|
|
 |
|
Texas Loop 289
| Texas Loop 289 Inner |
 |
The first exit on Loop 289 west of IH 27 is that of University Avenue. Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University, and the city's economy largely depends on its almost 30,000 students. University runs northward to the main entrance of TTU. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
Looking west after University. Through here, Loop 289 is a busy 6 lane freeway lined with every manner of shopping and dining choices. Lubbock is a regional center and money-spenders come from all of the surrounding counties and even New Mexico to shop here. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
Loop 289 westbound at Indiana. Indiana is another main north/south road through the city. Many of Lubbock's north/south streets were named for old industrial cities in the midwest, streets have names like Gary, Flint, and Detroit. Many cities in the Texas Panhandle and West Texas have streets named for rust belt and midwest cities, due to those being the birthplaces of the first settlers. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
The next exit westbound is Quaker. Quaker is another major north/south arterial in town, and was named for early settlers. The first white settlement in what is now Lubbock County took place in 1879, when a group of Quakers started a farming colony. Their early experiments with farming, here on the south plains, would provide the impetus for more settlers to follow. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
The freeway's right of way gets wider here, with frontage roads of 3 lanes in each direction as well. The first numbered route after IH 27 is FM 1730, locally known as Slide Road. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
Loop 289 westbound at Slide Road on the south side of town. This exit has all of the largest retailers and chain restaurants in Lubbock, as well as the regional mall. Slide Road runs south to the old community of Slide. It was so named because a survey determined that most residents were residing on land that was not theirs, and when a new survey was conducted, all of the settlers "slid" to their new plots. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
Advance signage, in the new Clearview font, for Spur 327. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
|
|
|
 |
Loop 289 westbound at Spur 327. This short spur connects to US 62/82 to the west and provides a shortcut to points south. While not a freeway, it can be easily upgraded because of a wide right of way and free-flowing exits at each end. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
A work zone begins as the next exit for US 62/82 comes into view. Work is progressing on upgrading this southwestern section of Loop 289 with more lanes and a new concrete pavement. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
High mast lighting is present as the loop curves towards the north. The next exit is well under construction at US 62/82, which is presently being converted to a freeway. The Marsha Sharp freeway will provide a new route through the west side of Lubbock and serve both downtown, Texas Tech University, and new home construction on the outskirts of the city. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
Another look at the stack construction at the new freeway, and a Loop 289 reassurance marker. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
This view looks at the temporary exit for US 62/82. Before the stack ramps open, traffic exiting to the US highway route will use this exit. The new stack will not serve all interchange motorists free flowing. Traffic headed south on US 62/82 from here will be encouraged to use Spur 327, and thus a direct movement from Loop 289 west to US 62/82 south from here will result in a left turn at a light. Traffic going north, however, will get a ramp. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Projected to open in 2008 the stack will connect the new freeway segment with the existing loop. The $256 million freeway project was first proposed in the mid 1960s, and the ball got rolling in 1993 with public meetings. Finally, actually construction began 13 years later. An example of the length of time roadway projects can take in the United States. Photos taken 08/26/07. |
 |
As Lubbock is on a grid system, as the freeway turns north it begins to encounter east/west roads and they are numbered. 34th Street is an important east/west arterial in town, containing much of the higher-end shopping options here. The new freeway pavement ends here, and it reverts to its early 70s construction design. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
An old button copy sign frames the next interchange with SH 114. SH 114 is a major state highway in Texas and runs between Irving, in the DFW metroplex, and the New Mexico state line. SH 114 is encountered by the 26-mile Loop 289 twice, once on the far northeastern side of town. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
Loop 289 northbound at SH 114 east. The interchange here is a full cloverleaf, and remains fairly busy. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
 |
The loop northbound at SH 114 west. The state highway continues west into Levelland, a large farming and bedroom community some 20 minutes down the road. Photo taken 08/26/07. |
Page Updated January 20, 2008.
|
|
 |
|
