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State Highway Loop 1604 (Texas)
Encyclopedia
Loop 1604, also known as the Charles W. Anderson Loop, is a highway loop that encircles the city of San Antonio, Texas
and spanning a total of approximately 95.6 miles (153.9 km). It is the outer loop that encircles most of San Antonio, and along with the inner loop Interstate 410, is connected to a significant part of the highways in the city.
Loop 1604 began as a two lane highway and has been upgraded to a four lane freeway along its northern stretches. The Texas Department of Transportation
(TXDOT) is planning to add new lanes between SH 151 and I-10 East as toll lanes. An Environmental Impact Statement study is currently underway to determine other improvements needed.
east of San Antonio. It heads south from I-10 as a 2-lane road and turns towards the southeast and intersects FM 1346, FM 1518
and FM 3465 while turning back towards the south and reaching a junction with US 87 in Lone Oak
. Continuing to the south, Loop 1604 has a second intersection with FM 3465, an intersection with FM 3432 as the road turns towards the southwest and a junction with US 181 near Calaveras Lake
. Heading southwest from US 181, the highway intersects FM 327 as it enters the city of Elmendorf
. It intresects FM 327 once again as it leaves Elmendorf heading towards the southwest. At FM 1303, Loop 1604 turns towards the west before a junction with I-37.
Continuing west through the southern portions of Bexar County, the loop intersects FM 1937 (South Flores Road) and Farm to Market Road 3499 before an interchange with US 281. The highway continues to the west to an interchange with SH 16, passing to the south of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas
plant. The highway continues to the west and begins to curve towards the north as it enters the city limits of Somerset
and an intersection with FM 2790 (Somerset Road). Completing the turn to the north as it leaves Somerset, Loop 1604 heads north to an interchange with I-35
. The highway heads north after the I-35 interchange to an intersection with FM 2536 (Old Pearsall Road) before an interchange with US 90.
North of US 90, Loop 1604 becomes a 4-lane divided highway with median crossings only located at traffic light
s and turnaround
s at those traffic lights to facilitate traffic flow of vehicles turning around to go in the opposite direction. The highway enters the San Antonio city limits near Marbach Road and follows near the city limit boundary. Major intersections along this stretch include Marbach Road, FM 1957 (Potranco Road) and Wiseman Boulevard. The loop continues north near the campus of Northwest Vista College
to a junction with the western terminus of SH 151. The intersection is signalized but southbound traffic is not required to stop due to no left hand turns from SH 151 to Loop 1604. Westbound traffic from SH 151 are either routed to the northbound main lanes of Loop 1604 or the northbound frontage road
of Loop 1604. The loop curves towards the northeast at the junction with SH 151 and continues to a diamond interchange
at FM 471 (Culebra Road). Loop 1604 continues as a divided highway with signalized intersections at Shaenfield Road, New Guilbeau Road and Braun Road. Northeast of Braun Road, the highway becomes a freeway with its first interchange at SH 16 (Bandera Road).
The freeway continues to the northeast with interchanges at FM 1560 (Hausman Road) and Babcock Road. The freeway begins to head east at the Babcock Road interchange and passes near the University of Texas at San Antonio
campus, the Shops at La Cantera
and Six Flags Fiesta Texas
. The freeway continues to the east to a cloverleaf interchange
with I-10
. East of I-10, the freeway has interchanges with Lockhill-Selma Road, FM 1535
(Military Highway), Bitters Road and Huebner Road. As it passes through the north side of San Antonio, the freeway has interchanges with FM 2696
(Blanco Road) and Stone Oak Parkway before reaching US 281. The two freeways do not connect directly and the two interchange by way of a signalized intersection between the frontage roads of each.
Continuing east from the US 281 interchange, the freeway has interchanges with several local roads to include Gold Canyon Drive, Redland Road, Bulverde Road and O'Connor Road. The freeway continues east to interchanges with Judson Road and Green Mountain Road before it curves to head to the southeast. Now heading southeast, the freeway has an interchange at FM 2252
near Rolling Oaks Mall
and an interchange at Lookout Road before it leaves the San Antonio city limits. Upon leaving San Antonio, the freeway enters the Live Oak
city limits before a cloverleaf interchange at I-35. Southeast of I-35, Loop 1604 enters the Universal City
city limits before reaching an interchange with SH 218
, which provides access to Randolph Air Force Base
. Between the interchange at SH 218 and Kitty Hawk Road, Loop 1604 has a couple at-grade turn-offs at Palisades Drive and Granada Drive. At-grade turn-offs southeast of the Kitty Hawk Road interchange are located at Meadowland Drive and Byrd Boulevard. The last two interchanges of the freeway are located at FM 1976 and FM 78
. The highway merges down to a 2-lane road as it enters the Converse
city limits. The highway passes by the western boundary of Randolph Air Force Base before curving to the south. The highway reenters the San Antonio city limits prior its interchange at I-10 at its official point of beginning and ending.
