Editing Interstate 37 (section)

==History==
Prior to I-37, the routing between Corpus Christi and San Antonio was covered by [[Texas State Highway 9|SH&nbsp;9]] from Corpus Christi to [[Three Rivers, Texas|Three Rivers]] and [[U.S. Route 281|US&nbsp;281]] from Three Rivers to San Antonio. Beginning in 1971, sections of SH&nbsp;9 were officially removed from the State Highway System as I-37 was completed.<ref>{{TxDOT|SH|9|access-date=February 27, 2008 |link=no}}</ref> No sections of US&nbsp;281 were removed from the State Highway System as a result of the construction of I-37, but the two do share the same alignment at two different points between San Antonio and Three Rivers. Also, US&nbsp;281 was rerouted onto I-37 in San Antonio in 1978.<ref name="Google Maps">{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=2568522560958495253,27.801020,-97.395701%3B6464171849619486050,29.438726,-98.477498&saddr=I-37+N+%4027.801020,+-97.395701&daddr=US-281+N+%4029.438726,+-98.477498&doflg=ptm&sll=28.61835,-97.938615&sspn=3.187023,5.108643&ie=UTF8&z=8 |title= Overview map of I-37 |access-date= February 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{TxDOT|SS|536|access-date= March 8, 2008 |link=no}}</ref><ref>{{TxDOT|SS|537|access-date= March 8, 2008 |link= no}}</ref>

I-37 was first designated in 1959 to provide a route between San Antonio and Corpus Christi,<ref name="TxDOT"/> and construction began in the 1960s. The $11-million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|11000000|1969}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) project to construct the interchange with I-10 was at the time the largest single contract in the history of the state highway commission.<ref name="statesman1965">{{cite news|title=SA Project Top Single Road Job|work=Austin Statesman|date=April 2, 1965|id={{ProQuest|1521826279}}}} {{subscription required}}</ref> The route was completed by the 1980s.<ref name="Anywhere">{{cite report |url= http://tti.tamu.edu/interstate_anniversary/white_paper/ |title= From Anywhere to Everywhere: The Development of the Interstate Highway System in Texas |last1= Beaumont |first1= Penny |last2= Brinkmann |first2= Rhonda |last3= Ellis |first3= David |last4= Pourteau |first4= Chris |last5= Webb |first5= Brandon V. |year= 2006 |publisher= [[Texas Transportation Institute]] |page= 32 |access-date= February 25, 2008 |format= PDF |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080107001953/http://tti.tamu.edu/interstate_anniversary/white_paper/white_paper.pdf |archive-date= January 7, 2008 }}</ref> The first sections of the freeway completed were in Corpus Christi. The freeway was completed from its southern terminus to {{convert|1.2|mi|km}} to the west at the Port Avenue overpass to include the SH&nbsp;286 interchange in 1963.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url=http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406067 |title= Staples Street overpass |work= [[National Bridge Inventory]] |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406065 |title= Brownlee Street overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406063 |title= SH 286 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406060 |title= Port Avenue overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url= https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=15654451446429096845,27.801340,-97.395350%3B13624965309344525125,27.798210,-97.414227&saddr=I-37+N+%4027.801340,+-97.395350&daddr=I-37+N+%4027.798210,+-97.414227&doflg=ptm&sll=27.799655,-97.40479&sspn=0.023878,0.024419&ie=UTF8&z=15 |title= Southern terminus to Port Avenue |access-date= April 7, 2008}}</ref> In 1964, the freeway was extended another {{convert|1.1|mi|km}} westward with the completion of the overpasses at Nueces Bay and Buddy Lawrence boulevards.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url=http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406072|title=Nueces Bay Boulevard overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url=http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406070|title=Buddy Lawrence Boulevard overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url= https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13624965309344525125,27.798210,-97.414227%3B11077645556041266954,27.802517,-97.430838&saddr=I-37+N+%4027.798210,+-97.414227&daddr=I-37+N+%4027.802517,+-97.430838&doflg=ptm&sll=27.800362,-97.422552&sspn=0.023878,0.024419&ie=UTF8&z=15 |title= Port Avenue to Buddy Lawrence Boulevard |access-date= April 7, 2008 |link= no}}</ref> By 1965, the freeway had been extended west {{convert|1.4|mi|km}} to Navigation Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406075 |title= Navigation Boulevard overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url= https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=11077645556041266954,27.802517,-97.430838%3B5354723483406860925,27.803968,-97.453341&saddr=I-37+N+%4027.802517,+-97.430838&daddr=I-37+N+%4027.803968,+-97.453341&doflg=ptm&sll=27.803247,-97.442079&sspn=0.023877,0.024419&ie=UTF8&z=15 |title= Buddy Lawrence Boulevard to Navigation Boulevard |access-date= April 7, 2008 |link= no}}</ref> In 1966, the interchange at SH&nbsp;358 was complete, as were the mainlanes to Corn Products Road, {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} west of the SH&nbsp;358 interchange.