 State Highway 7 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 SH 7 highlighted in red; business routes in blue | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained byTxDOT | ||||
| Length | 212.670 mi[1] (342.259 km) | |||
| Existed | April 4, 1917–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  I-35 inEddy | |||
| Major intersections | ||||
| East end |    Future I-69 /US 84 inJoaquin | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Texas | |||
| Counties | McLennan,Falls,Limestone,Leon,Houston,Angelina,Nacogdoches,Shelby | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
State Highway 7 (SH 7) is an east–weststate highway in the U.S. state ofTexas that runs fromInterstate 35 atEddy toU.S. Highway 84 about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of theLouisiana state line. BetweenCrockett andNacogdoches, SH 7 passes through theDavy Crockett National Forest. Commissioned on April 4, 1917, SH 7 is one of the original state highways established in Texas, and has been re-routed several times since its original conception. In earlier years, SH 7 mostly followed present dayU.S. Highway 84,U.S. Highway 67,U.S. Highway 70 among other highways between northwest Texas and the Louisiana state line. By 1939, most of the mileage belonging to SH 7 was transferred to theU.S. Highway System, leaving the highway extant only within eastern Texas. SH 7 subsequently went through several other major reroutings, truncations and extensions between 1939 and 1990, before becoming the highway it is today.
Including concurrencies with other state highways, Texas State Highway 7 (SH 7) reaches a total length of 213.910 miles (344.255 km) betweenInterstate 35 (I-35) andFarm to Market Road 107 (FM 107) atBruceville-Eddy and a junction withU.S. Highway 84 (US 84) near theLouisiana state line. The highway travels through mostly flat, rural landscape, that lies between theDallas-Fort Worth area andHouston. The highway also passes several small rivers, retaining dams and man made reservoirs, as well as cutting through theDavy Crockett National Forest and passing the northern boundary of theSabine National Forest. SH 7 currently serves nine counties and nine incorporated towns and cities.[2]
SH 7 begins at an interchange with I-35 and FM 107 atBruceville-Eddy inMcLennan County. The highway proceeds due east crossing theFalls County line less than a mile east of the I-35 interchange. About 6.5 miles (10.461 km) east of I-35, SH 7 intersects with the southern terminus ofFM 2643. Just outside ofChilton, SH 7 meetsUS 77 and Business SH 7-B at an interchange. Where the highway continues straight ahead as the business route, SH 7 proper becomes concurrent with US 77, passing the eastern terminus ofFM 1950, then splitting off on its own again, continuing east where US 77 continues south towardsVictoria. SH 7 meets up with the eastern terminus of Bus. SH 7-B in Chilton as well as the southern terminus ofFM 434. The highway heads east, passing the eastern terminus ofFM 935 andSH 320 nearTriangle, then crosses over theBrazos River on a bridge.[2]
East of the river, SH 7 enters the town ofMarlin, passing an intersection withBus. SH 6-N at Williams Street and Craig Street. Further into town, SH 7 passes the southern terminus ofFM 147 at Walker Street. On the east side of town, SH 7 intersects withSH 6 at a freeway grade interchange, then proceeds east out of Marlin. Heading away from Marlin, the highway has junctions withFM 2958,FM 3144,FM 1711/1771 andFM 2745 before crossing theLimestone County. SH 7 becomes Washington Street throughKosse, meeting at a junction withSH 14 at Mignonette Street. After crossing the railroad tracks and heading east of Kosse, SH 7 intersects with the southern terminus ofFM 2749 at the Kosse Mine, then crosses theRobertson County line. The highway intersects withFM 979 andFM 937 before leaving Robertson county and enteringLeon County.[2] After entering Leon County, SH 7 intersects withUS 79 andLoop 208 inMarquez, then continues east crossing a set of railroad tracks. After intersecting withFM 1147, the highway then crosses another set of railroad tracks inConcord. InRobbins, SH 7 intersects withFM 39. EnteringCenterville, SH 7 becomes Saint Mary's Street and intersects withI-45 at exit 164. In the center of town, SH 7 has two junctions, withSH 75 at Commerce Street and the northern terminus ofFM 1119 at Cass Street. SH 7 goes straight northeast out of Centerville, passingFM 811 andFM 1511, before curving east again and passingFM 542 and crossing over a creek intoHouston County. Following a junction withFM 132, SH 7 arrives at awye intersection withSH 21. Both SH 7 and SH 21 run concurrently east, crossingLoop 304 intoCrockett.[2]