.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and spanning a total of approximately 95.6 miles (153.9 km). It is the outer loop that encircles most of San Antonio, and along with the inner loop Interstate 410, is connected to a significant part of the highways in the city.
Loop 1604 began as a two lane highway and has been upgraded to a four lane freeway along its northern stretches. The Texas Department of Transportation
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
(TXDOT) is planning to add new lanes between SH 151 and I-10 East as toll lanes. An Environmental Impact Statement study is currently underway to determine other improvements needed.
History
Loop 1604 was designated in 1977 after FM 1604 was combined with a large portion of FM 1518 to complete a larger loop around San Antonio. Three bypasses were completed in the early 1980s: in 1980, FM 1937 was extended to replace a bypassed portion near Losoya; in 1981 FM 327 was designated as the through route when Loop 1604 was rerouted around Elmendorf; and in 1984 Loop 1604 was routed around Lone Oak, creating FM 3465 over the previous routing.Route description
Loop 1604 forms a complete loop around the city of San Antonio and is the outer of two loops around the city with I-410 being the inner loop. The route has portions that are built to freeway standards, portions built as a divided highway, and portions that are just a 2-lane rural road. The loop officially begins and ends at I-10Interstate 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....
east of San Antonio. It heads south from I-10 as a 2-lane road and turns towards the southeast and intersects FM 1346, FM 1518
Farm to Market Road 1518
Farm to Market Road 1518 is a farm-to-market road in the Greater San Antonio, Texas area.-Route description:The southern terminus of FM 1518 is at a junction with Loop 1604 in the southeastern Bexar County town of Adkins. It continues north through the town of St. Hedwig and crosses Interstate 10...
and FM 3465 while turning back towards the south and reaching a junction with US 87 in Lone Oak
Lone Oak, Texas
Lone Oak is a city in Hunt County, Texas, United States. The population was 521 at the 2000 census. Although Lone Oak changed from a town to a city in November 1890, the change was not recognized by the Census Bureau until June 2007; consequently, it was listed as a town at the 2000...
. Continuing to the south, Loop 1604 has a second intersection with FM 3465, an intersection with FM 3432 as the road turns towards the southwest and a junction with US 181 near Calaveras Lake
Calaveras Lake (Texas)
Calaveras Lake is a reservoir on Calaveras Creek, located 20 miles southeast of downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. The reservoir was formed in 1969 by the construction of a dam to provide a cooling pond for a complex of power plants, to supply additional electricity to the city of San Antonio...
. Heading southwest from US 181, the highway intersects FM 327 as it enters the city of Elmendorf
Elmendorf, Texas
Elmendorf is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. It is part of the San Antonio—New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 664 at the 2000 census. Elmendorf is located seventeen miles southeast of San Antonio at the juncture of Farm Road 327 and the Southern Pacific...
. It intresects FM 327 once again as it leaves Elmendorf heading towards the southwest. At FM 1303, Loop 1604 turns towards the west before a junction with I-37.
Continuing west through the southern portions of Bexar County, the loop intersects FM 1937 (South Flores Road) and Farm to Market Road 3499 before an interchange with US 281. The highway continues to the west to an interchange with SH 16, passing to the south of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, Inc is an automobile production subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation based in San Antonio, Texas, USA which owns and operates a manufacturing and assembly facility for the parent company...
plant. The highway continues to the west and begins to curve towards the north as it enters the city limits of Somerset
Somerset, Texas
Somerset is a city of Bexar County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located less than 20 miles south of San Antonio and is part of the metropolitan area. The population was 1,550 at the 2000 census.-History:...
and an intersection with FM 2790 (Somerset Road). Completing the turn to the north as it leaves Somerset, Loop 1604 heads north to an interchange with I-35
Interstate 35 in Texas
Interstate 35 in Texas is a major north–south Interstate Highway running from Laredo near the United States-Mexico border to the Red River north of Gainesville where it crosses into Oklahoma. Along its route, it passes through the cities of San Antonio, Austin, and Waco before it splits into two...
