Texas State Highway Loop 1

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State Highway Loop 1

Length:

25.698 mi^[1] (41.357 km)

Formed:

1967

South end:

SH 45

Major
junctions:

US 290

US 183

North end:

SH 45

Highways in Texas
< Loop 1604		Loop 2 >

Loop 1 is a controlled-access highway which provides access to the west side of Austin in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named Mopac Expressway (or, according to some highway signs, Mopac Boulevard) after the Missouri Pacific Railroad (or "MoPac"). The original section of the highway was built in the 1970s along the right-of-way of the Missouri Pacific Railroad (now owned by Union Pacific), with the railroad tracks running in the highway median between West 8th Street and Northland Drive. To the north, the tracks run along the east side of newer sections of the highway from Northland Drive to Braker Lane.

1 History
2 Route description
3 Junction list
4 References

[edit] History

Loop 1 was first designated in October 1967 from U.S. Highway 290 (US 290) northward to Farm to Market Road 1325 (FM 1325). In October 1985, the designation was extended southward from US 290 to SH 45.^[1]

[edit] Route description

Loop 1's southern terminus is at the beginning of the State Highway 45 stub south of Austin. It intersects SH 71/US 290 (Ben White Boulevard) and Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway). It crosses the Colorado River near downtown Austin and intersects US 183 (Research Boulevard) northwest of downtown. Loop 1 travels concurrently with Farm to Market Road 1325 for several miles before the non-tolled freeway ends at Parmer Lane, spanning a distance of 22.061 miles (35.504 km).

A stretch of Loop 1 in Austin. The Union Pacific railway is visible in the foreground.

North of Parmer Lane, Loop 1 continues as a limited-access toll road to the SH 45 North/Loop 1 interchange, spanning 3 miles. The Texas Department of Transportation completed construction of the tollway as part of the 2002 Central Texas Turnpike Project (CTTP). SH 45 North, also part of the project, provides freeway access to Interstate 35 from Loop 1. The 2002 CTTP was scheduled to be completed in September 2007. However, certain sections of the project, including Loop 1 and parts of SH 45, are now open, over $100 Million under budget.

If and when SH 45 is completed to the south of Austin, Loop 1 will effectively serve as a true loop to the west of the city, being directly connected to SH 45, and indirectly to I-35, at both ends.

As of May 2007, TxDOT is proposing the addition of managed lanes to portions of Loop 1 as a mobility improvement project^[2]. The additions would not increase the right-of-way of the highway, but would be created by reducing the width of existing lanes and reducing and/or eliminating shoulders.

[edit] Junction list

County	Location	Mile^[3]	Junction	Notes
Travis	Austin		SH 45
		Begin Freeway
			Davis Lane
			William Cannon Drive
			US 290 / SH 71 / Southwest Parkway
			Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway)
			Barton Skyway
			RM 2244 (Bee Caves Road) – West Lake Hills, Rollingwood
			Cesar Chavez/Lake Austin Boulevard/5th Street/6th Street
			Enfield Road
			Windsor Road
			Westover Road/Northwood Road
			35th Street
			45th Street
			RM 2222 (Northland Drive)
			Far West Boulevard
			Anderson Lane/Spicewood Springs Road
			Steck Avenue
			Frontage Road
			US 183 (Research Boulevard)	Northbound exit
			US 183 South	Southbound exit
			Braker Lane
			Loop 360 south (Capital of Texas Highway) to US 183 north (Research Boulevard)	Southbound exit
			FM 1325 (Burnet Road) / Duval Road	South end of FM 1325 concurrency
			FM 734 (Parmer Lane)
			Scofield Ridge Parkway
			FM 1325 (Burnet Road) / Wells Branch Parkway/Howard Lane	North end of FM 1325 concurrency
			Shoreline Drive
Williamson			SH 45