U.S. Route 281 (US 281) is a United States Numbered Highway that runs from the Mexican border in the Rio Grande Valley to the Canadian border near Dunseith, North Dakota. In the state of Texas, the highway is a major south–north corridor, connecting Brownsville to the Oklahoma state line at the Red River in Burkburnett. Several segments of U.S. 281 are concurrent with Interstate routes, including I-69C in the Rio Grande Valley, I-37 in San Antonio, and I-44 north of Wichita Falls.
 U.S. Highway 281 | |
|---|---|
 US 281 highlighted in red | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by TxDOT | |
| Length | 580.608 mi[1][note 1] (934.398 km) |
| Existed | 1935–present |
| Major junctions | |
| South end | |
| |
| North end |    I-44 / US 277 / US 281 at Texas-Oklahoma state line in Burkburnett |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Cameron, Hidalgo, Brooks, Jim Wells, Live Oak, Atascosa, Bexar, Comal, Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Coryell, Hamilton, Erath, Palo Pinto, Jack, Archer, Wichita |
| Highway system | |
Route description
editUS 281 has two signed segments near its southern terminus in the Rio Grande Valley, both of which are signed west–east. The eastern segment, considered mainline US 281 by TxDOT, begins in Brownsville at an intersection with Business US 77 and SH 48 about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the Mexico border, and travels west through several communities along the border to Pharr.[1][2] The western segment, officially listed as a spur connection by TxDOT and often labeled on maps as US 281 Spur, begins just north of the McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge in Hidalgo and travels north along International Boulevard before turning east onto Coma Avenue and entering Pharr.[1][3] The two segments (along with Spur 600, which provides access to the Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge) meet at Cage Boulevard, where signage changes to south–north, and the highway turns to the north.[4] North of the interchange with I-2, US 281 is concurrent with I-69C to that route's northern terminus (as of December 2015[update]) in Edinburg.[5] US 281 travels through small towns and sparsely-populated areas, alternating between a divided highway and a main street and passing through a Border Patrol checkpoint south of Falfurrias,[6] until joining I-37 north of Three Rivers. The two routes split south of Pleasanton and separately travel northward to San Antonio.
In San Antonio, US 281 overlaps I-410 on the south side of the city until another interchange with I-37. US 281 and I-37 then overlap north into Downtown San Antonio until I-37 ends at I-35. US 281 continues north from Downtown San Antonio as the McAllister Freeway, intersecting I-410 again at a stack interchange in Uptown San Antonio, with access to the San Antonio International Airport. The freeway ends several miles north of Loop 1604. In Central Texas, it serves as the main street of Blanco before beginning a concurrency with US 290 south of Johnson City. As US 290 continues toward Austin, US 281 and US 290 provide a scenic and less congested alternative to I-35 between San Antonio and Austin. The two routes split in the city, with US 281 continuing toward Marble Falls, Burnet, and Lampasas.
North of Stephenville, US 281 crosses I-20 and continues through North Central Texas, passing through Mineral Wells and Jacksboro. Upon reaching Wichita Falls, US 281 becomes a freeway. It begins a concurrency with I-44 at that route's western terminus, and the two routes travel north, crossing the Red River into Oklahoma near Burkburnett.
History
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2015) |
A project to construct a stack interchange at I-410 (the "San Antonio Web"[7]) was completed June 9, 2008;[8] formerly there was no direct access between the two freeways and surface streets were required to travel between the freeways. The reason for this initial lack of direct interchange was due to litigation filed in the late 1960s against the Texas Highway Department over the highway's original construction alignment through portions of Brackenridge Park and Olmos Park that were alleged to be in violation of several Federal laws, ultimately including NEPA. As a result of the Supreme Court decision[9] in a more advanced and very similar case involving the proposed construction of I-40 through Overton Park in Memphis, Tennessee which upheld and affirmed the plaintiffs in that circumstance and precluded that highway's construction through the parkland with Federal funding, the Texas Highway Department chose instead to construct the McAlister Freeway entirely with State funding using a modified design that would increase curvature but limit encroachment into and noise impact on the Sunken Gardens area within Brackenridge Park. Funding of various highway projects from around Texas was re-allocated to the McAlister Freeway project, which was initially completed with only the indirect interchange via existing surface streets to Loop 410 since it required no Federal funding or approval and the Loop 410 overpass of that location where the McAlister Freeway main lanes would pass beneath had already been completed many years earlier.
