U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has introduced legislation that would upgrade a major highway running through Texas and rename it Interstate 47 in honor of President Donald Trump.
The I-47 Future Interstate Act, filed May 11, 2026, would designate U.S. Highway 287 as the future Interstate 47, known as the Trump Interstate. The route stretches nearly 1,800 miles from Port Arthur on the Texas Gulf Coast to Choteau, Montana, with more than 670 miles crossing Texas. Most of the Texas portion is not yet built to full interstate standards, and the bill aims to bring it up to those specifications.
Cornyn’s office says the proposal would boost freight movement, improve safety in rural and urban areas, ease congestion and make the corridor eligible for more federal highway funding. A Texas Department of Transportation feasibility study estimates that upgrading the roughly 632 non-interstate miles in Texas would cost about $24.5 billion but deliver a 161 percent return on investment through billions in travel-cost savings, new jobs and increased economic output along the route.
I am proud to introduce legislation to rename US Highway 287 as Interstate 47 in honor of our 47th President @realDonaldTrump.
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) May 12, 2026
My bill will upgrade one of our nation’s longest highways to a future interstate and save more than $5 BILLION in travel costs, all while honoring the… https://t.co/Ua8lxoZUeN
“Texas is Trump Country, and this bill cements that legacy by designating nearly 1,800 miles of open-road from Texas’ Gulf Coast to the edge of the U.S.-Canadian border as I-47 to forever be remembered as Trump Interstate,” Cornyn said in a statement announcing the legislation.
The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. It comes as Cornyn faces a competitive Republican U.S. Senate runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 26. Both candidates have emphasized their support for Trump, who has not yet made an endorsement in the race.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
