Site Navigation Arkansas Louisiana Oklahoma New Mexico Texas       Interstate 37 North - San Antonio Interstate 37 North Original button copy signage and lighting fixtures adorn this sign bridge on Interstate 37/U.S. 281 northbound at Fair Avenue. Note the imprint leftover in the background from the original Interstate 10 shield on the left-hand panel. Older button copy has a tendancy to bleed due to exposure to the elements. This is the case with these particular sign panels. Photo taken 12/31/02. Interstate 37/U.S. 281 northbound expand to five lanes overall in anticipation of Exit 139, the junction with Interstate 10/U.S. 87/90. The right two lanes become exit-only for the east-west highway while Interstate 37 continues northward to downtown San Antonio. Photo taken 12/31/02. Although not yet to downtown, the control city of Interstate 37 reflects the U.S. 281 control point of Johnson City. This community of only 1,191 people is the county seat for Blanco County, located over 60 miles north of downtown San Antonio. Photo taken 12/31/02. Departing Interstate 37 northbound to Interstate 10 reveals a second set of control cities for each direction. They are that of Del Rio for U.S. 90 west and Victoria for U.S. 87 south. Interstate 10 travels 175 miles eastward to the city of Houston and 540 miles westward to El Paso. Photo taken 12/31/02. The interchange between the five highway entities is an older multi-level stack. This photograph looks at the ramp from Interstate 37/U.S. 281 north to Interstate 10/U.S. 90 west and U.S. 87 north. Photo taken 12/31/02. Westerly view of Interstate 10 from Interstate 37/U.S. 281 southbound. The north-south freeway represents the northern level of the stack interchange. Interstate 10 will reach an overlap with Interstate 35 in two miles. Photo taken 12/31/02. A variable message sign greets northbound motorists with travel times to Interstate 35 just north of the Interstate 10 interchange. As is the case with all freeways in the downtown area, hazmat cargo is prohibited. Photo taken 12/31/02. A contextual view of the Tower of the Americas, Interstate 37, and the Alamodome as seen on northbound. The auxiliary signage in the background indicates that Exit 140B also serves La Villita. Photo taken 12/31/02. Interstate 37/U.S. 281 northbound carry four lanes as they pass Exit 140B to Durango Boulevard. The next exit links Interstate 37 with Commerce Street and the home of The Alamo. Photo taken 12/31/02. Also visible from Interstate 37 prominently is the Tower of the Americas and Institute of Texas Cultures. These two structures are situated within Hemisfair Park. The high-rise in the background is that of the Marriott Rivercenter. Photo taken 12/31/02. The second in a series of guide signs for the pending terminus with Interstate 35/Exit 142A/B posted along Interstate 37/U.S. 281 northbound. The last mainline exit of the Interstate departs to the right serving Commerce Street and The Alamo. Photo taken 12/31/02. A closer look at the Alamodome itself. Completed in May of 1993, the $186 million dollar complex is home to the San Antonio Spurs National Basketball franchise. Photo taken 12/31/02. A look at a few of the high-rises on the eastern perimeter of downtown San Antonio from Interstate 37/U.S. 281 northbound. Featured are the Marriott Rivercenter, Frost Bank Tower, Bank of America Plaza buildings. and The city population boasts 1,144,646 residents although the rather low city skyline might lead one to believe otherwise. Photo taken 12/31/02. Traffic from Commerce Street enters Interstate 37/U.S. 281 northbound from the right as a second set of guide signs for Interstate 35 prepare motorists for the pending junction. Photo taken 12/31/02. The first downtown area exit of Interstate 37/U.S. 281 northbound is Exit 140A to Carolina and Florida Streets. Reassurance signage now includes Int'l Airport as a second control point. The San Antonio International Airport is situated near the crossover of Interstate 410 and U.S. 281. Photo taken 12/31/02. Exit 140A traffic to Carolina and Florida Streets departs to the right as Interstate 37/U.S. 281 northbound plow northward into downtown San Antonio. Exit 140B to Durango Boulevard is within one-half mile. Photo taken 12/31/02. This sign bridge is the first to alert motorists of the impending terminus interchange of Interstate 37 at Interstate 35/Exit 142A/B. Exit 140B meanwhile is the exit of choice for those wishing to visit the Hemisfair Plaza area of downtown. Photo taken 12/31/02. Approaching Exit 140B to Durango Boulevard. The large structure to the right is the Alamodome, a sports and entertainment complex situated between Durango Boulevard and Market Street. The cable-stayed towers resemble that of a bridge when seen from the distance. Photo taken 12/31/02. The speed limit drops to 50 mph on Interstate 37 northbound as the freeway prepares to give way to U.S. 281 at Interstate 35. The federal highway continues as a substandard freeway northward to Interstate 410 and Texas Loop 1604. The speed limit remains at 50 mph. Photo taken 12/31/02. Three northbound lanes are maintained from Interstate 37 to the U.S. 281 freeway. Interstate 35 signage advises motorists that the right and left-hand lanes become exit-only. Photo taken 12/31/02. The boxes below the signs are lane control signals that can be adjusted based on traffic conditions. These are posted on sign bridges throughout the metropolitan area of San Antonio. Photo taken 12/31/02. Northbound Interstate 37/U.S. 281 at Exit 142A. Interstate 35 northbound travels 70 miles to the state capital of Texas, the city of Austin, from Interstate 37. Photo taken 12/31/02. The final exit of Interstate 37 departs for Interstate 35 southbound. Between Interstates 10, 35, and 37, a loop of the downtown area is created. Interstate 35 travels 1.5 miles to Interstate 10 where it shares a three mile overlap west of downtown, before exiting the central business district en route to Laredo. Photo taken 12/31/02. Although now past the Exit 142/Interstate 35 ramps, the the final milepost displays "Mile 143", 0.06 miles before the official terminus. U.S. 281 continues northward six miles to Interstate 410 and the San Antonio International Airport. Photo taken 12/31/02. Page Updated May 16, 2005.