U.S. Route 181

U.S. Highway 181 is a southnorth U.S. Highway located entirely in the state of Texas. Both termini are at Interstate 37, the road that it mainly parallels to the east. US 181 begins in Corpus Christi, Texas at mile marker 0 to the south, through south-central Texas to just south of San Antonio to the north (mile marker 131), for a total length of 137 miles (220 km).[1]

U.S. Route 181
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 81
Length136.76 mi[1] (220.09 km)
Existed1927[1]–present
Major junctions
South end I-37 / SH 35 at Corpus Christi
 
North end I-37 near San Antonio
Location
CountiesNueces, San Patricio, Bee, Karnes, Wilson, Bexar
Highway system

The highway's northern terminus is at an intersection with Interstate 37 one mile (1.6 km) south of San Antonio's Interstate 410 loop, about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Floresville. Prior to the Interstate era, US 181 traveled into Downtown San Antonio along Presa St. to an intersection with its parent route, US 81, which then ran along Alamo St.

Its southern terminus is in Corpus Christi, Texas at Interstate 37 near the Gulf of Mexico. IH 37 and US 181 have mutual termini, such that traffic traveling southbound on IH 37 will automatically merge onto northbound US 181, and vice versa.

Route description

US 181 near its northern terminus southeast of San Antonio, Texas.

Proceeding northbound, US 181 runs through the following Texas counties: Nueces, San Patricio, Bee, Karnes, Wilson, and Bexar. At its southern terminus with Interstate 37 in Corpus Christi, TX, US 181 traverses as a freeway in the northeast direction across Harbor Bridge and the Nueces Bay Causeway, before entering Portland, TX. Past the Nueces Bay Causeway through Portland, US 181 shares a duplex with Texas State Highway 35.

Immediately after Portland is Gregory, where US 181 and TX 35 splits, and the freeway portion of US 181 ends. SH 35 proceeds eastbound to Aransas Pass and Rockport while US 181 proceeds northwest towards Taft and Sinton. US 181 shares a duplex with SH 188 and US 77 Business in Sinton, and makes a right turn at San Patricio Street, proceeding northbound.

North of Sinton, US 181 passes through the towns of St. Paul, Papalote, and Skidmore, before reaching Beeville. US 181 business runs through downtown Beeville while drivers passing by can use the US 181 freeway bypass on the east side of town. In Beeville, US 181 intersects with US 59 (Future I-69W) (northbound to Victoria/Houston & southbound to Laredo).

North of Beeville US 181 passes through a number of unincorporated towns including Normanna, Pettus, and Tuleta before reaching Kenedy. US 181 business serves downtown while US 181 runs on the west side of town. Immediately north of Kenedy is Karnes City, where US 181 business runs parallel again east of US 181 through Karnes City.

North of Karnes City US 181 passes through Hobson (unincorporated), followed by Falls City, Poth, and Floresville. US 181 business runs west of US 181 through downtown Floresville.

North of Floresville US 181 passes through the town limits of Elmendorf before intersection with State Loop 1604 (Anderson Loop, surrounding San Antonio), and ends 8 miles north at its northern terminus at I-37, just south of I-37 and I-410 on San Antonio's far south side.

History

US 181 is one of the original routes accepted by AASHO in November 1926. Its original southern terminus was at a junction with its parent, US 81, and US 90 in Downtown San Antonio. By 1968, the portion between Downtown and Loop 13 had been removed from the state highway system.[1] The completion of I-37 in San Antonio during the 1970s resulted in the truncation of US 181 to its interchange with that freeway; the segment north of this point along Presa Street was transferred to Spur 122.[2]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
NuecesCorpus Christi I-37 to SH 286 to Shoreline Boulevard / Broadway Street / Spur 544 Bayfront, Corpus Christi Museum, Airport, San Antonio, Chapman Ranch, Robstownsouth end of freeway; south end of SH 35 concurrency
Tancahua Street / Staples StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Port AreaSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge over Corpus Christi Channel
Burleson Street - Corpus Christi Beach
Beach Avenue - Corpus Christi Beach
Nueces BayNueces Bay Causeway
San PatricioPortlandIndian Point Park
Frontage Roadsouthbound access only
FM 893 (Moore Avenue) Taftno direct southbound exit (signed at FM 2986)
FM 2986 (Wildcat Drive) Sinton
Lang Roadsouthbound exit only
FM 3239 (Buddy Ganem Drive) to FM 2986 / Northshore Boulevard
La Quinta Terminalnorthbound access only
Gregory SH 35 north to SH 361 south Aransas Pass, Rockport, Houston, Port Aransasinterchange; north end of freeway; northbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of SH 35 concurrency
FM 3284 north Woodsboro
To SH 361 south / SH 35 north (via Spur 202 / FM 2986) Ingleside, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Houstoninterchange
Taft FM 631 eastSouth end of FM 631 concurrency
FM 631 west (Davis Road) OdemSouth end of FM 631 concurrency
FM 1074 south
Sinton
SH 89 north / SH 188 east to Future I-69E / US 77 Rockport, Refugio, Beeville
South end of SH 188 concurrency
FM 2046 south (Sodville Avenue)

Bus. US 77 north (Vineyard Avenue) Calallen, Corpus Christi
South end of US 77 Bus. concurrency

Bus. US 77 south (San Patricio Street) / SH 188 west (Sinton Street) Mathis, Victoria
North end of US 77 Bus. and SH 188 concurrencies

Future I-69E / US 77 Corpus Christi, Calallen, Victoria, Refugio
interchange; U.S. 77 is the future Interstate 69E
SH 89 south Refugio, Rockport, Gregoryinterchange
St. Paul FM 3089 west
BeeSkidmore SH 359 west to I-37 Mathis, Alice, Lake Corpus Christi State Recreational Area
FM 797 west (Main Street)

