeway. That can't happen without TX DOT and the City of El Paso being committed to a long term game plan. Too often local business people will do the "anything goes" bit, building new things in stupid locations, screwing up those long term plans.

Back to Amarillo, I'm at least somewhat hopeful a 5-level stack will be built at the I-40/Loop-335 interchange on the West side. It's a high profile location and in a place where Amarillo is seeing most of its new residential and business development. It looks like TX-DOT secured enough of a diamond-shape in ROW around the interchange to preserve space for future flyover ramps.

The I-27/Loop-335 interchange looks less clear. Flyover ramps still look possible. But the NE corner of the interchange has properties built somewhat close to the corner. A flyover ramp there, that doesn't remove existing businesses, might be a tighter, slower speed ramp. The city of Amarillo and TX DOT have to work on keeping ROW secure and clear.