In 2010, US 281 from Loop 1604 to Bulverde Road in north San Antonio was re-constructed as a superstreet.[10] Groundbreaking was held on March 11, 2010 with construction finishing later that year in September.[11] The re-construction slightly increased travel times but this section of US 281 was still the most congested highway in Bexar County.[12] After nearly two decades of planning an delays, TxDOT upgraded this section of highway from a superstreet to a limited–access freeway, with construction beginning in 2017 and concluding in 2022. Section 1, from Loop 1604 to Stone Oak Parkway, was constructed from 2017 to 2020. Section 2, from Stone Oak Parkway to Borgfeld Drive, was constructed from 2019 to 2022.[13] The estimated cost for the project was $532 million.[14] Ground breaking for the project was held on March 31, 2017 with construction officially beginning on July 17.[15][16]
The highway was expanded from a two-lane highway to a four-lane divided highway from River Crossing to the Comal-Blanco county line at a cost of $30.5 million.[17]
Future
editThe section of US 281 from I-2/US 83 in Pharr to George West is steadily being upgraded to an interstate-grade freeway as part of the Interstate 69 expansion, and will be signed as Interstate 69C. The bypass for Premont is under construction scheduled for completion in 2024.[18]
Major intersections
editAll exits are unnumbered.
| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron | Brownsville | 0.0 | 0.0 |     Bus. US 77 (Central Boulevard) / SH 48 east (Boca Chica Boulevard) – Port Brownsville, Port Isabel, Harlingen | Southern terminus; road continues east as SH 48 (Boca Chica Boulevard) | |||
| 2.0 | 3.2 |  FM 802 east (Ruben M. Torres Boulevard) | ||||||
| 2.5 | 4.0 |  FM 3248 east (Alton Gloor Boulevard) | ||||||
| 7.7 | 12.4 |   FM 1421 north | ||||||
| 9.5 | 15.3 |  FM 1732 east – Olmito | ||||||
| Ranchito | 10.9 | 17.5 |  FM 1577 north (Esparza-Domanski Highway) | |||||
| La Paloma | 13.6 | 21.9 |  FM 732 north – San Benito | |||||
| Los Indios | 15.6 | 25.1 |  FM 2520 north – San Benito | |||||
| 18.0 | 29.0 |  FM 509 – Free Trade International Bridge | ||||||
| 19.6 | 31.5 |  FM 1479 north (Fred Elizondo Highway) – Rangerville, Harlingen | ||||||
| Bluetown | 23.7 | 38.1 |  FM 506 north – La Feria | |||||
| Santa Maria | 25.6 | 41.2 |  FM 2556 north (Jo-Ed Road) | |||||
| Hidalgo | | 28.9 | 46.5 |  FM 491 north – Mercedes | ||||
| Progreso–Progreso Lakes line | 32.0 | 51.5 |  FM 1015 – Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge | |||||
| Progreso | 32.4 | 52.1 |  FM Bus. 1015 north | |||||
| 34.6 | 55.7 |  FM 88 north (Ruben Hinojosa Highway) – Weslaco | ||||||
| | 38.9 | 62.6 |  FM 493 – Donna, Donna–Río Bravo International Bridge | |||||
| | 43.9 | 70.7 |  FM 907 north – Alamo | |||||
| San Juan | 45.4 | 73.1 |  FM 2557 north – San Juan | |||||
| Pharr | 47.5 | 76.4 |     US 281 Spur west (West Military Highway) / Spur 600 south – Hidalgo, Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge | Interchange | ||||
| 49.7 | 80.0 |  FM 3072 (Dicker Road) | ||||||
| 54.8 | 88.2 |  Bus. US 83 – McAllen, Harlingen | ||||||
| 55.6 | 89.5 |  I-2 / US 83 – McAllen, Harlingen | ||||||
| 55.9 | 90.0 |  SH 495 (Ferguson Avenue) | ||||||
| 56.3 | 90.6 | I-2 / US 83 – McAllen, Harlingen  I-69C begins | South end of I-69C overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance; I-2 exit 146; I-69C exits 0A-B | |||||