Entering Crockett, SH 7/SH 21 become Goliad Avenue and intersect with the southern terminus ofFM 229. The pair of highways then crosses under some railroad tracks at Commerce Street. Both highways arrive at the Crockett town square, which is comprised by four one-way streets centered around theHouston County Courthouse. The square also acts as a junction betweenUS 287, SH 7, SH 21 andSH 19. SH 21 and SH 7 split away from each other at the square, with SH 21 heading northeast on Houston Avenue towardsAlto, while SH 7 continues east on Goliad Avenue, intersecting a second time with Loop 304 before leaving town. After passingHouston County Airport,FM 232 andFM 1733, SH 7 entersKennard, becoming Main Street. After passing a junction withFM 2781 at Welch Street, SH 7 arrives at a wye intersection, where it turns away from Main Street, heading northeast, while Main Street continues ahead asFM 357, before turning southeast towardsApple Springs. InRatcliff, SH 7 turns to head east again at a junction withFM 227. East of Ratcliff, the highway briefly turns northeast again, crossing over theNeches River intoAngelina County. Shortly after crossing the county line, SH 7 arrives at an intersection with the western terminus ofSH 103. Where the roadway continues east as SH 103 toLufkin, SH 7 turns briefly north, then heads diagonally northeast, passingFM 1819 nearRedtown and a grade separated interchange withUS 69 further northeast. SH 7 then crosses theAngelina River intoNacogdoches County[2]
After passing a junction withFM 2782 inHarmony, SH 7 skirts the southern edge of A.L. Mangham Junior Regional Airport and entersNacogdoches becoming Fredonia Street, before reaching a freeway interchange withUS 59, SH 21 andLoop 224. Fredonia Street continues northeast into town as Bus. SH 7-N, where SH 7 joins US 59/SH 21/Loop 224 onto Stallings Drive, bypassing downtown Nacogdoches. At the interchange with South Street, which also serves as the southern terminus ofBus. US 59-F, US 59 splits off and continues south on South Street towards Victoria andLaredo. SH 7, SH 21 and Loop 224 continue east on Stallings Drive to an intersection withFM 224 at University Drive near the Cal-Tex Lumber facility. The four highways run concurrently for about two blocks, where FM 1275 splits off, heading south on Rayburn Drive. Shortly afterwards, SH 7/SH 21/Loop 224 meets withFM 2259 at a signalized intersection with Woden Road. East of FM 2259, SH 7/SH 21/Loop 224 curves northeast, to an interchange with East Main Street, which is the eastern terminus ofBus. SH 21-P. SH 21 leaves SH 7 and Loop 224 at this point, heading southeast on Main Street towardsSan Augustine. SH 7 and Loop 224 continue north to an intersection with Center Highway. While serving as the eastern terminus of Bus. SH 7-N, this intersection is also where SH 7 leaves Loop 224, heading in a northeasterly direction.[2]
Leaving Nacogdoches, SH 7 passes junctions withFM 2112,FM 2713 inSwift and a short two block concurrency withFM 95 inMartinsville, then crosses theAttoyac River, briefly enteringSan Augustine County, then immediately entersShelby County. Continuing northeast, the highway intersects withFM 2913 andFM 711, then passes a signalized intersection, acting as the western terminus ofLoop 500, enteringCenter as San Augustine Street. In town, SH 7 has a junction withUS 96 at Hurst Street, before reaching Center's town square, which is constructed around theShelby County Courthouse. The town square also serves as a major intersection withSH 87 and the southern terminus ofFM 699. Heading northeast from the town Square on Cora Street and Louisiana Street, SH 7 crosses under a set of railroad tracks, passing intersections withFM 2788 at Sardis Road and Loop 500, before leaving town. On the edge of town, SH 7 passes the southern terminus ofFM 1656 atCenter Municipal Airport. SH 7 passes intersections withFM 2608 inJames andFM 3082, arriving on the outskirts ofJoaquin. After passing an intersection withFM 139 and Cunnings Street, SH 7 ends at an intersection with US 84 at a Picnic Area outside town. The highway continues northeast as US 84 across theSabine River intoLogansport, Louisiana.[2]
