Interstate 610 (Texas)

Interstate 610 is a freeway that forms a loop around the city of Houston, Texas.

History

The concept of building a bypass highway around Houston was first proposed in 1931, but plans did not begin to formalize until 1941. The loop was initially proposed to transport troops and materials around the city. On May 3, Harris County voters approved a bond to build the "Defense Loop". It was officially designated as Loop 137 in 1942, and the North Loop was approved by the Texas Transportation Commission. However, World War II delayed construction of the Loop until the 1950s.

In July 1953, the city of Houston asked the Texas Transportation Commission to include 2 new sections of Loop 137 (the West Loop and the South Loop) as part of the state's highway system. It was initially rejected, but in October 1954, the North Loop was upgraded to a freeway, and the West and South Loops were approved as freeways.

When the interstate highway system was authorized in 1956, the then C-shaped Loop 137(now designated Interstate 610) was adopted into the plan. The East Loop would not be approved until 1960.

Construction on the North Loop began in 1950. Construction was sporadic throughout the 1950s and 1960s. It was completed in 1976 with the interchange that connects Loop 610 to Interstate 10 east of Houston.

Additional information

Interstate 610 is known as the North Loop, the South Loop, the East Loop, and the West Loop. The North Loop runs from U.S. Highway 290 to U.S. Highway 90. The East Loop runs from Highway 90 to State Highway 225. The West Loop runs from Highway 290 to South Post Oak Road, and the South Loop runs from South Post Oak Road to Highway 225. Interstate 10, Interstate 45, U.S. Highway 59, and State Highway 288 also intersect 610.