Texas State Highway 35 - Future of SH 35

Future of SH 35

In Houston, SH 35 is Telephone Road and Reveille Street from its northern terminus at Interstate 45. An upgrade of the facility (in a slightly different corridor) to freeway standards is planned, tentatively named the Alvin Freeway. As of 2006, only 1.3 miles (approximately 2 km) had been built, under the sign Spur 5 (constructed between 1996–99; officially opened September 1999; desiganted 1998). However, the mainlanes extend less than half a mile south of Interstate 45 adjacent to the campus of the University of Houston.

It should be noted that the number has been previously used for Loop 5, which was designated in 1939 from US 81 through Kyle to US 81. In 1950, the section along Burleson St was cancelled and the rest along Center St became Spur 5. In 1952, Spur 5 was cancelled and transferred to FM 150(now RM 150). In 1958, another route, also called Spur 5, was designated from FM 1406 and SH 124 to Interstate 10. In 1962, The section of the Spur 5 from FM 1406 to SH 73 became a rerouting of SH 124. In 1988. Spur 5 was cancelled and mileage was transferred to FM 1663. The current route was designated in 1998.

An overlap of Highway 35 with the Gulf Freeway was also constructed in the 1980s. This portion extends from Spur 5 to Dowling Street, a distance of about 1.6 miles (2.6 km). This section contains three elevated lanes in each direction (briefly four southbound lanes near the southern terminus). This overlap section is 22 lanes wide, including mainlanes, feeder roads, and a reversible HOV lane.

Once built, the Alvin Freeway is planned to follow a corridor near Mykawa Road from the terminus to Beltway 8 before returning to its normal undivided state.