La Entrada al Pacífico
Encyclopedia
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. There is also a proposed upgrade of the rail connection which might be easier because it does not require the addition of new bridges and tunnels in the Barranca de Cobre region in which canyons are comparable in depth to the Grand Canyon in the United States.
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
. The corridor then follows the newest section of highway to the border crossing of Ojinaga
/Presidio
.
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
.
, the corridor follows US 87 to Lubbock
and then it follows Interstate 27 from Lubbock to Amarillo
.
.
. Then, the route follows US 277 to Wichita Falls
stands to benefit greatly from this trade corridor. Plans include an inland port by Union Pacific and other facilities.
comes from the organization, MOTRAN (Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance). There is also some support from the governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
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.
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 is a United States federal law that posed a major change to transportation planning and policy, as the first U.S. federal legislation on the subject in the post-Interstate Highway System era...
. The corridor is an international project between Mexico and the United States as a route from the Pacific Ocean port of Topolobampo
Topolobampo
Topolobampo is a port on the Gulf of California in northwestern Sinaloa, Mexico. It is the fourth-largest town in the municipality of Ahome , reporting a 2005 census population of 6,032 inhabitants....
in the Mexican state of Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
to the U.S. state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and beyond by way of the Midland-Odessa
Midland–Odessa metropolitan area
The Midland–Odessa Combined Statistical Area is a Combined Statistical Area located in West Texas. It has two component areas – the Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area and Odessa Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2009 U.S...
area. There is also a proposed upgrade of the rail connection which might be easier because it does not require the addition of new bridges and tunnels in the Barranca de Cobre region in which canyons are comparable in depth to the Grand Canyon in the United States.
Mexican section
The trade route begins in Topolobampo, Sinaloa, and travels along Federal Highway 23Mexican Federal Highway 23
Mexican Federal Highway 23 is a Federal Highway of Mexico.The highway starts in the north just outside of Fresnillo, Zacatecas and ends to the south in Guadalajara. The highway joins Mexican Federal Highway 15, Mexican Federal Highway 44, Mexican Federal Highway 54 and Mexican Federal Highway...
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
Chihuahua, Chihuahua
The city of Chihuahua is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It has a population of about 825,327. The predominant activity is industry, including domestic heavy, light industries, consumer goods production, and to a smaller extent maquiladoras.-History:It has been said that the...
. The corridor then follows the newest section of highway to the border crossing of Ojinaga
Ojinaga
Ojinaga Municipality is one of the 67 municipalities of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. The municipal seat lies at Ojinaga, a rural bordertown on the U.S.-Mexico border...
/Presidio
Presidio, Texas
Presidio is a city in Presidio County, Texas, United States. It stands on the Rio Grande , on the opposite side of the U.S.-Mexico border from Ojinaga, Chihuahua. The population was 4,167 at the 2000 census....
.
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, TexasOdessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
at Interstate 20. It then follows I-20 east to FM 1788 south of Midland International Airport
Midland International Airport
-Top Destinations:-See also:* Texas World War II Army Airfields-References:* Shaw, Frederick J. , Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004....
. It follows FM 1788 north to the proposed SH 349
Texas State Highway 349
State Highway 349 or SH 349 is a 194.43 mile state highway in the western part of Texas.-History:The original formation of the highway in 1943 included only the section from Rankin to Midland, replacing a former route of . In 1947 and FM 306 were redesignated to form the part of SH 349 from...
reliever route to the main highway north of Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
. The final leg of the highway follows SH 349 to Lamesa
Lamesa, Texas
Lamesa is a city in and the county seat of Dawson County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,952 at the 2000 census. Located south of Lubbock on the Llano Estacado, Lamesa was founded in 1903. Most of the economy is based on cattle ranching and cotton farming. The Preston E...
.
Map
Google Maps link to an overview of La Entrada al PacíficoLamesa to Amarillo
From LamesaLamesa, Texas
Lamesa is a city in and the county seat of Dawson County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,952 at the 2000 census. Located south of Lubbock on the Llano Estacado, Lamesa was founded in 1903. Most of the economy is based on cattle ranching and cotton farming. The Preston E...
, the corridor follows US 87 to Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
and then it follows Interstate 27 from Lubbock to Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
.
Midland to Dallas
From the FM 1788 junction, the route follows Interstate 20 to DallasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
Midland to Wichita Falls
From the FM 1788 junction, the route follows Interstate 20 to AbileneAbilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
. Then, the route follows US 277 to Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
Impacts to Midland/Odessa
Midland-OdessaMidland–Odessa metropolitan area
The Midland–Odessa Combined Statistical Area is a Combined Statistical Area located in West Texas. It has two component areas – the Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area and Odessa Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2009 U.S...
stands to benefit greatly from this trade corridor. Plans include an inland port by Union Pacific and other facilities.
Support
The major support from Midland-OdessaMidland–Odessa metropolitan area
The Midland–Odessa Combined Statistical Area is a Combined Statistical Area located in West Texas. It has two component areas – the Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area and Odessa Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2009 U.S...
comes from the organization, MOTRAN (Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance). There is also some support from the governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
Opposition
Citizens from the Big BendBig Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Texas. Big Bend has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, which includes more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56...
area of West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of 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.