Texas State Highway Loop 13
Encyclopedia
Loop 13 is a 21.684 miles (34.897 km) partial loop route
around the city of San Antonio
in the U.S. state
of Texas
. Prior to Interstate 410 (I-410), Loop 13 served as the primary loop for the city. Loop 13 follows Military Drive from U.S. Highway 90 (US 90) through the south side of the city. It then follows W.W. White road after it turns to the north through the east side of San Antonio before ending at I-410. The road is still a major arterial for the city, providing access to Lackland Air Force Base
, Kelly USA, and Brooks City-Base
.
as it began to be replaced by I-410. In 1960, the section from US 90 on the west side of the city north to I-10
was transferred to I-410 and the section from I-10 eastward to US 81 along the city's northside was renumbered as Loop 410 to keep the numbering of I-410 intact despite this section not meeting Interstate standards at the time. In 1966, the section from I-35
, formerly US 81, south to Seale Road became I-410, with the section from Seale Road south to US 90 was removed from the state highway system. But in 1978, this segment would later be readded to the highway bringing Loop 13 to its current alignment.
. The loop heads south along Military Drive, between two sections of Lackland, before turning towards the southeast. It turns towards the east at the intersection with Farm to Market Road 2536 (FM 2536) at Old Pearsall Road, just before a crossing over Leon Creek and a Union Pacific rail yard
. An intersection with Loop 353
(New Laredo Highway), which was the routing of US 81 when it still passed through town, provides access to Kelly USA. Loop 13 passes under I-35 as it heads east through the south side of the city. It intersects Spur 536
at Roosevelt Avenue, which provides access to Stinson Airport and Mission San Jose. The loop crosses over the San Antonio River
just before a junction with Spur 122
at Presa Street. As it nears I-37, it passes nearby Brooks City-Base
. At Spur 117
, Loop 13 turns towards the north and begins following W.W. White Road. It intersects US 87 at Rigsby Avenue as it passes through the east side of San Antonio. It intersects FM 1346 at Houston Street and I-10 before ending at I-410 east of Fort Sam Houston
.
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Loop route
A loop route is a highway or other major road that extends out from a typically longer, more important parents road to enter and circle a large city. A loop can function as a bypass for through traffic and also to service outlying suburbs....
around the city of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Prior to Interstate 410 (I-410), Loop 13 served as the primary loop for the city. Loop 13 follows Military Drive from U.S. Highway 90 (US 90) through the south side of the city. It then follows W.W. White road after it turns to the north through the east side of San Antonio before ending at I-410. The road is still a major arterial for the city, providing access to Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, Kelly USA, and Brooks City-Base
Brooks City-Base
Brooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...
.
History
Loop 13 originally ran from the rail overpass near Kelly Field east through the south side of San Antonio, then turning towards the north to US 81 on the northeast side of the city in 1939. Prior to I-410, Loop 13 served as the primary loop for the city. In 1941, the loop had its western end extended northward to a junction with US 90 on the west side of the city. Another extension on its eastern end 2.7 miles (4.3 km), brought the loop back to the west to Military Road. In 1949, it was extended further from Military Road to US 281. The loop saw its final extension in 1952, an extension that completed the loop around the city. In the 1960s, the loop began to see its demise at the onset of the Interstate Highway SystemInterstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
as it began to be replaced by I-410. In 1960, the section from US 90 on the west side of the city north to I-10
Interstate 10 in Texas
Interstate 10 is the major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. In the U.S. state of Texas, it runs east from El Paso, near the border with New Mexico, through San Antonio and Houston to the border with Louisiana in Orange, Texas....
was transferred to I-410 and the section from I-10 eastward to US 81 along the city's northside was renumbered as Loop 410 to keep the numbering of I-410 intact despite this section not meeting Interstate standards at the time. In 1966, the section from I-35
Interstate 35 in Texas
Interstate 35 in Texas is a major north–south Interstate Highway running from Laredo near the United States-Mexico border to the Red River north of Gainesville where it crosses into Oklahoma. Along its route, it passes through the cities of San Antonio, Austin, and Waco before it splits into two...
, formerly US 81, south to Seale Road became I-410, with the section from Seale Road south to US 90 was removed from the state highway system. But in 1978, this segment would later be readded to the highway bringing Loop 13 to its current alignment.
Route description
Loop 13 begins on the west side of San Antonio at US 90 north of Lackland Air Force BaseLackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
. The loop heads south along Military Drive, between two sections of Lackland, before turning towards the southeast. It turns towards the east at the intersection with Farm to Market Road 2536 (FM 2536) at Old Pearsall Road, just before a crossing over Leon Creek and a Union Pacific rail yard
Rail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
. An intersection with Loop 353
Texas State Highway Loop 353
Loop 353 is a loop route in the U.S. state of Texas that follows a former route of U.S. Highway 81 in San Antonio. Loop 353 follows New Laredo Highway from Interstate 35 on the southwest side of San Antonio towards the northeast and follows Nogalitos Street before ending at another point on...
(New Laredo Highway), which was the routing of US 81 when it still passed through town, provides access to Kelly USA. Loop 13 passes under I-35 as it heads east through the south side of the city. It intersects Spur 536
Texas State Highway Spur 536
Texas State Highway Spur 536 is a state highway spur in San Antonio, Texas.-Route description:Spur 536 begins at the intersection of US 281 and Loop 410; northbound US 281 follows Loop 410 to the east, while Spur 536 continues north along Roosevelt Avenue through the mission district of San Antonio...
at Roosevelt Avenue, which provides access to Stinson Airport and Mission San Jose. The loop crosses over the San Antonio River
San Antonio River
The San Antonio River is a major waterway that originates in central Texas in a cluster of springs in north central San Antonio, approximately four miles north of downtown, and follows a roughly southeastern path through the state. It eventually feeds into the Guadalupe River about ten miles from...
just before a junction with Spur 122
Texas State Highway Spur 122
Spur 122 is a spur route in the U.S. state of Texas that follows a former route of U.S. Highway 181 in San Antonio. Spur 122 follows Presa Street from US 181 near the city limits on the southeast side of San Antonio towards the northwest ending at Loop 13 just east of the San Antonio River...
at Presa Street. As it nears I-37, it passes nearby Brooks City-Base
Brooks City-Base
Brooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...
. At Spur 117
Texas State Highway Spur 117
Spur 117 is a spur route in the U.S. state of Texas that connects Interstate 410 and Loop 13 in San Antonio in Bexar County. The road is maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation . The spur was designated in 1980 and follows W.W...
, Loop 13 turns towards the north and begins following W.W. White Road. It intersects US 87 at Rigsby Avenue as it passes through the east side of San Antonio. It intersects FM 1346 at Houston Street and I-10 before ending at I-410 east of Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
.
Junction list
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