Texas State Highway Loop 178

Texas State Highway Loop 178 is a 3/4 loop that runs a semi-circle around the North Texas city of Commerce. It was constructed in the late 1970s to create a quicker way for residents traveling into Commerce from the east via SH 11. Upon entrance into Commerce from the east, it veers to the left and intersects with FM 3218, then runs right beside the far eastern part of the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce, before intersecting with the joint road of SH 24 and SH 50. It then crosses over to the far northwestern part of Commerce, where it reaches its terminus at SH 224, the Commerce to Greenville Highway. There is a section designated, but not yet constructed, from SH 11 northward and northwestward to SH 24.The length of the loop is roughly 7.5 miles.

History

The number originally belonged to Spur 178, a spur that was designated on June 4, 1946 from 7th Street and Chicon Street in Austin eastward to US 290 and SH 29 (now US 183), with a connection along Pedernales Street to 6th Street. On January 14, 1949, US 290 was rerouted along 7th Street instead of First Street between US 81 (now I-35) to SH 29, causing the section along 7th Street to be cancelled. Only the section from US 290 (7th Street) south along Pedernales Street to 6th Street remained. On May 23, 1951, this section of US 290 became part of SH 71. On August 24, 1954, Spur 178 was cancelled and given to the city of Austin. The current Loop 178 was designated on August 28, 1958 as Spur 178, going from SH 11 westward and northward to SH 24. On May 1, 1965, the section from the current junction of SH 11/24 (then the junction with FM 513) that was concurrent with FM 513 was transferred to the new SH 50. On July 10, 1968, Spur 178 extended west to SH 224 (back then SH 24), and north and northwest to SH 24, and the designation was changed to Loop 178. ^[1]

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