I-35 splits into two separately named Interstate Highways just north of
Hillsboro, Texas. The routes fork to the northwest and northeast, with I-35W taking the northwest route and I-35E traveling off to the northeast toward
Dallas. I-35W travels northwest past the Hillsboro airport through generally rolling farm and ranchlands. It then intersects with
U.S. Highway 67 (US 67, East Henderson Street) on the west side of
Alvarado. It continues northwest into the southern edge of
Fort Worth. At an intersection with
State Highway 174 (SH 174, Northeast Wilshire Boulevard), the route turns due north into greater Fort Worth, passing just west of
Fort Worth Spinks Airport. Further north, the road reaches a five-level interchange with
I-20. The route continues north, reaching downtown Fort Worth. Here, it reaches intersections with
I-30,
US 287, and
US 377/
SH 121 (East Belknap Street). I-35W travels north away from downtown concurrent with US 287, next intersecting
I-820 just east of
Fort Worth Meacham International Airport. Just north of this intersection, US 287 splits to the northwest, along with the southern terminus of
US 81. I-35W then gradually shifts to the northeast, passing
Fort Worth Alliance Airport and
Texas Motor Speedway. It reaches its northern merging point on the southwest side of
Denton, merging back together with I-35E to reform I-35, which continues off to the north. Like the I-35 split in
Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, I-35W uses its own exit numbers and mileposts, while I-35E continues those along I-35 between the city of
Laredo and the
Oklahoma state line. ==History==