Sen. Cornyn wants to turn US 287 into I-47

[Road Hog]

Here is some local coverage on the story. Looks like they tried to mention the political stuff while playing it down the middle and just putting it out there.

https://www.midlothianmirror.com/sen-cornyn-proposes-new-ellis-interstate/

[ElishaGOtis]

I guess this is better than the thread turning into partisan rancor. What do you think the control cities would be?

I think we all know that one.

As if this proposal wasn't silly enough   

/s

When life gives you Limons, make Limonade.

[Mr. Matté]

And with the loss of Cornyn in the runoff, I-47 has been I-86ed. https://www.expressnews.com/politics/texas/article/cornyn-trump-highway-texas-22289851.php

[PColumbus73]

I will remember you... will you remember me?...

[The Ghostbuster]

This proposal obviously was never going to happen. It was a stupid idea to begin with. Hopefully, we will still have gradual upgrades to the US 287 corridor in Texas.

[abqtraveler]

This proposal obviously was never going to happen. It was a stupid idea to begin with. Hopefully, we will still have gradual upgrades to the US 287 corridor in Texas.

It was unrealistic for US-287 to be fully upgraded to interstate standards from the Texas Gulf Coast all the way to Montana. There is a fairly good chance that at least portions of 287 will be upgraded as far as Amarillo, but even that will take decades to complete. Beyond that, it's highly unlikely it'll be upgraded any further. 

Politicians in Colorado have been diverting highway funding to pay for progressive priorities (i.e., handouts and mass transit) to the point where there's no funding to maintain the existing roads there, let alone convert a mostly 2-lane road to an interstate-grade freeway.

US-287 through the Oklahoma Panhandle, Wyoming, and Montana is very sparsely populated and traffic counts don't come close to justifying the need for an interstate highway through these areas. So it'll be a very low priority for these states as well.

[nhoward45]

It would not be terribly expensive to upgrade US 287 from I-45 in Corsicana to I-40 in Amarillo to Interstate status.  Bypasses will be needed in Decatur and especially a number of small towns between Vernon and Amarillo.  However, upgrades will be less expensive than the proposals for I-27 south of Lubbock and I-14, both of which will require entirely new rights of way.

Going north of Amarillo will be problematical.  It is possible to extend I-27 northward through the Oklahoma Panhandle into western Kansas, intersecting with I-70 possibly around Oakley.  This is more politically feasible than going into anti-highway Colorado.  However, you would have to question whether Oklahoma and Kansas would be willing to spend the funds into sparsely populated areas.  The current route to Colorado, vis US 87 to I-25 at Raton, NM, is adequate for now.  The real issue is Raton Pass, which is subject to difficult driving conditions and occasional closures during heavy winter snowfalls.

Going south and east of Corsicana would be an expensive proposition.  Construction of an Interstate from Corsicana to Beaumont would provide the latter city, a significant port and refining area, with a north south freeway connector to the Interstate system.  This may be a significant enough benefit that may outweigh the costs.