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State Highway 195 (Texas)
Encyclopedia
State Highway 195, or SH 195, is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Texas
that runs from FM 439 in Killeen
, south to Interstate 35 in Georgetown
. In Killeen it is known as Fort Hood Street; in Florence it is called Patterson Avenue. The Texas Memorial Highway System has designated the entire road as the Phantom Warriors Highway.
Prior to the 1990s, SH 195 ran from Georgetown and turned approximately one mile (1.6 km) north of Florence
, to meet up with U.S. Highway 183. This route was designated by 1933, as a previous portion of SH 36B
. The northbound highway to Killeen from Florence was designated as FM 440 in 1951. Today, the entire north–south highway is designated as SH 195. The old east–west portion from Florence to U.S. Highway 183 is now designated as State Highway 138
.
As of October 2005, portions of the highway between Killeen and Florence are four lanes with median, or two lanes with shoulders. In Florence, the highway becomes a four-lane road with traffic signals at the intersection of FM 487, as well as the intersection of FM 970, near Florence Middle School and Florence High School. South of FM 970, it is a two-lane road all the way to Interstate 35.
As of October 2005, SH 195 is undergoing a major overhaul. The former two-lane highway is being widened to four lanes with a median and shoulders. The project has been broken up into phases. In the first phase, the road was widened from just south of FM 3470 in Killeen (known locally as Stan Schlueter Loop) to near the intersection with RM 2670 in the community of Ding Dong. The second phase is currently underway, which will add two new bridges over the Lampasas River
and will extend to near the Bell-Williamson county line. In the future, new phases will create a divided highway along the entire length of SH 195. It remains to be seen how the new highway will affect the town of Florence. Most likely, a bypass will be constructed around the town, so that travellers can avoid the before-school and after-school traffic in Florence.
There are several reasons for the construction project. The road was once known in Central Texas as the "Highway of Death due to the many fatal accidents on 195. One small period between 1996 and 1998 saw the loss of 21 lives. The road's new design will ease traffic congestion caused by daily commutes to Georgetown and Austin, since the road is the only route directly to Interstate 35 from Killeen, besides U.S. Highway 190. Also, the new highway will facilitate vehicle movement in the event of a deployment of troops from Fort Hood en route to Interstate 35.
In addition, the Georgetown terminus of SH 195 is itself being modified, as it is to be the northern terminus of State Highway 130
.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
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...
that runs from FM 439 in Killeen
Killeen, Texas
Killeen is a city in Bell County, Texas, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921...
, south to Interstate 35 in Georgetown
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...
. In Killeen it is known as Fort Hood Street; in Florence it is called Patterson Avenue. The Texas Memorial Highway System has designated the entire road as the Phantom Warriors Highway.
Prior to the 1990s, SH 195 ran from Georgetown and turned approximately one mile (1.6 km) north of Florence
Florence, Texas
Florence is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,054 at the 2000 census, and 1,109 in the 2005 census estimate.-Geography:Florence is located at...
, to meet up with U.S. Highway 183. This route was designated by 1933, as a previous portion of SH 36B
State Highway 36 (Texas)
State Highway 36 runs from Abilene to Freeport. It was designated as The 36th Division Memorial Highway between Cameron and Sealy by the Texas Legislature in 1985.-History:...
. The northbound highway to Killeen from Florence was designated as FM 440 in 1951. Today, the entire north–south highway is designated as SH 195. The old east–west portion from Florence to U.S. Highway 183 is now designated as State Highway 138
State Highway 138 (Texas)
State Highway 138, or SH 138, runs from north of Florence west about to U.S. Highway 183. The highway was originally part of SH 195. When SH 195 was redirected north of Florence to Killeen over RM 440 in 1988, this portion was redesignated as SH 138....
.
As of October 2005, portions of the highway between Killeen and Florence are four lanes with median, or two lanes with shoulders. In Florence, the highway becomes a four-lane road with traffic signals at the intersection of FM 487, as well as the intersection of FM 970, near Florence Middle School and Florence High School. South of FM 970, it is a two-lane road all the way to Interstate 35.
As of October 2005, SH 195 is undergoing a major overhaul. The former two-lane highway is being widened to four lanes with a median and shoulders. The project has been broken up into phases. In the first phase, the road was widened from just south of FM 3470 in Killeen (known locally as Stan Schlueter Loop) to near the intersection with RM 2670 in the community of Ding Dong. The second phase is currently underway, which will add two new bridges over the Lampasas River
Lampasas River
The Lampasas River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. The river originates near the city of Hamilton and travels southeast for seventy-five miles through central Texas to a man-made reservoir called Stillhouse Hollow Lake...
and will extend to near the Bell-Williamson county line. In the future, new phases will create a divided highway along the entire length of SH 195. It remains to be seen how the new highway will affect the town of Florence. Most likely, a bypass will be constructed around the town, so that travellers can avoid the before-school and after-school traffic in Florence.
There are several reasons for the construction project. The road was once known in Central Texas as the "Highway of Death due to the many fatal accidents on 195. One small period between 1996 and 1998 saw the loss of 21 lives. The road's new design will ease traffic congestion caused by daily commutes to Georgetown and Austin, since the road is the only route directly to Interstate 35 from Killeen, besides U.S. Highway 190. Also, the new highway will facilitate vehicle movement in the event of a deployment of troops from Fort Hood en route to Interstate 35.
In addition, the Georgetown terminus of SH 195 is itself being modified, as it is to be the northern terminus of State Highway 130
State Highway 130 (Texas)
State Highway 130, also known as SH 130 and Pickle Parkway, is a tollway from Interstate 35 in Georgetown to US 183 and SH 45 at Mustang Ridge in Central Texas. Portions south of Mustang Ridge are now under construction [As of 7/2010]. When completed, SH 130 will run in a corridor east and...
.
Re-opening
On May 31, 2007, the highway officially reopened to the public as the finished divided highway. The opening was scheduled to be May 30 but everything was not yet finished so the opening was delayed to the 31st.Counties and junctions
| County | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Williamson Williamson County, Texas Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35... |
||
| Bell Bell County, Texas Bell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Bell County was founded in 1850. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2000, the county's population was 237,974; in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that its population had reached... |
||