| see I-69C | ||||||||
| Edinburg | 72.8 | 117.2 |  FM 490 I-69C ends | Interchange; current north end of I-69C overlap | ||||
| Linn | 79.8 | 128.4 |   SH 186 / FM 1017 | Interchange | ||||
| Brooks | Rachal | 103.8 | 167.0 |  FM 755 west – La Gloria, Rio Grande City | Interchange | |||
| | 106.0 | 170.6 | Bus. US 281 north – Encino | |||||
| | 108.8 | 175.1 | Bus. US 281 south – Encino | |||||
| | 124.7 | 200.7 |  FM 3066 | interchange; south end of freeway | ||||
| Falfurrias | 125.2 | 201.5 | Bus. US 281 north | |||||
| 126.8 | 204.1 |  SH 285 – Hebbronville, Riviera | ||||||
| 127.8 | 205.7 | Bus. US 281 south | ||||||
| | 128.5 | 206.8 |  FM 1418 | interchange; north end of freeway | ||||
| Jim Wells | | 133.4 | 214.7 |  FM 1538 west | ||||
| Premont | 137.5 | 221.3 |  FM 716 west | |||||
| | 149.8 | 241.1 |   SH 141 / FM 2295 – Kingsville, Benavides | Interchange | ||||
| | 152.4 | 245.3 |  FM 735 west | |||||
| Ben Bolt | 156.6 | 252.0 |  FM 2508 – Ben Bolt | Interchange | ||||
| | 159.8 | 257.2 |  FM 625 west | |||||
| | 160.0 | 257.5 |  Bus. US 281 north / FM 1930 – Alice | Interchange | ||||
| | 163.4 | 263.0 |  FM 1554 | |||||
| | 164.4 | 264.6 |   SH 44 / SH 359 – Alice, San Diego | Interchange | ||||
| | 167.7 | 269.9 | Bus. US 281 south – Alice | Interchange | ||||
| | 171.9 | 276.6 |  FM 2044 east – Alfred | |||||
| Midway | 183.5 | 295.3 |  FM 624 – Orange Grove, Cotulla | Interchange | ||||
| Live Oak | | 190.0 | 305.8 |  FM 3162 east – Lagarto | ||||
| George West | 205.1 | 330.1 |  US 59 – Freer, Laredo, Beeville, Houston | South end of Bus. US 59 overlap | ||||
| 205.6 | 330.9 |   Bus. US 59 north (Houston Street) to I-37 – truck route to US 59 north | North end of Bus. US 59 overlap | |||||
| | 207.5 | 333.9 |  FM 889 west | |||||
| | 212.5 | 342.0 |  FM 1042 west – Simmons City | |||||
| Three Rivers | 215.5 | 346.8 |  SH 72 west (Thornton Street) – Choke Canyon State Park, Calliham, Tilden, Federal Prison | South end of SH 72 overlap | ||||
| 216.2 | 347.9 | SH 72 east (King David Drive) – Kenedy | North end of SH 72 overlap | |||||
| | 219.9 | 353.9 |  I-37 south – Corpus Christi | South end of I-37 overlap; US 281 south follows exit 72 | ||||
| see I-37 | ||||||||
| Atascosa | | 251.1 | 404.1 |  I-37 north – San Antonio | North end of I-37 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance; US 281 north follows exit 103 | |||
| | 252.3 | 406.0 |  Spur 199 east (Leal Road) / Jim Brite Road | |||||
| Pleasanton | 255.9 | 411.8 |  FM 1334 east – Coughran | |||||
| 256.2 | 412.3 |  SH 97 west – Jourdanton | South end of SH 97 overlap | |||||
| 257.0 | 413.6 | SH 97 east to I-37 – Floresville | North end of SH 97 overlap | |||||
| 257.3 | 414.1 |   Spur 242 to SH 97 – Poteet, Coastal Bend College | ||||||
| | 260.1 | 418.6 |  FM 3006 east to I-37 | |||||
| Leming | 264.0 | 424.9 |  FM 1470 south – Poteet | |||||
| Las Gallinas | 267.2 | 430.0 |  FM 536 east – Floresville | |||||
| Bexar | | 274.7 | 442.1 |  Loop 1604 (Anderson Loop) – Elmendorf, Somerset | Interchange | |||
| | 276.2 | 444.5 |  FM 2537 west / Martinez-Losoya Road | |||||
| San Antonio | 280.7 | 451.7 |  FM 1937 south / Del Lago Parkway – Losoya | |||||
| 281.8 | 453.5 |      I-410 west / SH 130 south / Spur 536 north (Roosevelt Avenue) – Stinson Airport | ||||||
