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After World War II, Loop 13 was extended west from US 81 on the north side to Camp Bullis, followed by further westward extension to US 281 in 1949. The loop was closed (between US 90 on the west side and US 281 on the north side) in 1952.
When IH-410 was planned to cover the route of Loop 13, San Antonio’s growth was primarily to the south. Several subdivisions had been built along and south of the Loop 13 corridor between US 81 (IH-35) and US 281 (IH-37) during the 1950s. As a result, IH-410 was planned on a route south of Loop 13, to encircle these subdivisions. North of US 90, IH-410 was planned atop the original Loop 13 route.
When planned, IH-410 encircled San Antonio completely. The first sections of Loop 13 turned into freeway (US 90 to US 81/IH-10) were completed in 1959, followed by the new alignment between IH-35 and Spur 536 (former US 281) in 1964. The remainder of the freeway was done by 1967.
One of the side effects of the construction timetable was easy access to the northwest side of San Antonio. After IH-410 was completed between US 90 and IH-10, growth turned toward the now easily-accessible land on the northwest side, ending development on the south side. The final result was a loop with two different characteristics – rural south of US 90 and heavily developed north of US 90.
IH-410, like IH-610 in Houston, was planned with a missing link, in the expectation of additional freeway mileage. This practice backfired on then-highway chair DeWitt Greer, when the additional mileage was given to IH-37. The section of IH-410 between IH-10 (northwest) and IH-35 (northeast) was renumbered to State Loop 410 in 1960 for motorist continuity as a result. In 1969, this “missing link” was added to the Interstate highway system.
IH-410 experiences chronic congestion along the northwest and north quadrants, roughly between SH 151 and US 281. Reconstruction of the freeway is in progress, including construction of the US 281 interchange and reconstruction of the IH-10 interchange.
IH-410 is multiplexed with SH 16 for 16 miles, and with US 281 for three miles. IH-410 is multiplexed with IH-35 for 4 miles. IH-410 is named for former Texas Governor John Connally.
Interstate 410 Highway Guides
| Scenes Pertaining to Interstate 410 |
| Traffic from U.S. 281, the McAllister Freeway, southbound to Interstate 410 must utilize San Pedro Avenue (Texas Spur 537). This connection is necessary due to the lack of a direct interchange from Interstate 410 to U.S. 281. Texas Farm to Market Road 1515 is shown on the westbound panel due to the close proximity of the southern terminus of the highway at Exit 19 of the San Antonio beltway. Photo taken 12/31/02.
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| Traffic that utilizes the eastbound Interstate 410 cloverleaf ramp from San Pedro Avenue southbound enters a narrow collector/distributor roadway of the beltway. The c/d lane sees a return cloverleaf ramp to San Pedro Avenue which carries all U.S. 281 northbound related traffic interests to the suburbs of Hollywood Park, Hill Country Village, and points beyond. This interchange is heavily congested. Photo taken 12/31/02.
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Page Updated May 29, 2006.
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