ˌɔn sɛptˈɛmbɚ nˈaɪntiːn, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti ˈeɪt, ˌɛsˈeɪtʃ nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən wʌz ɛkstˈɛndᵻd sˈaʊθ tə ɹˈiːoʊ ɡɹˈænd sˈɪɾi vˈaɪə hˈɛbɹənvˌɪl ænd tˈɪldən; ðɪs ɛkstˈɛnʃən wʌz kˈænsəld ˌɔn dʒˈuːn twˈɛnti fˈaɪv, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti nˈaɪn, ænd ˌɛsˈeɪtʃ nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən wʌz ɪnstˈɛd ɛkstˈɛndᵻd tə fˈaʊlɚtən; ˌɔn noʊvˈɛmbɚ θˈɜːɾi, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi tˈuː, ɐ sˈɛkənd sˈɛkʃən ʌv ˌɛsˈeɪtʃ nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən wʌz ˈædᵻd fɹʌm ɹˈiːoʊ ɡɹˈænd sˈɪɾi tə hˈɛbɹənvˌɪl, wɪððə pˌɑːsəbˈɪlᵻɾi ʌv ðiːz sˈɛkʃənz bˌiːɪŋ kənˈɛktᵻd ɪnðə fjˈuːtʃɚ.
On September 19, 1928, SH 97 was extended south to Rio Grande City via Hebbronville and Tilden; this extension was cancelled on June 25, 1929, and SH 97 was instead extended to Fowlerton; On November 30, 1932, a second section of SH 97 was added from Rio Grande City to Hebbronville, with the possibility of these sections being connected in the future.