I-37 was first designated in 1959 to provide a route between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, and construction began in the 1960s. The $11-million (equivalent to $ in ) project to construct the interchange with I-10 was at the time the largest single contract in the history of the state highway commission. The route was completed by the 1980s. The first sections of the freeway completed were in Corpus Christi. The freeway was completed from its southern terminus to to the west at the Port Avenue overpass to include the SH 286 interchange in 1963. In 1964, the freeway was extended another westward with the completion of the overpasses at Nueces Bay and Buddy Lawrence boulevards. By 1965, the freeway had been extended west to Navigation Boulevard. In 1966, the interchange at SH 358 was complete, as were the mainlanes to Corn Products Road, west of the SH 358 interchange. By 1968, the freeway had been completed an additional further west to Callicoatte Road. The southbound I-37 bridge over the Nueces River was built in 1933 for US 77 (future I-69E) when it was first routed through Corpus Christi. The northbound bridge was built in 1958 with the expansion of US 77 (future I-69E) to four lanes.
i-37 was first designated in 1959 to provide a route between san antonio and corpus christi and construction began in the 1960s the $11-million (equivalent to $ in ) project to construct the interchange with i-10 was at the time the largest single contract in the history of the state highway commission the route was completed by the 1980s the first sections of the freeway completed were in corpus christi the freeway was completed from its southern terminus to to the west at the port avenue overpass to include the sh 286 interchange in 1963 in 1964 the freeway was extended another westward with the completion of the overpasses at nueces bay and buddy lawrence boulevards by 1965 the freeway had been extended west to navigation boulevard in 1966 the interchange at sh 358 was complete as were the mainlanes to corn products road west of the sh 358 interchange by 1968 the freeway had been completed an additional further west to callicoatte road the southbound i-37 bridge over the nueces river was built in 1933 for us 77 (future i-69e) when it was first routed through corpus christi the northbound bridge was built in 1958 with the expansion of us 77 (future i-69e) to four lanes