Farm to Market Road 1093
Encyclopedia
Farm to Market Road 1093 (FM 1093) is a 50.476 miles (81.233 km) farm to market road
in the U.S. state
of Texas
. It begins in Eagle Lake
at FM 3013 and heads east to Interstate 610
in Houston
. In Houston, a portion of FM 1093 is also a portion of "Westheimer Road
", which continues east of I-610 without the FM 1093 designation.
East of Loop 610, Westheimer Rd. becomes Elgin at Bagby St. (Midtown District) and terminates at Spur 5 adjacent to the campus of the University of Houston
.
Westheimer Rd. is named after M.L. Westheimer, who owned a farm in the 1920s near what is now the Uptown District
of Houston. His nephews include Mark Westheimer, a locally famous attorney, and David Westheimer, author of Von Ryan's Express
and many other novels.
The official designation for FM 1093 from SH 99 to Loop 610 is Urban Road 1093, though this moniker is not stated on road signs or addresses, or even anywhere outside of the Texas Department of Transportation's official files.
In Houston, FM 1093 is a major thoroughfare through west Houston and outlying neighborhoods, with sections 8 lanes wide, not including turning lanes.
opened. As west Houston was sparsely populated at the time, the road served mainly as a transportation route for cargo in and out of Houston. In the 1960s, the west side went through major growth after the Katy Freeway was foreseen, and neighborhoods and businesses quickly developed. 1093, popularly known in the city as Westheimer, became a major thoroughfare for westside residents traveling into Uptown Houston
and Downtown Houston
.
Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Westheimer became clogged with offices, restaurants and strip malls all along its route (notably including the Westchase District). Due to major traffic, the road's lane capacity expanded many times as popularity continued to grow.
and Bellaire
. Both the Westpark Tollway
and 1093 run almost parallel to each other, changing the opposite's traffic flow. West of State Highway 6, FM 1093 and Westpark Tollway
merge into one route, with FM 1093 forming the free frontage roads, while the Westpark Tollway forms the main lanes.
The tollway has not drastically diverted traffic on Westheimer and is open solely to EZ Tag
users. The tollway is designed to provide easier access to freeways such as Highway 59 and others which 1093 doesn't serve. Before the Katy Freeway was significantly modernized and widened (west of the I-610 Loop
) in 2008-2009, congestion on Westheimer and Westpark Tollway was far heavier than it is currently.
Farm to Market Road
In the United States, a farm-to-market road or ranch-to-market road is a state road or county road which serves to connect rural or agricultural areas to market towns...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It begins in Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake, Texas
Eagle Lake is a city in southeastern Colorado County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,664 at the 2000 census. It is home to a golf course, the largest private lake in Texas, and the Eagle Lake Regional Airport, which services light aircraft....
at FM 3013 and heads east to Interstate 610
Interstate 610 (Texas)
Interstate 610 is a freeway that forms a forty-two-mile loop around the downtown sector of city of Houston, Texas. Interstate 610, colloquially known as "The Loop", "Loop 610", "The 610 Loop", or just "610", traditionally marks the border between the inner city of Houston and its surrounding areas...
in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. In Houston, a portion of FM 1093 is also a portion of "Westheimer Road
Westheimer Road
Westheimer Road is an arterial road in the western half of Houston, Texas, United States. It runs from Bagby Street west to the Westpark Tollway. Westheimer Road runs roughly parallel to and south of Buffalo Bayou throughout its course. The street was named after Michael Louis Westheimer, a...
", which continues east of I-610 without the FM 1093 designation.
East of Loop 610, Westheimer Rd. becomes Elgin at Bagby St. (Midtown District) and terminates at Spur 5 adjacent to the campus of the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
Westheimer Rd. is named after M.L. Westheimer, who owned a farm in the 1920s near what is now the Uptown District
Uptown Houston
The Uptown District of Houston is located 6.2 miles west of downtown and is centered along Post Oak Boulevard, Westheimer Road , and the Galleria...
of Houston. His nephews include Mark Westheimer, a locally famous attorney, and David Westheimer, author of Von Ryan's Express
Von Ryan's Express
Von Ryan's Express is a 1965 World War II adventure film starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard, based on a novel by David Westheimer, and directed by Mark Robson.-Plot:...
and many other novels.
The official designation for FM 1093 from SH 99 to Loop 610 is Urban Road 1093, though this moniker is not stated on road signs or addresses, or even anywhere outside of the Texas Department of Transportation's official files.
In Houston, FM 1093 is a major thoroughfare through west Houston and outlying neighborhoods, with sections 8 lanes wide, not including turning lanes.
