Texas State Highway Loop 1

	State Highway Loop 1
Length:	25.698 mi (41.357 km)
Formed:	1967
South end:	SH 45
Major; junctions:	US 290; US 183
North end:	SH 45
	Highways in Texas
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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.

[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 (4.8 km). Frontage roads flank either side of the toll road to Shoreline Drive.

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 opened early and more than $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] Exit list

County	Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Travis	Austin		SH 45 west
		South end of freeway
			La Crosse Avenue
			Slaughter Lane
			Davis Lane	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
			William Cannon Drive
			US 290 / SH 71 / Southwest Parkway – Johnson City, Llano
			Frontage Road	Southbound exit only
			Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway)
			Barton Skyway
			RM 2244 – West Lake Hills, Rollingwood
			Cesar Chavez Street
			5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard
			Enfield Road
			Windsor Road
			Westover Road, Northwood Road
			35th Street
			45th Street
			RM 2222 (Northland Drive)
			Far West Boulevard
			Anderson Lane, Spicewood Springs Road	Southbound exit is via Steck Avenue exit
			Steck Avenue
			(Frontage Road)	Northbound exit only
			US 183 (Research Boulevard)	Southbound exit to US 183 north is via Loop 360
			Loop 360 south	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
			Braker Lane
			FM 1325 south (Burnet Road) / Duval Road	South end of FM 1325 overlap
			Waters Park Road	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
			FM 734 (Parmer Lane)
			Scofield Ridge Parkway	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
			FM 1325 north / Wells Branch Parkway, Howard Lane	North end of FM 1325 overlap
			Shoreline Drive	No southbound exit
Williamson			SH 45	Northbound exit and southbound entrance