Texas State Highway Loop 281

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Texas Loop 281.svg

State Highway Loop 281

Texas State Highway Loop 281
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length19.295 mi [1]  (31.052 km)
Existed1960 [1] –present
Major junctions
CCW  endI-20.svgUS 259.svgTexas 322.svg I-20  / US 259  / SH 322 in Longview
Major intersections
CW  endI-20.svgTexas FM 968.svg I-20  / FM 968 near Longview
Location
Country United States
State Texas
Counties Gregg, Harrison
Highway system
Texas Spur 280.svg Spur 280 Texas Loop 282.svg Loop 282

State Highway Loop 281 or Loop 281 is a Texas state highway loop that forms a partial beltway around the city of Longview. The highway travels in a clockwise direction around the western, northern, and eastern parts of the city, with I-20 completing the beltway. The western section of Loop 281, from I-20/US 259/SH 322 to US 259 (Eastman Road), is a surface street that mostly travels through heavily developed areas of the city, while the eastern section, from US 259 to I-20/FM 968 is more of a controlled-access highway that travels through less developed areas.

Contents

Route description

Loop 281 begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with I-20/US 259/SH 322 in southern Longview; the highway continues south past I-20/US 259 as SH 322. The highway travels in a slight northwest direction along Estes Parkway for approximately 0.5 miles (0.80 km) before turning to the west, with Estes Parkway continuing north towards LeTourneau University. Loop 281 briefly dips in a southwestern direction before turning back northwest, traveling near many industrial areas in south/southwest Longview. The highway crosses over a rail line and FM 2087, turns north, intersects Toledo Circle (which connects FM 2087 to Loop 281), then has an interchange with SH 31. Loop 281 turns northwest at an intersection with FM 2205 (Jaycee Road) and becomes known as East Harrison Road, passing near Lear Park. The highway turns west at West Cotton Street, passes by Pine Tree Middle School and Parkway Elementary School, then turns northwest at FM 2206, with that highway continuing the Harrison Road designation. Loop 281 continues to travel through industrial areas of the city before intersecting US 80 (West Marshall Avenue); north of here, the highway begins to travel through more heavily developed areas of the city.

Loop 281 starts to travel in a northeast direction at FM 1845 (Pine Tree Toad), passing by a few residential areas. Past SH 300 (Gilmer Road), the highway is lined with many businesses with some commercial and retail areas. At Spur 63, Loop 281 travels in an eastern direction and passes by Longview Mall, then turns southeast at Spur 502 (Judson Road). The highway passes a few blocks north of Longview Regional Medical Center then has an interchange with US 259 (Eastman Road); from here, the route of Loop 281 gradually becomes more rural with little development. The highway has interchanges with Tryon Road and FM 2208 (Alpine Road) and passes near a couple of subdivisions. Loop 281 passes near the Longview Heights neighborhood, has an interchange with US 80, then turns south. South of US 80, the highway travels through rural farmland that is slightly forested. Development along the route slightly picks up near County Road 3413, with Loop 281 passing by a rural subdivision with some business lining the highway. Loop 281 intersects FM 968 just north of I-20, with Loop 281 and FM 968 having a brief overlap before Loop 281 ends at I-20, with the highway continuing past here as FM 968.

History

Loop 281 was previously designated on December 2, 1954 on a route from US 82 / US 287 northwest to US 281 in Wichita Falls. The route was redesignated on November 7, 1958 as Loop 165 (now US 287 Bus. and SH 240 [2] ) "to avoid confusion with US 281 by the traveling public." [3] The current route was designated on March 22, 1960, but only from US 80 north, east, and south to I-20. On March 25, 1992, Loop 281 was extended south from US 80 to I-20, replacing part of FM 1845. [1] [4]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Gregg Longview 0.00.0I-20.svgUS 259.svgSouth plate.svg
Texas 322.svg
I-20  / US 259  / SH 322 south (Estes Parkway) / MLK Boulevard Dallas, Shreveport
Parclo interchange; I-20 exit 595; roadway continues past I-20 as SH 322
3.76.0South plate.svg
Texas FM 2087.svg
FM 2087 south
3.86.1Texas 31.svg SH 31 Interchange
4.67.4East plate.svg
Texas FM 2205.svg
FM 2205 east (Jaycee Road)
6.210.0West plate.svg
Texas FM 2206.svg
FM 2206 west (Harrison Road)
6.911.1US 80.svg US 80 (West Marshall Avenue) Gladewater, Marshall
7.111.4Texas FM 1845.svg FM 1845 (Pine Tree Road)
8.413.5Texas 300.svg SH 300 (Gilmer Road) Gilmer
10.416.7Texas Spur 63.svg Spur 63 (McCann Road)
10.917.5Texas Spur 502.svg Spur 502 (Judson Road) Daingerfield
12.219.6US 259.svgTo plate blue.svg
I-20.svg
US 259 (Eastman Road) to I-20  Daingerfield
Interchange
12.620.3Tryon RoadInterchange
13.521.7Texas FM 2208.svg FM 2208 (Alpine Road)Interchange
Harrison 16.226.1US 80.svgHospital sign.svg US 80  Marshall, Longview Interchange; access to CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center - Longview
19.230.9West plate.svg
Texas FM 968.svg
FM 968 west
Counterclockwise end of FM 968 overlap
19.331.1I-20.svgEast plate.svg
Texas FM 968.svg
I-20  / FM 968 east Dallas, Shreveport
Clockwise end of FM 968; I-20 exit 599
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Loop No. 281". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation . Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  2. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 240". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation . Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  3. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 165". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation . Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  4. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Farm to Market Road No. 1845". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation . Retrieved September 9, 2021.