Texas State Highway 97

State Highway 97 marker

State Highway 97
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length: 143.75 mi[1] (231.34 km)
Existed: 1926 – present
Major junctions
Southwest end: I-35 BUS at Cotulla
 

US 281
I-37
US 181
US 87
US 183

Alt. US 90

I-10
Northeast end: US 90 at Waelder
Highway system
SH 96SH 98

State Highway 97 or SH 97 is a state highway running 143 miles (230 km) from Cotulla to Waelder in the U.S. state of Texas.

History

Texas Highway 97 in Jourdanton, the seat of Atascosa County, with the county annex building on the right

In 1926, SH 97 was originally planned as a route from Jourdanton to end at Pleasanton. By 1928, SH 97 extended south to Rio Grande City via Hebbronville and Tilden; by 1933, SH 97 was split into 2 sections, one from Rio Grande City to Hebbronville, and from Fowlerton to Pleasanton, with the possibility of these section being connected in the future. Because of the isolation of the southern stretch, that portion went unconstructed. The northern branch was slowly constructed, initially between Stockdale and Fowlerton by 1939. In 1942, a section of decommissioned SH 72 between Fowlerton and Cotulla was added. It was extended to its current terminus in Waelder in 1952, replacing the western portions of SH 200 and SH 3.

Counties and junctions

County Junction Notes
La Salle I-35 BUS Cotulla
McMullen SH 72
Atascosa SH 85 Charlotte
SH 16 Jourdanton
US 281 Pleasanton
I-37 Pleasanton
Wilson US 181 Floresville
US 87
SH 123 Stockdale
SH 119 Stockdale
Gonzales SH 80 Nixon
US 183/SH 111 Gonzales

Alt. US 90 Gonzales
SH 304
I-10 Waelder
US 90 at Waelder

References