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406083 |title= SH 358 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406079 |title= Corn Products Road overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url= https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=5354723483406860925,27.803968,-97.453341%3B8455734148794798386,27.804540,-97.467914%3B2735235264550711492,27.805159,-97.484440&saddr=I-37+N+%4027.804540,+-97.467914&daddr=I-37+N+%4027.805159,+-97.484440&mra=pr&doflg=ptm&sll=27.805069,-97.476196&sspn=0.023877,0.024419&ie=UTF8&z=15 |title= SH 358 to Corn Products Road |access-date= April 7, 2008 |link= no}}</ref> By 1968, the freeway had been completed an additional {{convert|8.1|mi|km}} further west to Callicoatte Road.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161780007406096 |title= Callicoatte Road overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url= https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=2735235264550711492,27.805159,-97.484440%3B3511226754397856169,27.857017,-97.601838&saddr=I-37+N+%4027.805159,+-97.484440&daddr=I-37+N+%4027.857017,+-97.601838&doflg=ptm&sll=27.83109,-97.54314&sspn=0.19097,0.195351&ie=UTF8&z=12 |title= Corn Products Road to Callicoatte Road |access-date= April 7, 2008 |link= no}}</ref> The southbound I-37 bridge over the [[Nueces River]] was built in 1933 for US&nbsp;77 (future I-69E) when it was first routed through Corpus Christi.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=162050007405199 |title= Southbound Nueces River bridge |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{TxDOT|US|77|access-date= February 29, 2008 |link=no}}</ref> The northbound bridge was built in 1958 with the expansion of US&nbsp;77 (future I-69E) to four lanes.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=162050007405048 |title= Northbound Nueces River bridge |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Interstate 37, southern terminus.jpg|thumb|The southern terminus of I-37 in [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]]]]
Construction in San Antonio also began in the 1960s and was completed in 1972. The first sections were completed in 1967 to include the portion just south of I-410 at the US&nbsp;181 interchange.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308080 |title= US&nbsp;181 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> The section from Steves Avenue north to Florida Street to include the I-10 interchange was also complete in 1967.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308043 |title= Steves Avenue overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308031 |title= Florida Street overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308041 |title= I-10 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> In 1968, the section south of I-410 was extended south to [[Texas State Highway Loop 1604|Loop&nbsp;1604]].<ref>{{cite web |author= staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007309091 |title= Loop 1604 overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> In 1969, the two sections were connected with the completion of overpasses at Goliad Road, Pecan Valley Drive, Fair Avenue, and Hackberry Street as well as the completion of the interchanges at I-410 and Loop&nbsp;13.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308054 |title= Goliad Road overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308052 |title= Pecan Valley Drive overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308046 |title= Fair Avenue overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308044 |title= Hackberry Street overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308198 |title= I-410 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308202 |title= Loop 13 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> The last sections left were on the eastside of downtown. The downtown overpasses at Durango Boulevard, Commerce Street, and the overpass stretching from Houston Street to Jones Avenue were all completed in 1972.