. The highway heads north after the I-35 interchange to an intersection with FM 2536 (Old Pearsall Road) before an interchange with US 90.
North of US 90, Loop 1604 becomes a 4-lane divided highway with median crossings only located at traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
s and turnaround
Turnaround (road)
In the field of road transport, a turnaround is a type of junction that allows traffic travelling in one direction on a road to efficiently make a U-turn typically without backing up or making dangerous maneuvers in the middle of the traffic stream...
s at those traffic lights to facilitate traffic flow of vehicles turning around to go in the opposite direction. The highway enters the San Antonio city limits near Marbach Road and follows near the city limit boundary. Major intersections along this stretch include Marbach Road, FM 1957 (Potranco Road) and Wiseman Boulevard. The loop continues north near the campus of Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College is a public community college within the Alamo Community College District in San Antonio, Texas. It is one of the top community colleges in the United States. Northwest Vista College offers open admission.- History :...
to a junction with the western terminus of SH 151. The intersection is signalized but southbound traffic is not required to stop due to no left hand turns from SH 151 to Loop 1604. Westbound traffic from SH 151 are either routed to the northbound main lanes of Loop 1604 or the northbound frontage road
Frontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
of Loop 1604. The loop curves towards the northeast at the junction with SH 151 and continues to a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
at FM 471 (Culebra Road). Loop 1604 continues as a divided highway with signalized intersections at Shaenfield Road, New Guilbeau Road and Braun Road. Northeast of Braun Road, the highway becomes a freeway with its first interchange at SH 16 (Bandera Road).
The freeway continues to the northeast with interchanges at FM 1560 (Hausman Road) and Babcock Road. The freeway begins to head east at the Babcock Road interchange and passes near the University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
campus, the Shops at La Cantera
The Shops at La Cantera
The Shops at La Cantera is an upscale open-air regional shopping mall located in northwest San Antonio, Texas, USA, near the Loop 1604 and Interstate 10 interchange. The initial phase of the project opened on September 16, 2005. The center sits on a site in La Cantera, a master-planned resort...
and Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land in San Antonio, Texas.Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the major entertainment component of USAA's La Cantera, a 1,600 acre master-planned development in northwest San Antonio...
. The freeway continues to the east to a cloverleaf interchange
Cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
with I-10
Interstate 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....
. East of I-10, the freeway has interchanges with Lockhill-Selma Road, FM 1535
Farm to Market Road 1535
Farm to Market Road 1535 is a farm to market road in Bexar County, Texas. It is known in Greater San Antonio as NW Military Highway.-Route description:...
(Military Highway), Bitters Road and Huebner Road. As it passes through the north side of San Antonio, the freeway has interchanges with FM 2696
Farm to Market Road 2696
Farm to Market Road 2696 is a farm to market road in Bexar County, Texas. It is known in Greater San Antonio as Blanco Road, a major north–south thoroughfare.-Route description:...
(Blanco Road) and Stone Oak Parkway before reaching US 281. The two freeways do not connect directly and the two interchange by way of a signalized intersection between the frontage roads of each.
Continuing east from the US 281 interchange, the freeway has interchanges with several local roads to include Gold Canyon Drive, Redland Road, Bulverde Road and O'Connor Road. The freeway continues east to interchanges with Judson Road and Green Mountain Road before it curves to head to the southeast. Now heading southeast, the freeway has an interchange at FM 2252
Farm to Market Road 2252
Farm to Market Road 2252 is a farm to market road in Greater San Antonio, Texas.-Route description:FM 2252 begins at a junction with Interstate 410 in San Antonio, and travels north along Perrin-Beitel Road. It crosses the controlled-access portion of Wurzbach Parkway, and turns to the northeast,...
near Rolling Oaks Mall
Rolling Oaks Mall
Rolling Oaks Mall is a regional shopping mall located in northeast San Antonio, Texas, at the intersection of Loop 1604 and Nacogdoches Road. The mall is anchored by Dillard's, Macy's, J.C. Penney, and Sears...
and an interchange at Lookout Road before it leaves the San Antonio city limits. Upon leaving San Antonio, the freeway enters the Live Oak
Live Oak, Texas
Live Oak is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,156 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Live Oak is located at ....
city limits before a cloverleaf interchange at I-35. Southeast of I-35, Loop 1604 enters the Universal City
Universal City, Texas
Universal City is a city in Bexar and Guadalupe Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It borders San Antonio to the northeast, and is adjacent to Randolph Air Force Base. The population was 14,849 at the 2000 census. Through Universal City is Pat Booker Road, the commercial thoroughfare of the city...
city limits before reaching an interchange with SH 218
Texas State Highway 218
State Highway 218 or SH 218 is a short state highway in the U.S. state of Texas connecting Interstate 35 to Randolph Air Force Base at Farm to Market Road 78...
