Loop 150 is a
loop route
In road transportation in the United States, a special route is a road in a numbered highway system that diverts a specific segment of related traffic away from another road. They are featured in many highway systems; most are found in the Int ...
in the city of
Bastrop in the
U.S. state of
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
. Loop 150 follows the route of old alignment of
SH 71
The following highways are numbered 71:
International
* Asian Highway 71
* European route E71
Afghanistan
*Delaram-Zaranj Highway (A71)
Australia
* Anzac Avenue (Queensland)
* Mitchell Highway
Canada
* Newfoundland and Labrador Route 71
* ...
through
Bastrop. The route of SH 71 changed when the state built a bypass around Bastrop. Loop 150 leaves SH 71 on the west side of town and rejoins SH 71 on the east side, crossing the
Colorado River
The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid drainage basin, watershed that encompasses parts of ...
. The historic
Colorado River Bridge at Bastrop is part of Loop 150.
History
The routing of the roadway had been proposed as early as 1919 as SH 3A. In 1924, the historic
Colorado River Bridge at Bastrop was completed to provide access to both sides of the Colorado River.
By 1926, the designation had been changed to SH 71.
The number was originally used for Spur 150 from SH 283 westward to
Truscott. On May 23, 1951, this became part of the new
FM 1756. On November 24, 1959, Loop 150 was designated to follow the old alignment of SH 71 in Bastrop following the completion of the new segment of SH 71 to the south.
Loop 150 used the Colorado River Bridge at Bastrop until the completion of a new parallel bridge in 1993. The old bridge was closed to traffic and is still in use as a pedestrian bridge.
The overpasses at the western terminus with SH 71 were completed over Loop 150 in 2005.
In 2013, the
Texas Legislature, designated the new bridge on Loop 150 across the Colorado River as the Chief Petty Officer (SOC) Stephen "Matt" Mills Bridge. Mills was a highly decorated
United States Navy SEAL
The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's primary special operations force and a component of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Among the SEALs' main functions are conducting sma ...
, who died while conducting special operations in
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
on August 6, 2011.
Route description
Loop 150 begins on the west side of Bastrop at a
diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a controlled-access highway crosses a minor road.
Design
The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge. Approaching the ...
with SH 21 and SH 71. The loop heads northeast from the interchange to a crossing of the
Colorado River
The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid drainage basin, watershed that encompasses parts of ...
. After the river crossing, the road heads east along Chestnut Street through Bastrop. Loop 150 continues to the east through the city to an intersection with SH 21 and 95. SH 21 enters the intersection from the south concurrent with SH 95 and begins to run concurrently with Loop 150 as the two head to the east. As the loop begins to curve back towards the southeast, SH 21 leaves the concurrency to the northeast. Access to nearby
Bastrop State Park is provided by an intersection with
Park Road 1 just east of the SH 21 intersection. Loop 150 continues to the southeast to its endpoint at a concurrent SH 71 and SH 95.
Junction list
References
{{reflist
150 150 may refer to:
*150 (number), a natural number
*AD 150, a year in the 2nd century AD
*150 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC
*150 Regiment RLC
*Combined Task Force 150
See also
* List of highways numbered 150
The following highways are numbered ...
Transportation in Bastrop County, Texas