U.S. Route 57

U.S. Highway 57 is a north–south United States highway that follows a nearly east–west route in southwest Texas. The highway's northern (eastern) terminus is about 50 miles (80 km) south of San Antonio, Texas, between Devine and Pearsall, at an intersection with Interstate 35 (old U.S. Highway 81). Its southern (western) terminus is in Eagle Pass, at the Rio Grande (Río Bravo), where it continues into Piedras Negras, Coahuila, as Mexican Federal Highway 57.

History

This 103-mile (166 km) route was originally designated by 1933 as Texas State Highway 76, which was previously designated in 1926 on a route from Nacogdoches to Joaquin which was replaced by SH 7 in 1933. From 1942 to 1964, its eastern half was reassigned to Farm to Market Road 394. In 1966, the state changed the route's number to 57 to provide continuity with a similarly-numbered route across the Mexican border.

In 1970, the route was commissioned as a United States Highway, and retained its "57" designation to prevent confusion. The route is signed north–south, even though most of the route is due east–west. However, Mexican Federal Highway 57 heads south to Mexico City, so the unusual directional signing again prevents confusion.

Route description

U.S. Route 57 begins at the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras International Bridge in Eagle Pass. The route travels eastward through Eagle Pass on Garrison Street. On the east side of town, it turns northeast briefly and intersect with Business Route 277 on Main Street, turning back to the east. Six blocks later it reaches the intersection with the main branch of U.S. Route 277 and FM 3443. US 57 continues east, now concurrent with south US 277. About a mile further, the highways diverge, with US 57 veering to the northeast. The route continues northeast, travelling through ranchland, before entering croplands around the town of La Pryor. In La Pryor, the route intersects with U.S. Route 83. The route continues eastward through ranch and farmlands, intersecting various Farm to Market roads, before reaching its eastern terminus, intersecting with Interstate 35 just southwest of the town of Moore.

References

External links

• Endpoints of US highways
• Texas Department of Transportation: Texas Highway Designation Files