U.S. Route 54 in Texas

Infobox TX State Highway
type=US
route=54

---

length_mi=111.583
length_round=3
length_ref=cite web | author=Texas Department of Transportation | title=Highway Designation File - U.S. Highway 54 | url=http://www.txdot.state.tx.us/tpp/hwy/us/us0054.htm | accessdate=2007-12-09 ]
formed=1927
dir1=South
dir2=North
from=
junction= in El Paso
in El Paso
to=TX/OK border at Texhoma
previous_type=TX
previous_route=53
next_type=TX
next_route=54

U.S. Highway 54 in Texas is a U.S. Highway that travels through two portions of Texas: one in the far western point, and the other in the far northwest Panhandle. The southern portion begins in El Paso, at Loop 375, just shy of the U.S./Mexico border. It travels north then northeast along the western edge of the Fort Bliss, entering into Otero County, New Mexico. The portion in the Panhandle enters near Nara Visa, New Mexico, into Hartley County. The highway travels northeast, crossing into Dallam County. It passes through Dalhart, intersecting U.S. Highway 87 and U.S. Highway 385. It continues northeast into Sherman County, intersecting U.S. Highway 287 at Stratford. It then continues northeast into Oklahoma.

History

The southwestern portion was originally part of the Ozark Trails, paralleling the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad, and was originally given the numbering of State Highway 33. SH 33 continued into Texas farther south in the Panhandle, following the preestablished Ozark Trail. The northern Panhandle portion was originally assigned to State Highway 56, paralleling the Chicago, Rock Island, and Gulf Railroad. When the U.S. Highway System was unveiled in 1926, the northern section was assigned to U.S. Highway 54, while the southwestern portion was assigned to U.S. Highway 366. The US 366 designation was cancelled in 1932 when other sections of the highway were added to an adjusted US Route 70. This section ws added to US 54 in 1934, and has retained its numbering since. By 1939, the corresponding state highway designations had been cancelled.

References