| 283.0 | 455.4 | Espada Road – San Antonio Missions National Historical Park | interchange | |||||
| 283.2 | 455.8 | I-410 west / SH 130 south | South end of I-410 / SH 130 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance; US 281 south follows exit 44 | |||||
| 284.3 | 457.5 |  Spur 122 (South Presa Street) / Southton Road | I-410 exit 42 | |||||
| 285.3 | 459.1 |  I-37 south / I-410 north / SH 130 north to US 181 south – Corpus Christi, Floresville | North end of I-410 / SH 130 overlap; south end of I-37 overlap; US 281 north follows exit 41; US 281 south follows exit 133 | |||||
| see I-37 | ||||||||
| 294.5 | 474.0 |  I-35 – Laredo, Austin I-37 ends | North end of I-37 overlap; I-37 exits 142A (north) and 142B (south); I-35 exits 158A-B | |||||
| 295.4 | 475.4 | Josephine Street / Grayson Street | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||||
| 295.9 | 476.2 | St. Mary's Street / Mulberry Avenue / Stadium Drive | ||||||
| 297.0 | 478.0 | Hildebrand Avenue | ||||||
| 298.8 | 480.9 | Basse Road | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 299.5 | 482.0 | Jones-Maltsberger Road | ||||||
| 300.3 | 483.3 | Sunset Road | Southbound exit only | |||||
| 300.4 | 483.4 | I-410 | I-410 exit 21A | |||||
| 300.7 | 483.9 | Airport Boulevard | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 301.0 | 484.4 | San Antonio International Airport Terminals | ||||||
| 301.3 | 484.9 | Jones-Maltsberger Road / Isom Road | ||||||
| 302.9 | 487.5 | San Pedro Avenue | Southbound exit and northbound entrance; former Spur 537 | |||||
| 302.2 | 486.3 | Nakoma Drive | no direct southbound exit (signed at Wurzbach Parkway) | |||||
| 303.4 | 488.3 |  PA 1502 (Wurzbach Parkway) | signed with Nakoma Drive southbound; additional signage southbound for Sandau Road and Rhapsody Drive | |||||
| 304.0 | 489.2 | Bitters Road | ||||||
| 304.7 | 490.4 | Oak Shadows Drive / Winding Way Drive | no direct southbound exit (signed at Brook Hollow Boulevard) | |||||
| 305.4 | 491.5 | Brook Hollow Boulevard | ||||||
| 305.8 | 492.1 | Thousand Oaks Drive / Mecca Drive | No direct southbound exit (signed at Donella Drive) | |||||
| 306.7 | 493.6 | Donella Drive | ||||||
| 307.3 | 494.6 | Loop 1604 / Frontage Road | ||||||
| 307.9 | 495.5 |  Sonterra Boulevard / Redland Road / Encino Rio Road | access to North Central Baptist Hospital and Methodist Stone Oak Hospital; Encino Rio Road signed at Evans Road southbound | |||||
| 309.5 | 498.1 | Evans Road | ||||||
| VIA Stone Oak Park & Ride | HOV only[19] | |||||||
| 310.0 | 498.9 | Stone Oak Parkway / TPC Parkway | ||||||
| 310.9 | 500.3 | Marshall Road | ||||||
| Overlook Parkway | ||||||||
| Bulverde Road | ||||||||
| Borgfeld Drive | Interchange; north end of freeway | |||||||
| Comal | Bulverde | 317.3 | 510.6 |  FM 1863 – Bulverde | Interchange | |||
| 321.2 | 516.9 |  SH 46 – Boerne, New Braunfels | Interchange | |||||
| Spring Branch | 327.0 | 526.3 |  FM 311 east – Smithson Valley | |||||
| | 331.3 | 533.2 |  FM 306 east – Canyon Lake North | |||||
| Blanco | | 334.0 | 537.5 |  RM 473 west – Kendalia | South end of RM 473 overlap | |||
| Twin Sisters | 335.8 | 540.4 | RM 473 east | North end of RM 473 overlap | ||||
| | 340.6 | 548.1 |  RM 32 east – San Marcos, Canyon Dam | |||||
| | 340.9 | 548.6 |   Loop 163 north to RM 165 – Wimberley | |||||
| Blanco | 342.2 | 550.7 |  PR 23 – Blanco State Park | interchange | ||||