SH 7 was one of the original 25 state highways proposed on June 21, 1917, proposed as a 'Central Texas Highway.'[3] In 1919, the routing was mostly proposed betweenSan Angelo andGoldthwaite, but only the segment toPaint Rock was created. From Goldthwaite, the road followsU.S. Highway 84 to Waco. The remainder followsSH 164 to Personville,FM 39 toJewett, was unbuilt between Jewett andCrockett, SH 7 thenSH 103 to Lufkin, and finally onto the state line via present-dayU.S. Highway 69,SH 63, and US 190. On November 20, 1917, SH 7 was rerouted along currentU.S. Highway 67 toBrownwood, andU.S. Highway 84 to Waco.[4]
Possibly due to the amount of construction necessary to build this route as proposed, on December 18, 1917, the road was rerouted via U.S. Highway 84 toPalestine, and south onU.S. Highway 287 to Crockett, following the proposed route from there. On March 20, 1918, the road was completely rerouted via current U.S. Highway 84 throughLubbock toSweetwater. Between Sweetwater and Coleman, the road was not constructed as proposed. SH 7 returns to US 84, through Waco toPalestine, heads south onU.S. Highway 287 to Crockett, turns to Lufkin via the current SH 7, thenSH 103 and finally onto Jasper and Newton via present-dayU.S. Highway 69,SH 63, and US 190.[5] The old route of SH 7 from Brownwood to San Angelo was renumbered as SH 7A.
On August 21, 1923, SH 7 had been realigned yet again, mainly due to constructions issues. The Sweetwater-Coleman road was never built, and SH 7 was rerouted over existing roads into Abilene. The road's east terminus was shortened toLong Lake. The Crockett-Lufkin section was cancelled, and the section east of Zavalla had been renumbered as SH 63.In 1926,U.S. Highway 70 (US 70),US 80, andUS 67 were overlaid over pieces of SH 7, which maintained its number. On October 26, 1932, the highway was extended east acrossSH 294 into Alto,SH 21 toNacogdoches, ending inJoaquin via current SH 7, replacingSH 76.[6] On May 23, 1933, SH 7 Loop was designated throughPost.[7] On November 27, 1934, SH 7 Spur was designated toSouthland.[8] On July 15, 1935, the section of SH 7 from Elkhart to Alto was cancelled.[9] On February 21, 1937, this section was restored.[10] On February 21, 1938, SH 7 Business was designated in Goldthwaite.[11]
On May 24, 1938, a spur to Oglesby was created, but not designated.[12] On December 21, 1938, SH 7 Spur was designated in Oglesby.[13] On September 26, 1939, most of the highway had been overrun by a patchwork of U.S. Highways, leaving only a small portion from Joaquin to Crockett remaining, rerouted yet again to a more southerly route from Nacogdoches, replacingSH 266 and part ofSH 103. SH 7 Loop and SH 7 Spur became Spur 18 (Oglesby), Spur 45 (Southland), andLoop 46 (Post). On April 1, 1940, SH 7 was extended west to Centerville. On November 22, 1940, the section from Ratcliff to Crockett was cancelled. On December 3, 1940, SH 7 was extended west to Marquez. On February 20, 1942, the section from Ratcliff to Crockett was redesignated as part of SH 7. SH 7 replaced SH 139 from Chilton to Marquez (originally ended in Marlin; extended east on September 7, 1943) on July 15, 1948. SH 7 was signed (but not designated) to extend west to Eddy on July 31, 1975.[14] The extension to Eddy was officially designated on August 29, 1990, replacing a portion ofFM 107. At the request of the City of Nacogdoches, both SH 7 and SH 21 were re-routed ontoLoop 224 and part of US 59 around the south side of town on October 25, 2018.[15]
SH 7A was a spur route of SH 7 that split off at Brownwood and traveled southwest to San Angelo designated on March 20, 1918, replacing part of SH 7, which was rerouted. On December 20, 1917, an intercounty highway was designated from San Angelo to Fort Stockton.[16] On February 19, 1919, it was extended to Fort Stockton over this intercounty highway.[17] It was transferred to portions ofSH 23 andSH 30 (nowUS 277) on August 21, 1923, with the section from San Angelo to Fort Stockton cancelled, but this section was reinstated asSH 99 (nowUS 67) in 1924.
