Belt Line Road (Texas)

Belt Line Road is a loop road that traverses 92 miles (148 km) through 16 cities in Dallas County, Texas. Belt Line Road is the outer complete loop which encircles Dallas, in contrast with Interstate 635 which forms an inner loop. Belt Line Road is not designated as a Texas State Loop, but as a local street in each jurisdiction through which it passes. One stretch of the road is designated as FM 1382 and is maintained by the state. No portion of Belt Line Road is a controlled access freeway.

Location

Starting with its origin North Dallas and proceeding in a clockwise direction, Belt Line traverses the following municipalities in Dallas County:

Route description

Belt Line Road is not a straightforward and continuous loop. As one follows the entire course of Belt Line Road, there are several discontinuities and name variations present that may result in getting lost. Starting with North Dallas and proceeding clockwise the following deviations and turns are noted:

1. In Richardson, a portion of Belt Line Road is named Main Street from US 75 to Bowser Road After Bowser Road, Main Street becomes Belt Line again.
2. In Garland, Belt Line Road becomes First Street from Buckingham Road until the junction of First Street and Broadway Blvd, where the course of Belt Line follows Broadway Blvd. After crossing I-30 in south Garland, where Broadway becomes Belt Line again.
3. In central Mesquite, shortly after crossing US 80, a short segment of Belt Line is called "Bryan-Belt Line Road"
4. In south Mesquite, Belt Line Road makes a left turn at a T intersection with Lake June Rd, where Belt Line proceeds southeast towards Balch Springs. Likewise, when proceeding to this T intersection from Balch Springs, to follow the course of Belt Line Road one must make a right turn.
5. From I-35E in DeSoto, Belt Line Road is also called FM 1382. However, in Cedar Hill, the name "Belt Line" is temporarily lost as FM 1382 starts to head northwest (the name instead follows the original routing of Belt Line Road, some of which was submerged with the creation of Joe Pool Lake). After passing west of Joe Wilson Road, follow the course of FM 1382.
6. At I-20 in Grand Prairie, the name "Belt Line" re-appears with FM 1382. FM 1382 is continued as part of Belt Line Road until it reaches SH 180-Main Street.
7. At Jefferson St/SH 180-Main St in central Grand Prairie, southbound Belt Line Road becomes 8th Street while northbound Belt Line Road becomes 9th Street through the middle of Grand Prairie. (9th Street was not originally part of Belt Line; it was added later when 8th Street was made one way to alleviate congestion. As of 2009 a new overpass was opened at this intersection to bypass the wait at Union Pacific crossing.)
8. At Coppell, to follow Belt Line one must make a right turn at a 4-way intersection with Southwestern Boulevard and Denton Tap Road. Likewise, when proceeding to this intersection from the opposite direction, to follow the course of Belt Line Road one must make a left turn.

Junction list

Counter clockwise reads down and clockwise reads up. The entire route is located in Dallas County, Texas.