| 342.7 | 551.5 |  Loop 163 south / RM 1623 west (4th Street) to RM 165 – Stonewall, Henly, Wimberley | ||||||
| | 350.4 | 563.9 |  US 290 east – Austin | South end of US 290 overlap | ||||
| Johnson City | 355.8 | 572.6 |  RM 2766 east – Pedernales Falls State Park | |||||
| 356.0 | 572.9 | US 290 west – Fredericksburg, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park | North end of US 290 overlap | |||||
| 356.8 | 574.2 |  Spur 356 south – Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park | ||||||
| | 358.8 | 577.4 |  RM 1323 west – Sandy | |||||
| Round Mountain | 367.3 | 591.1 |  RM 962 east – Cypress Mill | South end of RM 962 overlap | ||||
| 367.5 | 591.4 | RM 962 west – Llano | North end of RM 962 overlap | |||||
| Burnet | Marble Falls | 373.3 | 600.8 |  SH 71 – Llano, Austin | Interchange | |||
| 376.1 | 605.3 |  RM 2147 east | South end of RM 2147 overlap | |||||
| 377.7 | 607.8 | RM 2147 west – Wirtz Dam, Horseshoe Bay, Lake LBJ | North end of RM 2147 overlap | |||||
| 378.8 | 609.6 |  RM 1431 – Granite Shoals, Kingsland, Lago Vista, Cedar Park | ||||||
| | 383.2 | 616.7 |  RM 1855 west – Fairland | |||||
| Demarco | 386.7 | 622.3 |  PR 4 west – Longhorn Cavern State Park, Inks Lake State Park, Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery | |||||
| Burnet | 391.7 | 630.4 |  SH 29 – Buchanan Dam, Llano, Georgetown | |||||
| 392.4 | 631.5 |  RM 963 east – Watson, Oakalla | ||||||
| | 401.2 | 645.7 |  RM 2340 east – Lake Victor | |||||
| Lampasas | Lampasas | 413.0 | 664.7 |   US 281 Truck north (E.E. Ohnmeiss Drive) to US 190 east – Copperas Cove, Killeen | ||||
| 413.4 | 665.3 |  US 183 south / US 190 east / US 281 Truck south – Belton, Austin | South end of US 183 / US 190 overlap | |||||
| 413.7 | 665.8 |  Loop 257 east (4th Street) – Lampasas Downtown Historic District | ||||||
| 414.0 | 666.3 |  FM 580 west (North Avenue) – Colorado Bend State Park | South end of FM 580 overlap | |||||
| 414.6 | 667.2 | FM 580 east (East Avenue J) | North end of FM 580 overlap | |||||
| | 415.2 | 668.2 | US 183 north / US 190 west – Goldthwaite, Brownwood, San Saba, Lometa | North end of US 183 / US 190 overlap | ||||
| | 425.2 | 684.3 |  FM 1690 north | |||||
| | 429.9 | 691.9 |  FM 581 west – Lometa | South end of FM 581 overlap | ||||
| Adamsville | 430.5 | 692.8 | FM 581 east | North end of FM 581 overlap | ||||
| Coryell |
No major junctions | |||||||
| Hamilton | Evant | 443.2 | 713.3 |  US 84 – Gatesville, Goldthwaite | Interchange | |||
| | 451.3 | 726.3 |  FM 221 west – Shive | |||||
| Hamilton | 459.3 | 739.2 |   SH 22 east / SH 36 (Main Street) – Comanche, Gatesville, Meridian | |||||
| 460.1 | 740.5 |  FM 2905 east | ||||||
| Olin | 471.3 | 758.5 |  FM 219 – Dublin, Cranfills Gap | |||||
| | 478.8 | 770.6 |  FM 1744 south – Carlton | |||||
| | 479.2 | 771.2 |  FM 1602 south – Fairy, Jonesboro | |||||
| Hico | 480.1 | 772.6 |   SH 6 south (2nd Street) to SH 220 – Meridian, Downtown Historic District | South end of SH 6 overlap | ||||
| Erath | | 484.5 | 779.7 | SH 6 north – Dublin, Eastland | North end of SH 6 overlap | |||
| | 486.0 | 782.1 |  FM 1824 east – Duffau | |||||
| | 492.4 | 792.4 |  FM 913 east – Selden | |||||
| | 497.8 | 801.1 |  SH 108 north – Stephenville | |||||
| Stephenville | 498.5 | 802.3 |  US 67 – Dublin, Glen Rose | |||||
| 498.8 | 802.7 |  US 377 – Dublin, Granbury | ||||||
