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 State Highway Loop 360 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital of Texas Highway | ||||
 | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained byTxDOT | ||||
| Length | 13.99 mi[1] (22.51 km) | |||
| Existed | 1962–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |    US 290 /SH 71 /Loop 343 inAustin | |||
| Major intersections | ||||
| North end |  US 183 inAustin | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Texas | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Loop 360 is a 13.99-mile (22.51 km)loop route inAustin in theU.S. state ofTexas. Loop 360, also known as theCapital of Texas Highway,[2] is a scenichighway winding through the hills of West Austin. The road is described by theTexas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as "a 4-lane depressed median arterial with at-grade signalized intersections". In 2021, the average daily traffic was 58,497 vehicles at the most traveled point, north ofRM 2222.
Loop 360 was designated on March 29, 1962, on its current route from US 290 to US 183. On September 30, 1969, Loop 360 was extended north to Loop 1. On April 25, 1996, the section from US 183 to Loop 1 was canceled and removed from the state highway system. The south section of Loop 360 from US 290 to RM 2244 was opened on February 11, 1970. The last section of roadway for Loop 360 (excepting the bridge) between RM 2244 and FM 2222 was approved on September 30, 1976. The north and south sections of Loop 360 were connected when thePennybacker Bridge was opened for traffic on December 3, 1982. On February 19, 1980, theTravis County commissioners voted to designate it the "Capital of Texas Highway".
On July 14, 2004, theCapital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) changed segments of the future designation to atoll road, despite popular outcry. However, toll conversion of the road is unfunded so plans to toll Loop 360 are delayed indefinitely and there remains substantial opposition to any toll conversion of the road from residents and environmentalists. CAMPO has begun to reexamine the toll roll designation. The road should remain tollless for at least the near future. On December 6, 2006, theMobility Alternatives Finance Studyfinal report, commissioned by the City of Austin and other central Texas municipalities, noted the poor financial feasibility of toll conversion by stating "Loop 360's toll revenue funds the smallest share of its construction cost (7%)" given a construction cost of $741 million with revenue bonds backed by future tolling of Loop 360 contributing just $51.8 million (in 2006 dollars).
There are three historical markers along Loop 360:
The road runs roughly north–south, arcing slightly out to the west. Listing the major intersections going south to north, Loop 360 begins atUS 290/SH 71, then crossesLoop 1 (Mopac Expressway), then crossesRM 2244 (a.k.a. Bee Cave Road), then bridges theColorado River at thePennybacker Bridge, then crossesRM 2222, then terminates atUS 183. The entire length of Loop 360 is 13.8 miles (22.2 km). An extension of 0.7 miles (1.1 km) to connect the northern end of Loop 360 withLoop 1 was once considered part of the Loop, but has since been removed from the state highway system.
The segment of Loop 360 south of US 183 is designated a scenic roadway by the City of Austin.[2]
The road is popular with cyclists because of the road's hills, wide shoulders for biking, and bike access across the Pennybacker Bridge. Because of the hilly terrain on the east side of the road, with right timing and clear weather, a traveler on loop 360 in early morning can enjoy multiple sunrise scenes; the most spectacular of which can be seen from thePennybacker Bridge overLake Austin.
The road hasrock cut-throughs as well as steep fills and has steep roadway grades, 6% to 7% in some areas.
The road cuts through environmentally sensitivewatersheds. It bridges Barton Creek just south of Loop 1 and runs along the east side of theBarton Creek Greenbelt. Northward, it passes to the west ofWild Basin Wilderness Preserve. Just after the Wild Basin entrance, drivers and bikers can pull into a scenic vista and take in a view of downtown Austin including thestate capitol building andUniversity of Texas Tower. Further north, Loop 360 crosses the Colorado River and enters the Bull Creek Watershed and crosses Bull Creek.
Land use restrictions along Loop 360 help preserve Loop 360's Hill Country aesthetic.
In an attempt to alleviate traffic along Loop 360 TxDOT has considered turning the road into a toll road, making it a highway with an overpass or addingMichigan left turns. The latter is favored by TxDOT but opposed by nearby residents.[3]
The entire route is inAustin,Travis County. All exits are unnumbered.
| mi[4] | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | US 290 /SH 71 /Loop 343 (Lamar Boulevard) | Southern terminus; interchange | ||
| 1.2 | 1.9 |  Loop 1 (Mopac Expressway) | Interchange | ||
| 4.8 | 7.7 |  RM 2244 (Bee Caves Road) | Interchange | ||
| Westlake Drive / Cedar Street | Interchange expected to open in 2025[5] | ||||
| 9.3– 9.5 | 15.0– 15.3 | Pennybacker Bridge over theColorado River | |||
| 9.9 | 15.9 |  RM 2222 | Interchange | ||
| 14.0 | 22.5 | US 183 (Research Boulevard) | Northern terminus; interchange | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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