Texas State Highway 173

State Highway 173 (SH 173) is a state highway that runs for 97.9 miles (157.6 km) from Jourdanton to Kerrville in south Texas, traversing through the Texas Hill Country.

State Highway 173 marker
State Highway 173
173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial Highway
Map
SH 173, highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length97.34 mi[1][nb 1] (156.65 km)
Existed1932–present
Major junctions
South end SH 16 near Jourdanton
Major intersections I-35 in Devine
US 90 near Hondo
SH 16 in Bandera
North end SH 16 in Kerrville
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesAtascosa, Frio, Medina, Bandera, Kerr
Highway system
SH 172 SH 174

History

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The highway was originally designated on August 4, 1932 from Hondo southeast to Devine.[2] On October 26, 1932, it was extended southeast to Pleasanton.[3] On January 11, 1933, it was rerouted to end in Jourdanton.[4] On October 16, 1933, this section from Devine to Jourdanton was cancelled.[5] On May 14, 1935, it was extended back to Jourdanton.[6] On July 15, 1935, SH 173 was cancelled.[7] On September 3, 1935, a road from Devine to Jourdanton was being investigated for preparation for restoration of this section of SH 173. On April 20, 1936, the entire route was restored.[8] On September 26, 1939, the designated route was extended south from Jourdanton through Freer, absorbing most of SH 241, with an expected terminus at Hebbronville.[9] on January 29, 1942, the section from Freer to Hebbronville had been cancelled. On August 31, 1965, the section south of Jourdanton was transferred to SH 16. On February 21, 1972, SH 173 was signed, but not designated along FM 689 to Kerrville. On October 23, 1978, the section west of Loop 534 was transferred to Loop 534, but still signed as SH 173.. On August 29, 1990, the route was extended northward to Kerrville, replacing FM 689.[10]

Route description

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SH 173 begins at SH 16 just north of Jourdanton. SH 173 runs northwest toward Devine where it intersects I-35 in the south part of town. Leaving Devine, 173 turns running in a sharper northwest direction. Just east of Hondo, the highway interchanges with US 90. The highway turns to run in a more north–south direction, twisting and turning many times through canyons. SH 173 enters Bandera and intersects SH 16 for a second time. The two highways share a short overlap before splitting. Here, signs are posted advising trucks and through traffic to use SH 173 as a route to Kerrville instead of SH 16, as SH 173 is a shorter and faster route, while SH 16 traverses a hill with many sharp curves. SH 173 intersects SH 16 for a third time in Kerrville, where the highway ends.

Junction list

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CountyLocationmi[11]kmDestinationsNotes
AtascosaJourdanton0.00.0  SH 16Southern terminus of SH 173
6.09.7 
 
 
 
FM 2146 north to FM 476
South end of FM 2146 overlap
6.310.1 
 
 
 
FM 2146 south to FM 1333
North end of FM 2146 overlap
9.815.8  FM 1333 – Charlotte
15.224.5 
 
FM 2504 north – Rossville
Southern terminus of FM 2504
FrioBigfoot21.534.6 
 
FM 472 south – Bigfoot
MedinaDevine24.940.1  I-35 – Moore, NataliaI-35 exit 122.
25.741.4 
 
 
 
FM 3176 south to FM 462
Northern terminus of FM 3176
25.841.5  SH 132 – Pearsall
26.642.8 
 
FM 2200 north – Yancey
Eastern terminus of FM 2200
30.749.4 
 
FM 1343 north – Castroville
Southern terminus of FM 1343
45.773.5  US 90 – Hondo, San AntonioInterchange
45.873.718th StreetInterchange
47.075.6 
 
FM 2676 east – Quihi, Rio Medina
Western terminus of FM 2676
Bandera72.9117.3 
 
RM 1077 west – Hill Country State Natural Area
Bandera73.3118.0 
 
SH 16 south – San Antonio
South end of SH 16 overlap
73.8118.8 
 
SH 16 north (Main Street) – Medina
North end of SH 16 overlap
74.3119.6 
 
FM 3240 west
Eastern terminus of FM 3240
84.0135.2 
 
RM 2828 west – Medina
Eastern terminus of RM 2828
KerrCamp Verde86.6139.4 
 
RM 480 north – Center Point
Southern terminus of RM 480
92.0148.1 
 
FM 2771 west (Lower Turtle Creek Road)
Eastern terminus of FM 2771
Kerrville95.8154.2 
 
 
 
 
 
Loop 534 north to I-10 / SH 27
Southern terminus of Loop 534
97.9157.6   SH 16 – Medina, KerrvilleNorthern terminus of SH 173; access to Peterson Regional Medical Center
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Notes

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  1. ^ Certified mileage does not include concurrency with SH 16 in Bandera.

References

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  1. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 173". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  2. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. November 28, 1932. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. October 24, 1932. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. January 10, 1933. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. October 16, 1933. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. May 13, 1935. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. July 15, 1935. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. April 20, 1936. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  9. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 241". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  10. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Farm to Market Road No. 689". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  11. ^ "Overview map of State Highway 173" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved June 27, 2018.