| 499.1 | 803.2 |  FM 205 east | ||||||
| 499.6 | 804.0 | Bus. US 377 – Stephenville, Fort Worth | ||||||
| 500.8 | 806.0 |  FM 8 west – Tarleton Agricultural Center | ||||||
| | 501.8 | 807.6 |  FM 3025 west | |||||
| Morgan Mill | 511.0 | 822.4 |   FM 1188 / FM 1189 north – Lipan | |||||
| | 519.5 | 836.1 |  FM 2803 north – Patillo | |||||
| Palo Pinto | | 521.1 | 838.6 |  FM 4 – Santo, Lipan | ||||
| | 527.0 | 848.1 |  I-20 – Abilene, Fort Worth | I-20 exit 386 | ||||
| | 527.3 | 848.6 |  FM 2201 west – Santo | |||||
| | 528.1 | 849.9 |  FM 129 west – Brazos | |||||
| | 537.6 | 865.2 |  FM 1195 east – Lake Mineral Wells State Park, Municipal Airport | |||||
| | 539.6 | 868.4 |  FM 2256 south | |||||
| Mineral Wells | 541.3 | 871.1 |  US 180 east (South 1st Street) | One-way couplet | ||||
| 541.4 | 871.3 | US 180 west (Hubbard Street) | ||||||
| 542.5 | 873.1 |  FM 3027 east (Northeast 23rd Street) | South end of FM 3027 overlap | |||||
| 543.1 | 874.0 | FM 3027 west – Union Hill | North end of FM 3027 overlap | |||||
| | 544.8 | 876.8 |  FM 1821 east – Weatherford, Lake Mineral Wells State Park | |||||
| | 548.8 | 883.2 |  FM 2270 west | |||||
| Peadenville | 549.5 | 884.3 |   SH 254 west / FM 1885 east – Graford, Possum Kingdom Lake, Weatherford | |||||
| | 551.8 | 888.0 |  FM 52 – Oran, Whitt | |||||
| Jack | Perrin | 557.6 | 897.4 |  FM 2210 – Gibtown | ||||
| | 564.8 | 909.0 |  SH 199 east – Fort Worth | south end of SH 199 overlap | ||||
| | 568.2 | 914.4 |  FM 3324 south | |||||
| | 569.8 | 917.0 |   US 380 east / SH 114 east – Runaway Bay, Bridgeport, Dallas | South end of US 380 / SH 114 overlap | ||||
| Jacksboro | 571.4 | 919.6 |  PR 61 – Fort Richardson State Park | |||||
| 572.3 | 921.0 |  US 380 west / SH 59 north (Belknap Street) | North end of US 380 / SH 199 overlap | |||||
| 572.9 | 922.0 |  FM 3344 north (Post Oak Road) | ||||||
| 573.0 | 922.2 |  SH 148 north – Henrietta | ||||||
| | 579.6 | 932.8 | SH 114 west – Olney | North end of SH 114 overlap | ||||
| | 588.4 | 946.9 |  FM 1191 south – Jermyn | |||||
| | 589.7 | 949.0 |  FM 2190 east – Squaw Mountain | |||||
| | 592.6 | 953.7 |  Loop 187 north – Antelope | |||||
| | 595.4 | 958.2 | Loop 187 south – Antelope | |||||
| Archer | | 599.2 | 964.3 |  SH 16 south – Graham | ||||
| | 603.2 | 970.8 |  FM 2581 north | |||||
| Windthorst | 605.9 | 975.1 |   SH 25 north / FM 174 east – Archer City, Bowie | |||||
| Scotland | 611.9 | 984.8 |  FM 172 – Bluegrove | |||||
| | 622.5 | 1,001.8 |  FM 1954 – Holliday, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Arrowhead State Park | |||||
| Wichita | Wichita Falls | 624.8 | 1,005.5 |  Loop 473 / Rathgeber Road | interchange; south end of freeway | |||
| 625.5 | 1,006.6 |   FM 369 west (Southwest Parkway) / SH 79 south – Archer City | South end of SH 79 overlap; no direct southbound entrance | |||||
| 626.5 | 1,008.3 | Hatton Road | ||||||
| 627.1 | 1,009.2 | Midwestern Parkway – Midwestern State University | ||||||
| 627.6 | 1,010.0 |   US 82 east / US 287 south / SH 79 north – Texarkana, Fort Worth | North end of SH 79 overlap; south end of US 82 / US 287 overlap | |||||
| 628.2 | 1,011.0 |  Loop 473 (Old Jacksboro Highway) / Spur 447 / Galveston Street | ||||||
| 628.7 | 1,011.8 | US 82 west / US 277 south – Lubbock, Abilene | North end of US 82 overlap; south end of US 277 overlap | |||||
