AUSTIN (KXAN) — Those driving in and around Austin are well versed in local highways, from Interstate 35 to MoPac Expressway. But why do some roadways have double names and are also called “loops”?
Not every “loop” actually loops around a given area. I know — bear with us here.
Under the Texas Department of Transportation’s highway designation glossary, a state highway loop is a bypass that links two or more highways.
Several highways in Austin have dual names, such as Loop 360 also being the Capital of Texas Highway and Loop 1 doubling as MoPac — an homage to the former Missouri-Pacific Railroad.
Loop 360 links up with MoPac, U.S. Highway 183 and Highway 290, while MoPac bridges the northern and southern segments of State Highway 45.
Some roads in Austin are technically deemed loops, but are more commonly known by their less technical names. You might not immediately know which roadway is Texas State Highway Loop 343 — but you’ll likely recognize it by its counterpart moniker, Lamar Boulevard.
Does that mean all highway loops aren’t actually loops? Not necessarily.
Loop 12 in Dallas circles the city’s core, while Loop 610 in Houston creates a roughly 42-mile loop around the inner center of the city.