SH 7B was a spur route of SH 7 designated on January 23, 1922, that split off at Lufkin and traveled southwest through Groveton to Trinity.[18] On August 21, 1923, it was cancelled,[19] but was restored asSH 94 in 1924.
| County | Location | mi[2] | km | Destinations | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLennan | Bruceville-Eddy | 0.000 | 0.000 |   I-35 /FM 107 west –Austin,Waco,Moody | I-35 exit 315 | |||
| 0.100 | 0.161 |   FM 1239 south | ||||||
| Falls | Mooreville | 6.437 | 10.359 |   FM 2643 north | ||||
| Chilton | 10.626 155.027 | 17.101 249.492 |     US 77 north /Bus. SH 7-B east –Chilton,Waco | interchange; west end of US 77 overlap; route follows US 77's mileage | ||||
| 155.519 | 250.284 |  FM 1950 west –Cego | ||||||
| 156.192 11.791 | 251.367 18.976 | US 77 south –Cameron | east end of US 77 overlap | |||||
| 12.484 | 20.091 | Bus. SH 7-B west –Eddy,Moody | ||||||
| 13.026 | 20.963 |  FM 434 north –Satin,Waco | ||||||
| | 16.722 | 26.911 |  FM 935 west –Troy | |||||
| | 17.966 18.184 | 28.913 29.264 |  SH 320 south –Lott,Westphalia | |||||
| Marlin | 22.705 | 36.540 |  Bus. SH 6-N –Waco,Hearne | |||||
| 23.270 | 37.449 |  FM 147 east (Walker Street) –Groesbeck | ||||||
| 24.166 | 38.891 |  SH 6 –Waco,Bryan | interchange | |||||
| | 25.163 | 40.496 |  FM 2958 south | |||||
| | 32.633 | 52.518 |  FM 3144 south | |||||
| | 33.571 | 54.027 |  FM 1771 | |||||
| | 36.047 | 58.012 |  FM 2745 south | |||||
| Limestone | Kosse | 38.863 | 62.544 |  SH 14 –Groesbeck,Bremond | ||||
| | 46.344 | 74.583 |  FM 2749 north –Thornton | |||||
| Robertson | | 44.144 | 71.043 |  FM 979 west –Calvert | ||||
| | 56.396 | 90.761 |  FM 937 north –Groesbeck,Lake Limestone,Sterling C. Robertson Dam | |||||
| Leon | Marquez | 61.475 | 98.934 |  US 79 –Jewett,Franklin | ||||
| 61.750 | 99.377 |  Loop 208 | ||||||
| | 65.507 | 105.423 |  FM 1147 south –Old Bowling | |||||
| Robbins | 69.493 | 111.838 |  FM 39 –Jewett,Normangee | |||||
| Centerville | 77.856 | 125.297 |  I-45 –Dallas,Houston | I-45 exit 164 | ||||
| 78.398 | 126.169 |  SH 75 –Madisonville,Buffalo,Fort Boggy State Park | ||||||
| 78.469 | 126.284 |  FM 1119 south | ||||||
| | 84.872 | 136.588 |  FM 811 south | |||||
| | 88.980 | 143.199 |  FM 1511 north | |||||
| Malvern | 96.203 | 154.824 |  FM 542 north –Oakwood | |||||
| Houston | | 104.281 | 167.824 |  FM 132 –Porter Springs | ||||
| | 109.909– 110.053 | 176.881– 177.113 |  SH 21 west –Madisonville | west end of SH 21 overlap | ||||
| Crockett | 110.289 | 177.493 |  Loop 304 (truck route) | |||||
| 110.985 | 178.613 |    FM 229 toFM 2076 | ||||||
| 111.554– 111.605 | 179.529– 179.611 |   US 287 /SH 19 /SH 21 east | east end of SH 21 overlap;traffic circle aroundHouston County Courthouse | |||||
| 112.836 | 181.592 |  Loop 304 (truck route) toUS 287 / SH 7 /SH 19 /SH 21 | ||||||