| 629.2 | 1,012.6 | Broad Street – Business District | northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||||
| 630.0 | 1,013.9 | 6th Street – MPEC | no direct southbound exit | |||||
| overlap; see I-44 | ||||||||
| | 645.1 | 1,038.2 |  I-44 east / US 277 north / US 281 north – Lawton | Oklahoma state line (bridge over the Red River) | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| ||||||||
Special routes
editHidalgo spur route
edit Spur U.S. Highway 281 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hidalgo–Pharr |
| Length | 4.9 mi (7.9 km) |
Spur US Route 281 begins at the McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge in Hidalgo, runs north along International Boulevard, then turns east along Military Highway before ending at the main route of US 281 in Pharr.
- Junction list
The entire route is in Hidalgo County. [20]
| Location[20] | mi | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidalgo | 0.0 | 0.0 | Bridge Street | Western terminus; road continues as South International Boulevard to the McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge | ||
| 0.7 | 1.1 |  Spur 115 (North International Boulevard) – McAllen | ||||
| 1.2 | 1.9 |  SH 336 – McAllen | Interchange | |||
| | 3.5 | 5.6 |  FM 2061 (Jackson Road) – McAllen | |||
| Pharr | 4.9 | 7.9 | US 281 (Military Highway) / Spur 600 (Cage Boulevard) – Edinburg, Harlingen, Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge | Eastern terminus; interchange | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | ||||||
Edinburg business route
edit Business U.S. Highway 281 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Edinburg |
| Length | 7.228 mi[21] (11.632 km) |
| Existed | June 21, 1990–present |
Bus. US 281-W is a business route of US 281 that serves the central business district of Edinburg where it is known locally as Closner Boulevard. The highway was created in 1990 as a re-designation of Loop 113.
- Junction list
The entire route is in Hidalgo County.
| Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharr–Edinburg line | 0.0 | 0.0 | I-69C / US 281 / Owassa Road | I-69C exit 2 | |
| Edinburg | 4.0 | 6.4 |  SH 107 west (Cano Street) | South end of SH 107 overlap | |
| 4.1 | 6.6 | SH 107 east (University Drive) | North end of SH 107 overlap | ||
| 7.2 | 11.6 | I-69C / US 281 | I-69C exit 10 | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
Encino business route
editBus. US 281-U
| Business U.S. Highway 281 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Encino |
| Length | 2.867 mi[22] (4.614 km) |
| Existed | August 26, 1993–present |
Falfurrias business route
editBus. US 281-T
| Business U.S. Highway 281 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Falfurrias |
| Length | 1.841 mi[23] (2.963 km) |
| Existed | June 24, 2004–present |
Alice business route
editBus. US 281-R
| Business U.S. Highway 281 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Alice |
| Length | 7.911 mi[24] (12.732 km) |
| Existed | August 26, 1999–present |
Whitsett–Campbellton loop
edit Alternate U.S. Highway 281 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Whitsett–Campbellton |
| Length | 16.719 mi[25] (26.907 km) |
| Existed | June 29, 1982–present |
Alternate U.S. Route 281 is an alternate routing of US 281 that serves the small communities of Whitsett and Campbellton. The highway was designated in 1982 when the main highway was re-routed east along I-37.
