La Entrada al Pacífico

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The La Entrada al Pacífico trade corridor was designated as "Trade Corridor 56" by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The corridor is an international project between Mexico and the United States as a route from the Pacific Ocean port of Topolobampo in the Mexican state of Sinaloa to the U.S. state of Texas and beyond by way of the Midland-Odessa area.

Contents

[edit] Route

[edit] Mexican section

The trade route begins in Topolobampo, Sinaloa, and travels along Federal Highway 23 to Choix, Chihuahua. From there, the route goes to San Rafael, Chihuahua, on currently non-existent roads that are supposed to be finished by 2010. From San Rafael, the route goes to the state capital, Chihuahua City. The corridor then follows the newest section of highway to the border crossing of Ojinaga/Presidio.

[edit] American section

The route continues from Presidio on US Highway 67 to the US 67/Interstate 10 interchange. It then follows the combined US 67/I-10 highway until US 67 goes north off the interstate and intersects US 385. The route then follows US 385 to Odessa, Texas at Interstate 20. It then follows I-20 east to FM 1788 south of Midland International Airport. It follows FM 1788 north to the proposed SH 349 reliever route to the main highway north of Midland. The final leg of the highway follows SH 349 to Lamesa.

[edit] Map

Google Maps link to an overview of La Entrada al Pacífico

[edit] Alternate sections

[edit] Lamesa to Amarillo

From Lamesa, the corridor follows US 87 to Lubbock and then it follows Interstate 27 from Lubbock to Amarillo.

[edit] Midland to Dallas

From the FM 1788 junction, the route follows Interstate 20 to Dallas.

[edit] Midland to Wichita Falls

From the FM 1788 junction, the route follows Interstate 20 to Abilene. Then, the route follows US 277 to Wichita Falls

[edit] Impacts to Midland/Odessa

Midland-Odessa stands to benefit greatly from this trade corridor. Plans include an inland port by Union Pacific and other facilities.

[edit] Support

The major support from Midland-Odessa comes from the organization, MOTRAN (Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance). There is also some support from the governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

[edit] Opposition

Citizens from the Big Bend area of West Texas have voiced their opinion that a larger highway through the area would damage the beauty of the area. The lack of support has prompted TXDOT to find reliever routes around cities in the area.

[edit] References