Texas State Highway Loop 345
Encyclopedia
Loop 345 is a 8.238 miles (13.258 km) loop route
in the U.S. state
of Texas
that follows a former route of U.S. Highway 87 (US 87) in San Antonio
and Balcones Heights
. Loop 345 follows Fredericksburg Road from Interstate 10
(I-10) northwest of downtown San Antonio towards the northwest, passing through Balcones Heights and ending at another point on I-10 near the USAA
headquarters. The road is still a major arterial for the city, providing access to USAA as well as to the South Texas Medical Center
.
. US 87 was first designated along this stretch in 1935 and is the basis of the naming of the road Fredericksburg Road due to US 87 passing through Fredericksburg
northwest of San Antonio. In 1962, when US 87 was rerouted onto the freeway to the north, the old segment was designated as Loop 345. The route was signed as Business US 87 until 1992, when signage was changed to indicate the Loop 345 designation.
at I-10
and Woodlawn Avenue. The loop heads northwest along Fredericksburg Road, roughly paralleling the interstate for its entire routing. The road continues towards the northwest, passing through Balcones Heights
, providing access to Crossroads Mall before a junction with I-410. After passing I-410, Loop 345 passes by the South Texas Medical Center
which includes the University of Texas Health Science Center
, University Hospital and the Children's Cancer Research Institute
. It passes to the south of the USAA
financial services headquarters just prior to its northern terminus at I-10 near Huebner Road.
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Loop route
A loop route is a highway or other major road that extends out from a typically longer, more important parents road to enter and circle a large city. A loop can function as a bypass for through traffic and also to service outlying suburbs....
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 follows a former route of U.S. Highway 87 (US 87) in 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,...
and Balcones Heights
Balcones Heights, Texas
Balcones Heights is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,941 at the 2010 census. Balcones Heights is considered by locals to be a part of San Antonio, despite the fact that the community was incorporated in 1948 to avoid annexation into the city. Truly, Balcones...
. Loop 345 follows Fredericksburg Road from Interstate 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....
(I-10) northwest of downtown San Antonio towards the northwest, passing through Balcones Heights and ending at another point on I-10 near the USAA
USAA
United Services Automobile Association is a Fortune 500 financial services company offering banking, investing, and insurance to people and families that serve, or served, in the United States military. In 2011, there were 8.4 million members. The company reported a net worth of $19.3 billion in...
headquarters. The road is still a major arterial for the city, providing access to USAA as well as to the South Texas Medical Center
South Texas Medical Center
The South Texas Medical Center consists of of medical-related facilities in northwest San Antonio.The STMC, which directly serves 38 counties, consists of forty-five medically related institutions; separate medical, dental and nursing schools, five higher educational institutions, twelve...
.
History
Loop 345 follows the original routing of US 87 on the northwest side of San AntonioSan 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,...
. US 87 was first designated along this stretch in 1935 and is the basis of the naming of the road Fredericksburg Road due to US 87 passing through Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
northwest of San Antonio. In 1962, when US 87 was rerouted onto the freeway to the north, the old segment was designated as Loop 345. The route was signed as Business US 87 until 1992, when signage was changed to indicate the Loop 345 designation.
Route description
Loop 345 begins northwest of downtown San AntonioSan 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,...
at 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....
and Woodlawn Avenue. The loop heads northwest along Fredericksburg Road, roughly paralleling the interstate for its entire routing. The road continues towards the northwest, passing through Balcones Heights
Balcones Heights, Texas
Balcones Heights is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,941 at the 2010 census. Balcones Heights is considered by locals to be a part of San Antonio, despite the fact that the community was incorporated in 1948 to avoid annexation into the city. Truly, Balcones...
, providing access to Crossroads Mall before a junction with I-410. After passing I-410, Loop 345 passes by the South Texas Medical Center
South Texas Medical Center
The South Texas Medical Center consists of of medical-related facilities in northwest San Antonio.The STMC, which directly serves 38 counties, consists of forty-five medically related institutions; separate medical, dental and nursing schools, five higher educational institutions, twelve...
which includes the University of Texas Health Science Center
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is an institute of health science education and research, located in the South Texas Medical Center....
, University Hospital and the Children's Cancer Research Institute
Children's Cancer Research Institute
The Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute is a research center in San Antonio, Texas.Located in the South Texas Medical Center, the facility was established by the largest single oncology endowment in the history of the U.S....
. It passes to the south of the USAA
USAA
United Services Automobile Association is a Fortune 500 financial services company offering banking, investing, and insurance to people and families that serve, or served, in the United States military. In 2011, there were 8.4 million members. The company reported a net worth of $19.3 billion in...
financial services headquarters just prior to its northern terminus at I-10 near Huebner Road.
Junction list
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Bexar 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...
|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,...
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Balcones Heights, Texas
Balcones Heights is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,941 at the 2010 census. Balcones Heights is considered by locals to be a part of San Antonio, despite the fact that the community was incorporated in 1948 to avoid annexation into the city. Truly, Balcones...
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