Lampasas truck route
edit Truck U.S. Highway 281 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lampasas |
| Length | 0.6 mi[26] (970 m) |
Truck U.S. Route 281 is a truck route of US 281 located in Lampasas.
Truck US 281 begins at the intersection of US 281 and E. E. Ohnmeiss Drive near Hancock Springs Park. The highway travels for 0.2 miles (0.32 km) east along E. E. Ohnmeiss Drive before reaching an intersection with US 183 (Key Avenue) / US 190 (Central Texas Expressway). Truck US 281 then turns north onto Key Avenue, running concurrent with US 183 and US 190. After running for 0.4 miles (0.64 km) along Key Avenue, the highways then intersect the main route of US 281, which is the northern terminus of Truck US 281.
The truck route provides a more direct routing to US 183 south and US 190 east over the main US 281. Truck US 281 also provides a wider crossing over the Sulphur Creek, with the Key Avenue bridge having five lanes (two travel lanes in each direction plus a bi-directional center lane), whereas the older crossing on the original US 281 is only two lanes.
- Junction list
The entire route is in Lampasas, Lampasas County.
| mi | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | US 281 – Burnet | |||
| 0.2 | 0.32 | US 183 south (Key Avenue) / US 190 east (Central Texas Highway) – Fort Cavazos, Killeen, Belton | South end of US 183 / US 190 overlap | ||
| 0.6 | 0.97 | US 183 north / US 190 west / US 281 | Access to AdventHealth Rollins Brook | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Wichita Falls business loop
edit State Highway Loop 473 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Wichita Falls |
| Length | 4.367 mi[27] (7.028 km) |
| Existed | January 31, 1969–present |
See also
edit
Notes
edit- ^ Length does not account for concurrencies along Interstate Highways and U.S. Highways with lower numbers
References
edit- ^ a b c Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "U.S. Highway No. 281". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2014). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2014 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 412. Retrieved December 3, 2014.[needs update]
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2014). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2014 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 352. Retrieved December 29, 2015.[needs update]
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2014). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2014 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 382. Retrieved December 29, 2015.[needs update]
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Interstate Highway No. 69-C". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^ "Falfurrias Station". U.S. Customs and Border Protection. United States Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ Driscoll, Patrick (January 16, 2006). "Now there's a name for it". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
- ^ Driscoll, Patrick (June 10, 2008). "U.S. 281/Loop 410 interchange ramps are complete". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
- ^ Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe
- ^ Gerber, Tim (December 2, 2011). "ARMA: Highway 281 Super Street is working". KSAT. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
- ^ "Construction to begin on 281 superstreet". My San Antonio. March 11, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
- ^ Selcraig, Bruce (April 2, 2017). "Work begins on widening U.S. 281, most congested highway in San Antonio". My San Antonio. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- ^ "US 281 from Loop 1604 to Borgfeld Drive". TxDOT. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- ^ "Residents get updated look at 281 expansion project". KSAT. May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- ^ Brnger, Garrett (March 31, 2017). "Long-awaited U.S. 281 expansion breaks ground". KSAT. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- ^ Hernandez, Michael (July 17, 2017). "Construction begins today on US 281 expansion". WOAI. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- ^ "US 281 - Spring Branch". TxDOT. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. 281 Relief Route Project at Premont Set to begin Monday". Alice Echo News-Journal. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ King, Samuel (August 18, 2021). "TxDOT, VIA Celebrate Opening of New HOV Lanes on Highway 281". ksat.com. San Antonio: KSAT-TV. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2018). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2018 ed.). 1:72,224. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 2258. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 281-W". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 281-U". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 281-T". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 281-R". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "U.S. Highway No. 281 Alternate". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ "Overview Map of Truck US 281 (Lampasas, TX)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Loop No. 473". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
External links
edit
Media related to U.S. Route 281 in Texas at Wikimedia Commons