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308269 |title= Durango Boulevard overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308267 |title= Commerce Street overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150007308266 |title= Houston Street to Jones Avenue overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> The last portion completed in San Antonio was the [[stack interchange]] at I-35 (also known as the San Antonio "Downtown Mixer"), near the Pearl Brewery. With the completion of the interchange in 1972,<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url=http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150150001710295 |title= IH 35 & IH 37 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> the city had a complete freeway loop in conjunction with I-10 and I-35 around the [[Downtown San Antonio|central business district of the city]]. At the time construction began in July 1969, the I-35 interchange was the largest highway construction project in state history at $11&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|11000000|1969}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.texasfreeway.com/SanAntonio/historic/photos/texas_highways_images/txhwys_june71_sanantonio_i35_i37_2e.shtml |title= Where the Freeways Meet |work= [[Texas Highways]] |date= June 1971 |last= Kelly |first= Frank G. |access-date= February 27, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080513154133/http://www.texasfreeway.com/SanAntonio/historic/photos/texas_highways_images/txhwys_june71_sanantonio_i35_i37_2e.shtml |archive-date= May 13, 2008 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

[[File:I-37 - US&nbsp;77 interchange.jpg|left|thumb|The interchange between I-37 and I-69E/US&nbsp;77]]
The rural sections of the freeway were completed later than those in the urban areas. Construction of the highway in Corpus Christi and Nueces County continued north over the Nueces River into San Patrico County. The interchange at US&nbsp;77 (future I-69E) was completed in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=162050007405112 |title= US&nbsp;77 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> The road that was already in existence along this stretch, SH&nbsp;9, would be utilized as a frontage road as many of the bridges along this stretch were from when SH&nbsp;9 was built in the 1930s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=162050007404009|title=Arroyo Nombre de Dios Bridge |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=162050007405038 |title= SH 234 frontage overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> The mainlanes were extended northward to [[Texas State Highway 234|SH&nbsp;234]] in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=162050007405109 |title= SH 234 overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> By 1970, the freeway had been extended as far north as [[Texas State Highway 188|SH&nbsp;188]].<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=162050007404121 |title= SH 188 overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> In 1971, I-37 reached [[Farm to Market Road 888]] (FM&nbsp;888) and service to the city of [[Mathis, Texas|Mathis]].<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161490007402134 |title= FM 888 overpass |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> During the mid-1970s, the southern section and northern section were both being extended. The southern section was extended northward in [[Live Oak County, Texas|Live Oak County]] to [[U.S. Route 59 in Texas|US&nbsp;59]] (future [[Interstate 69W|I-69W]]) in 1975 and [[Farm to Market Road 799|FM&nbsp;799]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161490007402148 |title= US&nbsp;59 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161490007401166 |title= FM 799 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> The northern section saw completion in [[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]] to [[Farm to Market Road 541|FM&nbsp;541]] in 1975 and [[Farm to Market Road 1099|FM&nbsp;1099]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150070007305153 |title= FM 541 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=150070007306172 |title= FM 1099 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> By the early 1980s, the freeway was nearly complete. In 1980, the interchange at US&nbsp;281 southeast of [[Pleasanton, Texas|Pleasanton]] was complete.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161490007307247 |title= US&nbsp;281 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> With the completion of the interchange at [[Texas State Highway 72|SH&nbsp;72]] and other bridges in the Pleasanton area in 1981, I-37 was complete.<ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161490007401185 |title= SH 72 interchange |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Staff |url= http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=48&struct=161490007401183 |title= Rock Quarry Branch Bridge |work= National Bridge Inventory |publisher= Federal Highway Administration |access-date= February 29, 2008}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref>