Texas State Highway Loop 335

Loop 335 is a highway loop that encircles the city of Amarillo, Texas. Loop 335 connects to every major highway in the city and passes close to Amarillo International Airport on the east side of the city. Loop 335 is currently not a continuous freeway. Instead, the highway has interchanges at select intersections and short segments of freeway such as its southeastern section.

State Highway Loop 335
Route information
Length39.967 mi[1] (64.321 km)
ExistedJanuary 18, 1960[1]–present
Major junctions
Beltway around Amarillo
CCW end I-27 / US 60 / US 87
 
CW end I-27 / US 60 / US 87
Highway system
← Spur 334→ Loop 336

Route description

Loop 335 makes a complete loop around the city of Amarillo. The highway usually passes through rural areas of city.

Naming

Loop 335 is known locally by the following names:

  • The southern leg is known as Hollywood Road.
  • The eastern leg is known as Lakeside Road from the southern leg to Amarillo Boulevard (BL 40).
  • The eastern leg is known as Denmar Road from Amarillo Boulevard to State Highway 136 (SH 136).
  • The northern leg is known as St. Francis Avenue from SH 136 to Soncy Road.
  • The western leg is currently known as Soncy Road. However, there are plans to build a new western leg via a new route between Loop 335 0.5 miles south of SW 9th St to I-40, Helium Road from I-40 to FM 2186, and FM 2186 to Loop 335, thus making this section of Soncy Road part of FM 2590.[2]

Expansion

Because of I-40 runs east and west in the middle of Amarillo and Highway 87 / I-27 runs mostly north and south in the middle of Amarillo, Loop 335 can be divided into four sections: A Northwestern section, A Northeastern section, a Southeastern section, and a Southwestern section. The two junctions with I-40, the Junction with I-27, and the Junction with Highway 87 / 287 are grade separated. Additional grade separations are listed below.

  • The Northeastern section is a 5 laned road (2 lanes for each direction with a center left turn lane). It becomes a 4 lane divided road east of Glenn St until it reaches S.H. 136 where it resumes as a 5 lane road. South of U.S. 60 is when Loop 335 becomes a 4 lane non-divided freeway with frontage roads. The frontage roads currently end at Barnco Road. There are 7 road grade separations, 3 rail grade separations, and an unspecified bridge.
  • The Southeastern section is a 4 lane divided road for a short distance. It becomes 2 lanes before it reaches 34th street (currently an at-grade intersection). There are 2 road grade separations and 1 rail grade separation. It is currently being upgraded to a 4 lane divided freeway with frontage roads.[3]
  • The Southwestern section is a 4 lane divided road but then becomes a 7 lane road (3 lanes for each direction with a center left turn lane) at Arden Road. This section has additional right turn lanes. There are currently no grade separations of any kind. There are many roads nearby but no rivers nor rail near this section. Numerous businesses opened along the 7 lane road. The current plan is to separate Loop 335 from Soncy Road by building a completely new expressway with frontage roads section, bypassing Soncy Road.[4][5]
  • The Northwestern section reduces to a 5 road (2 lanes for each direction with a center left turn lane.) North of Amarillo Blvd is when Loop 335 becomes a 2 lane road. North of SW 9th Ave (at grade intersection) Loop 335 has a short Northbound passing lane. It becomes 4 lane divided at N. Western St. (sic) There are 4 road grade separations and 1 rail grade separation.

History

Loop 335 was designated on January 18, 1960, from US 60 and US 87 south of Amarillo eastward and northward to US 287. On January 31, 1961, Loop 335 was extended northward and westward to US 87 and US 287. On July 30, 1965, Loop 335 was extended westward and northward from US 60 and US 87 to US 66. On June 21, 1977, a section of FM 1719 from Loop 434 to the new location of US 87 and US 287 was transferred to Loop 335. On July 24, 1984, Loop 335 was extended west and south to the point of beginning, completing its current route, and also replacing another section of FM 1719. On April 26, 2018, Loop 335 was rerouted along FM 2186, Helium Road, and a new route from I-40 north. The old route was transferred to FM 2590. However, this will not be effective until construction on this portion is completed.[6]

Junction list
CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
RandallAmarillo I-27 / US 60 / US 87 – Amarillo, Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon State ParkI-27 exit 116.
Bell StreetInterchange; CW end of freeway
Western Street
Georgia Street
FM 1541 (Washington Street)Interchange; CCW end of freeway
​Osage StreetInterchange
PotterAmarillo I-40 / US 287 – Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, AirportI-40 exit 75.
East 3rd Avenue – AirportInterchange
US 60 / I-40 BL (Amarillo Blvd)Interchange
​ Spur 591 (NE 24th Ave)Interchange
Amarillo SH 136 to FM 1912 – BorgerInterchange
​Eastern StreetInterchange
Amarillo Loop 434 (River Road)
US 87 / US 287Interchange
FM 2176 (Broadway Drive)Interchange
​ FM 1719 (Western Street)Interchange
​Hester RoadInterchange
Amarillo RM 1061 (Tascosa Road)Interchange
I-40 BL (West Amarillo Boulevard)
I-40I-40 exit 64.
Randall FM 2590 south
FM 2186 west
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Unopened

Future

In 2015, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) published the plans for the all new Loop 335 freeway that encircles the city of Amarillo.[7] TxDot has planned multiple multi-level interchanges that intersect with Interstate 40, Interstate 27, and U.S. 287 and 87. The first interchange, on the East side of Amarillo, is a multi-level interchange that provides access to both directions of the I-40 Expressway and Loop 335. The second interchange with I-40, however, is a full stack interchange.[8] On the Northern side of Amarillo, the loop will be completely reconstructed to an Interstate-Grade freeway with complete grade separations and will be expanded to 4 lanes. It also includes a stack interchange that will connect the new freeway to the future I-27 Ports to Plains Corridor (Highway 287, 87).[9][10] I-27 in Southern Amarillo will be entirely reconstructed from Buffalo Stadium Rd. at the Canyon E-Way Interchange to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It will accommodate 6 lanes at the mainlane bridge along with a complete stack interchange with direct connectors to and from I-27. Furthermore, another triple-level interchange will be built to accommodate Soncy Road, Helium Road, I-27 and the new loop.[10] Also, another new mainlane bridge that accommodates up to 6 lanes is also in the works for I-40 near Helium Rd. providing easier access to the new freeway.[11] Although construction started in 2016, the entire project (which includes converting the entire loop to Interstate Specifications) is not expected to be complete until 2024.[12]

References
  1. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Loop No. 335". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  2. (PDF) http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/commission/2018/0426/agenda.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. http://www.theamarilloloop.com/maps/section-a.html
  4. WELCH, KEVIN. "Rough roads ahead: Construction to create headaches".
  5. WELCH, KAREN SMITH. "TxDOT wants to redo Loop 335".
  6. (PDF) http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/commission/2018/0426/9e.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. Garcia, Vanessa (April 7, 2015). "TxDOT lays out proposed Loop 335 project". Amarillo Globe-News.
  8. http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/kfda/phaseIIschematic.pdf
  9. "Home - Ports-to-Plains Alliance". www.portstoplains.com.
  10. "Project Tracker". apps.dot.state.tx.us.
  11. Texas), Texas Department of Transportation (State of. "Public Meeting - State Loop 335". www.txdot.gov.
  12. "State Loop 335 - AARoads - Texas Highways". AARoads. April 4, 2017.
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