History
FM 1093 was designated in 1949, more than a decade before the I-10 Katy FreewayInterstate 10 in Texas
Interstate 10 is the major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. In the U.S. state of Texas, it runs east from El Paso, near the border with New Mexico, through San Antonio and Houston to the border with Louisiana in Orange, Texas....
opened. As west Houston was sparsely populated at the time, the road served mainly as a transportation route for cargo in and out of Houston. In the 1960s, the west side went through major growth after the Katy Freeway was foreseen, and neighborhoods and businesses quickly developed. 1093, popularly known in the city as Westheimer, became a major thoroughfare for westside residents traveling into Uptown Houston
Uptown Houston
The Uptown District of Houston is located 6.2 miles west of downtown and is centered along Post Oak Boulevard, Westheimer Road , and the Galleria...
and Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
.
Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Westheimer became clogged with offices, restaurants and strip malls all along its route (notably including the Westchase District). Due to major traffic, the road's lane capacity expanded many times as popularity continued to grow.
Effects of Westpark Tollway
The Westpark Tollway, opened in 2005, was purposely designed to lessen Westheimer's traffic flow and serve as a thoroughfare for travelers from George Bush ParkGeorge Bush Park
George Bush Park is a city park in Houston, Texas in the United States. It is the sixth largest city park in the nation, covering . It was previously known as Cullen-Barker Park.-History:...
and Bellaire
Bellaire, Texas
Bellaire is a city in southwest Harris County, Texas, United States, within the metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 15,642 and is completely surrounded by the cities of Houston and West University Place....
. Both the Westpark Tollway
Westpark Tollway
The Westpark Tollway, also Fort Bend Westpark Tollway, is a limited-access toll road serving western Houston and Harris County, and northeastern Fort Bend County. Construction on the facility began in 2001 and portions of the road were opened to traffic in May 2004. Construction of the roadway...
and 1093 run almost parallel to each other, changing the opposite's traffic flow. West of State Highway 6, FM 1093 and Westpark Tollway
Westpark Tollway
The Westpark Tollway, also Fort Bend Westpark Tollway, is a limited-access toll road serving western Houston and Harris County, and northeastern Fort Bend County. Construction on the facility began in 2001 and portions of the road were opened to traffic in May 2004. Construction of the roadway...
merge into one route, with FM 1093 forming the free frontage roads, while the Westpark Tollway forms the main lanes.
The tollway has not drastically diverted traffic on Westheimer and is open solely to EZ Tag
EZ TAG
EZ TAG is an electronic toll collection system in Houston, Texas, United States that allows motorists to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths. Motorists with the Tags are allowed to use lanes reserved exclusively for them on all Harris County Toll Road Authority roads...
users. The tollway is designed to provide easier access to freeways such as Highway 59 and others which 1093 doesn't serve. Before the Katy Freeway was significantly modernized and widened (west of the I-610 Loop
Interstate 610 (Texas)
Interstate 610 is a freeway that forms a forty-two-mile loop around the downtown sector of city of Houston, Texas. Interstate 610, colloquially known as "The Loop", "Loop 610", "The 610 Loop", or just "610", traditionally marks the border between the inner city of Houston and its surrounding areas...
) in 2008-2009, congestion on Westheimer and Westpark Tollway was far heavier than it is currently.
Junction list
| County | Location | Mile | Junctions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Eagle Lake Eagle Lake, Texas Eagle Lake is a city in southeastern Colorado County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,664 at the 2000 census. It is home to a golf course, the largest private lake in Texas, and the Eagle Lake Regional Airport, which services light aircraft.... |
|||
| Wharton | No major junctions | |||
| Austin Austin County, Texas Austin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas adjacent to the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 28,417 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Bellville. Austin County is named for Stephen F... |
Discontinuous section between junctions with SH 36 | |||
| Wallis Wallis, Texas Wallis is a city in Austin County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,172 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wallis is located at .... |
||||
| Fort Bend Fort Bend County, Texas Fort Bend County is a county located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. In 2000 its population was 354,452, while the 2010 U.S... |
Simonton Simonton, Texas Simonton is a city in Fort Bend County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 718.-Geography:Simonton is located at .... |
|||
| Fulshear Fulshear, Texas Fulshear is a city in northwest Fort Bend County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 716 at the 2000 census.-History:The city incorporated in 1977.... |
||||
| Fort Bend Westpark Tollway | Westpark Tollway begins and FM 1093 continues as frontage roads | |||
| Houston Houston, Texas Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ... |
Fort Bend Westpark Tollway | FM 1093 splits from Westpark Tollway | ||
| Harris Harris County, Texas As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population... |
||||