Bus. US 181 north Kenedy
interchange; south end of freeway
Emily Drive southnorthbound exit only
SH 202 Refugio, George West
Beeville
Future I-69W / US 59 Laredo, George West, Victoria, Goliad
U.S. 59 is the future Interstate 69W
FM 351 south George West, Sinton
FM 3355 (Charco Road)interchange; north end of freeway

Bus. US 181 south Sinton
Tuleta FM 1465 west to FM 623 Mineral
Pettus FM 623 Mineral
Tulsita FM 798 west Pawnee
Karnes FM 743 north to FM 623 west to FM 1348 west Kenedy, Pettus
Green FM 2509 north Kenedy
FM 632 east (Allen B. Polunsky Drive) John B. Connally Jr. Unit

Bus. US 181 north to FM 2509 Karnes City, Pettus
Kenedy
FM 1145 / SH 72 Truck east – truck route to SH 239 east / FM 792, Three Rivers, Goliad, Cuero
south end of SH 72 Truck overlap
SH 72 / SH 239 east Three Rivers, Goliad, Cueronorth end of SH 72 Truck overlap
FM 719 east to FM 792 Helena

Bus. US 181 south Pettus
Karnes City SH 80 north / SH 123 north (US 181 Bus. north) Seguin, Floresville, San Marcos, Luling
FM 1353
FM 99 Coy City, Peggy, Whitsett

Bus. US 181 south / FM 1144 west Floresville, Peggy
Hobson FM 81 east Panna Maria, RungeSouth end of FM 81 concurrency
FM 81 westNorth end of FM 81 concurrency
Falls City FM 791 west (West Maverick Street) Campbellton
FM 887 west to FM 791 CampbelltonSouth end of FM 887 concurrency
FM 887 east Pawelekville, GillettNorth end of FM 887 concurrency
WilsonPoth FM 541 to I-37 McCoy, Kosciusko
FM 427 north to FM 537 Stockdale
FM 537 east Stockdale
Loop 181 north (Sgt. Hugo Lange Loop) Floresville Business District, Pleasanton, San Antonio
Floresville SH 97 west (Hospital Boulevard) to US 281 Pleasanton, JourdantonSouth end of SH 97 concurrency
SH 97 east / FM 536 west (Standish Street) to US 281 Stockdale, EspeyNorth end of SH 97 concurrency
Loop 181 south (Sgt. Hugo Lange Loop) Floresville Business District, Pleasanton, Karnes City
Calaveras FM 775 La Vernia
Bexar Loop 1604 (Anderson Loop) Elmendorf, Converseinterchange
CPS Energy Calaveras Power Stationinterchange
San Antonio Spur 122 north (South Presa Street)
I-37 north San AntonioI-37 exit 132
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes

US 181 has business routes in Beeville, Kenedy, and Karnes City. The routes are previous alignments of US 181 through these cities, and were previously designated in the state highway system with other route numbers. The designations were changed to Business US 181 by TxDOT in 1991. A de facto fourth route, along a former alignment through Floresville, is designated Loop 181.

Beeville business route

Business US 181 in Beeville travels through central Beeville while mainline US 181 uses a freeway bypass to the east of the city. It is officially designated by TxDOT as Business US 181-J, and was designated as Loop 516 on May 31, 1973 (which was signed as a business route of US 181), but was changed to Business US 181-J on June 21, 1990.[3][4]

Kenedy business route

Business US 181 in Kenedy travels through central Kenedy while mainline US 181 passes to the west of the city. It is officially inventoried by TxDOT as two separate routes, with a discontinuity at SH 72.

  • The southern segment, from US 181 northward to SH 72, is designated as Business US 181-G, and was formerly Spur 259 from September 25, 1952 until June 21, 1990, but was signed as business US 181.[5][6]
  • The northern segment, from SH 72 northward to US 181, is designated as Business US 181-F, and was formerly Spur 258 from September 25, 1952 until June 21, 1990, but was signed as business US 181.[7][8]

Although not officially concurrent with SH 72, the signage in the area directs traffic from one segment to the other, effectively completing the loop.

Karnes City business route

Business US 181 in Karnes City travels northward and then westward through central Karnes City while mainline US 181 skirts the southwestern edge of the city. It is officially inventoried by TxDOT as two separate routes, which connect at the intersection with SH 80 / SH 123 in the east side of the city.

  • The southern segment, from US 181 northward to SH 80/123, is designated as Business US 181-E.[9] The route was previously part of SH 80, but it still signed as SH 80/123 to facilitate access to SH 80/123 for traffic from northbound US 181.[10]
  • The northern segment, from SH 80/123 westward to US 181, is designated as Business US 181-D.[11] The route was previously part of FM 1144.[12]

Floresville Loop 181

US 181's former alignment in Floresville is inventoried as Loop 181 by TxDOT.[13] The route was designated on October 15, 1946 when US 181 was realigned to the east. The route begins north of the city limits; within the city, it has a brief concurrency with FM 536 and intersects SH 97 before rejoining US 181 in the southeastern section of the city.[14][15]

See also

  • U.S. Highway 81
  • U.S. Highway 281
  • Interstate 37

References

  1. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "U.S. Highway No. 181". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  2. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 122". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  3. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Loop No. 516". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  4. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 181-J". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  5. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 259". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  6. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 181-G". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  7. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 181-F". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  8. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 258". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  9. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 181-E". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  10. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 80". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  11. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business U.S. Highway No. 181-D". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  12. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Farm to Market Road No. 1144". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  13. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Loop No. 181". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  14. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2014). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2014 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 340. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  15. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2014). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2014 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 370. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
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