U.S. Route 84 in Texas explained

See also: Interstate 20 in Texas and Interstate 69 in Texas.

State:TX
Type:US
Route:84
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:US 84 highlighted in red
Length Mi:530.369
Length Round:3
Established:1935
Direction A:West
Terminus A: at New Mexico state line near Farwell
Junction: in Lubbock
from Roscoe to Abilene
in Abilene
in Waco
in Farifield
in Tenaha
Direction B:East
Terminus B: at Louisiana state line near Joaquin
Counties:Parmer, Bailey, Lamb, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn, Garza, Scurry, Mitchell, Nolan, Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Mills, Hamilton, Coryell, McLennan, Limestone, Freestone, Anderson, Cherokee, Rusk, Shelby
Previous Type:SH
Previous Route:83
Next Type:US
Next Route:85

U.S. Route 84 (US 84) is a U.S. highway that runs from Pagosa Springs, CO to Midway, GA. In Texas, the highway enters the state from New Mexico at Farwell, near the Panhandle region. Major cities along the highway include Lubbock, Abilene, Waco and Palestine. The highway exits Texas into Louisiana near Joaquin, crossing the Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Route description

US 84 enters into Texas at Farwell, concurrent with US 70 from New Mexico. The US 70 overlap ends in Muleshoe. US 84 bypasses the towns of Littlefield and Shallowater before entering Lubbock. The highway just passes north of the Texas Tech University campus and enters downtown as Avenue Q. As Avenue Q, the highway parallels I-27 before crossing it, just north of that highway's southern terminus. Leaving the city, US 84 serves the towns of Post and Snyder before reaching Roscoe, where it begins its overlap with I-20.

The two highways run through Sweetwater before reaching Abilene. US 84 leaves the interstate on the western side of the city, running with I-20's business loop. US 84 joins US 83/US 277, with US 277 leaving the concurrency after a short distance. US 84 leaves US 83, northeast of Tuscola. US 84 runs southeast to Coleman, overlapping with US 283 in the process and joining US 67. After leaving Brownwood, US 84 leaves US 67 and joins US 183. US 84 becomes a solo route again in Goldthwaite, traveling through Gatesville. In Gatesville, the hwy meets SH 36, which coincidentally also runs to Abilene, albeit in a more direct way than US 84.

East of McGregor, US 84 becomes a 4-lane divided highway before becoming a freeway in Woodway. At SH 6, US 84 becomes a surface street, running through Waco. The highway crosses the Brazos River and enters Bellmead before leaving the Waco area to the northeast/east. The highway cross I-45 in Fairfield, and crosses the Trinity River just before arriving in Palestine. US 84 runs through several smaller communities in East Texas before meeting US 59 (future I-69) in Timpson and follows that highway to Tenaha. It continues due east and crosses over the Toledo Bend Reservoir/Sabine River, into Louisiana, at Logansport, in the area where that river starts to form the Texas/Louisiana state border.

US 84 is part of the El Camino East/West Corridor, which spans five states starting in Texas.[1]

Future

Studies are underway to build a completely new route of US 84 around the city of Lubbock, in an attempt to relieve traffic going into the city.[2] This bypass, tentatively named Loop 88, started construction in late 2021.[3] [4] [5]

In Abilene, Winters Freeway from Canyon Rock Road to FM 707 is beginning upgrades. This includes converting two-way frontage roads to one-way, adding u-turns, removing the crossover of Iberis Road and building a crossover near Lytle Creek.[6]

An upgrade is in progress along US 84 from Ritchie Road to Harris Creek Road; this includes implementing a divide-interchange with Speegleville Road in south Waco.[7]

US 84 in Tenaha between the US 59/US 96/Future I-69/Future I-369 interchange to the Louisiana state line will become part of I-69. US 96's northern terminus will remain, and this is expected to be the southern terminus of I-369. This would make I-369 the longest auxiliary route in the US, surpassing I-476.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: El Camino Corridor Five State Commission . dead . November 7, 2013 . El Camino Corridor.
  2. Web site: Texas Department of Transportation . Lubbock Outer Route . November 7, 2013.
  3. News: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Dotray. Matt. 'Outer Route' on path to becoming 'Loop 88'Lubbock OnlineLubbock Avalanche-Journal. September 12, 2016. November 6, 2016.
  4. News: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Our View: Lubbock Outer Route will be as important as Loop 289 is today. May 12, 2016. November 6, 2016.
  5. Web site: Loop 88 groundbreaking to kick-off construction in south Lubbock . 2023-05-22 . Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . en-US.
  6. Web site: Texas Department of Transportation . Public Hearing-US 83/84 and Loop 322 . November 7, 2013.
  7. Web site: Texas Department of Transportation . Public Hearing-US 84 from Ritchie Road to Harris Creek Road . November 7, 2013.