| Berea | 120.915 | 194.594 |  FM 232 –Arbor,Shady Grove | |||||
| | 124.745 | 200.758 |  FM 1733 | |||||
| Kennard | 128.072 | 206.112 |  FM 2781 –Pennington | |||||
| 128.226 | 206.360 |  FM 357 south –Apple Springs | ||||||
| Ratcliff | 131.617 | 211.817 |  FM 227 west | |||||
| Angelina | | 142.660– 142.897 | 229.589– 229.970 |  SH 103 east –Lufkin | ||||
| Redtown | 144.488 | 232.531 |  FM 1819 | |||||
| Pollok | 148.996– 149.401 | 239.786– 240.438 |  US 69 –Lufkin,Tyler | interchange | ||||
| Nacogdoches | Harmony | 157.037 | 252.727 |  FM 2782 | ||||
| Nacogdoches | 163.649 | 263.368 |   US 59 north /SH 21 west /Loop 224 north (Stallings Drive) Bus. SH 7-N east (South Fredonia Street) | interchange; west end of US 59/SH 21/Loop 224 overlap; western terminus ofBus. SH 7-N | ||||
| 164.444 | 264.647 | US 59 south /Bus. US 59 north (South Street) –Lufkin,Houston | interchange; east end of US 59 overlap; southern terminus ofBus. US 59-F | |||||
| 166.002 | 267.154 |  FM 1275 north (South University Drive) –Stephen F. Austin State University | west end of FM 1275 overlap | |||||
| 166.209 | 267.487 | FM 1275 south (Rayburn Drive) | east end of FM 1275 overlap | |||||
| 166.775 | 268.398 |  FM 2259 (Woden Road) | ||||||
| 168.000 | 270.370 |  SH 21 east /Bus. SH 21-P west (East Main Street) –Nacogdoches,San Augustine | East end of SH 21 overlap; eastern terminus ofBus. SH 21-P | |||||
| 168.723 | 271.533 | Loop 224 (East Stallings Drive)Bus. SH 7-N west (Center Highway) | East end of Loop 224 overlap; eastern terminus ofBus. SH 7-N | |||||
| | 174.665 | 281.096 |  FM 2112 north | |||||
| Swift | 177.007 | 284.865 |  FM 2713 north | |||||
| Martinsville | 181.402 | 291.938 |  FM 95 south –Chireno | west end of FM 95 overlap | ||||
| 181.476 | 292.057 | FM 95 north –Garrison | east end of FM 95 overlap | |||||
| San Augustine | No major junctions | |||||||
| Shelby | | 185.179 | 298.017 |  FM 2913 north | ||||
| | 195.347 | 314.381 |  FM 711 south | |||||
| | 197.573 | 317.963 |  Loop 500 north –San Augustine,Shelbyville | |||||
| Center | 199.092 | 320.408 |  US 96 (Hurst Street / Southview Circle / truck route) toLoop 500 | |||||
| 199.470– 199.562 | 321.016– 321.164 |   SH 87 (Tenaha Street / Shelbyville Street) /FM 699 north (Logansport Street) | traffic circle aroundShelby County Courthouse | |||||
| | 200.762 | 323.095 |  FM 2788 east | |||||
| | 201.126 | 323.681 | Loop 500 south toUS 96 /SH 87 / SH 7 west | |||||
| | 202.428 | 325.776 |   FM 1656 north –Center Municipal Airport | |||||
| James | 205.399 | 330.558 |  FM 2608 east | |||||
| | 208.714 | 335.893 |  FM 3082 east | |||||
| Joaquin | 213.783 | 344.050 |  FM 139 south –Toledo Bend Reservoir | |||||
| 213.910 | 344.255 | Future I-69 /US 84 –Joaquin,Tenaha | U.S. 84 is the future Interstate 69 | |||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| ||||||||
SH 7 has twobusiness routes.