, which provides access to Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
. Between the interchange at SH 218 and Kitty Hawk Road, Loop 1604 has a couple at-grade turn-offs at Palisades Drive and Granada Drive. At-grade turn-offs southeast of the Kitty Hawk Road interchange are located at Meadowland Drive and Byrd Boulevard. The last two interchanges of the freeway are located at FM 1976 and FM 78
Farm to Market Road 78
Farm to Market Road 78 is a farm-to-market road connecting San Antonio and Seguin, Texas.-Route description:The western terminus of FM 78 is in Bexar County, near Fort Sam Houston and the southern end of the concurrency of Interstates 35 and 410 in San Antonio. Access to FM 78 is available from...
. The highway merges down to a 2-lane road as it enters the Converse
Converse, Texas
Converse is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Converse is located at ....
city limits. The highway passes by the western boundary of Randolph Air Force Base before curving to the south. The highway reenters the San Antonio city limits prior its interchange at I-10 at its official point of beginning and ending.
Junction list
The entire route is in Bexar CountyBexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
.
| Location | Mile | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio |   I-10Interstate 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.... , US 90 U.S. Route 90 U.S. Route 90 is an east–west United States highway. Despite the "0" in its route number, U.S. 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route; it has always ended at Van Horn, Texas. A short-lived northward extension to U.S... – San Antonio, Houston |
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| St. Hedwig St. Hedwig, Texas St. Hedwig is a town in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,875 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :... |
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| Interchange | |||
| Interchange | |||
| Elmendorf Elmendorf, Texas Elmendorf is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. It is part of the San Antonio—New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 664 at the 2000 census. Elmendorf is located seventeen miles southeast of San Antonio at the juncture of Farm Road 327 and the Southern Pacific... |
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| Interchange | |||
| Interchange | |||
| Pleasanton Road | Interchange | ||
| Interchange | |||
| Somerset Somerset, Texas Somerset is a city of Bexar County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located less than 20 miles south of San Antonio and is part of the metropolitan area. The population was 1,550 at the 2000 census.-History:... |
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| Von Ormy Von Ormy, Texas Von Ormy is a city located in southwest Bexar County, Texas, United States. It has been known as Von Ormy since the late 1880s. Prior to 1880, the community was known as Mann's Crossing, Garza's Crossing, Medina Crossing, and Paso de las Garzas. The former settlements of Kirk, Texas and Bexar,... |
Interchange | ||
| Macdona-La Coste Road | Interchange | ||
| San Antonio San Antonio, Texas San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,... |
Interchange | ||
| – SeaWorld SeaWorld San Antonio SeaWorld San Antonio is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park, located in the Westover Hills area of San Antonio, Texas. It is the largest of the three parks in the SeaWorld chain owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group, and the world's... |
Interchange | ||
| Interchange | |||
| South end of freeway | |||
| Babcock Road | |||
| Chase Hill Boulevard, La Cantera Parkway – Fiesta Texas | |||
| Frontage Road | |||
| Frontage Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||
| Lockhill-Selma Road | |||
| Bitters Road, Huebner Road | |||
| Stone Oak Parkway, Voigt Drive | |||
| Gold Canyon Drive | |||
| Redland Road | Eastbound exit is via Gold Canyon Drive exit | ||
| Bulverde Road | |||
| O'Connor Road | |||
| Judson Road | |||
| Green Mountain Road | |||
| Lookout Road | |||
| Live Oak Live Oak, Texas Live Oak is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,156 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Live Oak is located at .... |
Frontage Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |
| Randolph Brooks Parkway | Eastbound exit only | ||
| Universal City Universal City, Texas Universal City is a city in Bexar and Guadalupe Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It borders San Antonio to the northeast, and is adjacent to Randolph Air Force Base. The population was 14,849 at the 2000 census. Through Universal City is Pat Booker Road, the commercial thoroughfare of the city... |
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| Palisades Drive | Northbound exit and entrance | ||
| Granada Drive | Northbound exit and entrance | ||
| Kitty Hawk Road | |||
| Meadowland Drive | Southbound exit and entrance | ||
| Byrd Boulevard | Northbound exit and entrance | ||
| Converse Converse, Texas Converse is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Converse is located at .... |
South end of freeway | ||