  Business State Highway 7-B | |
|---|---|
| Location | Chilton |
| Length | 1.355 mi[20] (2.181 km) |
| Existed | 1990–present |
Business State Highway 7-B (Bus. SH 7-B) is a 1.355-mile (2.181 km) long business loop that runs throughChilton. The route was created in 1990 from a section ofFM 107.[20] Bus. SH 7-B begins at an interchange with US 77. The highway continues west of the intersection as a segment of SH 7. Where SH 7 heads south, concurrent with US 77, Bus. SH 7-B heads east, before curving south at an intersection with Mooreville Road. Shortly after the southeasterly turn, Bus. SH 7-B passes the eastern terminus of County Road 4023 (CR 4023), followed by the western terminus of CR 4019. CR 4019 provides access to the center of Chilton. Bus. SH 7-B however, skirts the edge of town and does not serve the town center. From the intersection with CR 4019, Bus. SH 7-B continues south to its terminus with mainline SH 7. Although this intersection marks the end of the business route, the highway continues south as CR 494N to a dead end at the northern bank of Deer Creek.[21]
This business route was previously designated as a section of FM 107, which used to continue east fromI-35 inBruceville-Eddy to SH 7 right outside of Chilton. Between August 29, 1990, and October 25, 1990, the eastern end of FM 107 was truncated to I-35 and the eastern section transferred to SH 7 and the newly designated Bus. SH 7-B.[22]
The entire route is inFalls County.
| Location | mi[2] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 77 / SH 7 –Waco,Cameron,Eddy | Interchange; road continues west as SH 7 west | |
| Chilton | 1.355 | 2.181 | SH 7 / County Road 494N –Marlin | Road continues south as CR 494N | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
 Business State Highway 7-N | |
|---|---|
| Location | Nacogdoches |
| Length | 4.229 mi[2] (6.806 km) |
| Existed | 2018–present |
Business State Highway 7-N (Bus. SH 7-N) is a 4.229-mile (6.806 km) long business route that runs throughNacogdoches.[2] The route was created on October 25, 2018, after SH 7 was re-routed around Nacogdoches onLoop 224 andUS 59.[15] Bus. SH 7-B begins at an interchange with SH 7 and US 59/SH 21/Loop 224. The business route then travels northeast on Fredonia Street for one mile (1.61 kilometers), then reaches an intersection withBus. US 59-F at South Street. Bus. SH 7-B and Bus. US 59-F head north on South Street into downtown Nacogdoches, meeting at an intersection withBus. SH 21-P at Main Street. Bus. SH 7-N turns right, leaving Bus. US 59-F, then heading east concurrently with Bus. SH 21-P on Main Street. Both business routes pass intersections withFM 1275 at University Drive andFM 2259 at Shawnee Street. At Orton Hill, Bus. SH 21-P breaks away from Bus. 7-N, heading east. Bus. SH 7-N continues northeast for a few more miles on Center Highway, before ending at a traffic controlled intersection with Loop 224 and SH 7.[2]
The entire route is inNacogdoches,Nacogdoches County.
| mi[2] | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.000 | 0.000 | US 59 /SH 21 / SH 7 east /Loop 224 (Stallings Drive) SH 7 west (South Fredonia Street) | Interchange; western terminus; road continues southwest as SH 7 west | ||
| 0.990 | 1.593 | Bus. US 59 south (South Street) | Western end of Bus. US 59-F concurrency | ||
| 1.977 | 3.182 | Bus. US 59 north (North Street) /Bus. SH 21-P west (West Main Street) | Eastern end of Bus. US 59-F concurrency; western end of Bus. SH 21-P concurrency | ||
| 2.546 | 4.097 | FM 1275 (University Drive) | |||
| 2.618 | 4.213 | FM 2259 south (Shawnee Street) / Wedgewood Drive | Northern terminus of FM 2259 | ||
| 3.043 | 4.897 | Bus. SH 21-P east (East Main Street) | Eastern end of Bus. SH 21-P concurrency | ||
| 4.229 | 6.806 | Loop 224 / SH 7 west (Stallings Drive) SH 7 east (Center Highway) | Eastern terminus; road continues northeast as SH 7 | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
Media related toTexas State Highway 7 at Wikimedia Commons
