State highway in Texas
Loop 353 is a 7.875-mile-long (12.674 km) loop route in the U.S. state of Texas that follows a former route of U.S. Highway 81 (US 81) in San Antonio. Loop 353 follows New Laredo Highway from Interstate 35 (I-35) on the southwest side of San Antonio towards the northeast and follows Nogalitos Street before ending at another point on I-35 just southwest of Downtown San Antonio. The road is still a major arterial for the city, providing access to Kelly USA.
History
Loop 353 follows the original routing of US 81 on the southwest side of San Antonio.[1] US 81 was first designated along this stretch in 1927 and is the basis of the naming of the road Laredo Highway due to US 81 passing through Laredo southwest of San Antonio.[2] On September 19, 1961, when US 81 was rerouted onto the freeway to the east, the old segment was designated as Loop 353, but signed as Business US 81, until its decommissioning, which then became Loop 353 only, plus renaming the street New Laredo Highway.[1] Loop 353 was proposed for decommissioning as part of TxDOT's San Antonio turnback proposal, which would have turned back over 129 miles of roadway to the city of San Antonio, but the city rejected that proposal.[3][4]
Route description
Loop 353 begins on the southwest side of San Antonio at I-35 just northeast of I-410 interchange. The loop heads northeast along New Laredo Highway, roughly paralleling the interstate for its entire routing. The road continues towards the northeast, intersecting Loop 13 (Military Drive). The highway is the southeast boundary and provides access to Kelly USA, the former Kelly Air Force Base. At an intersection with Zarzamora Street, the street name changes to Nogalitos Street. The highway continues to the northeast and has a junction with US 90 just prior to its northern terminus at I-10 and I-35.[5]
Junction list
This section is missing mileposts for junctions. Please help by
adding them.
The entire route is in San Antonio, Bexar County.
I-35 in San Antonio
US 90 in San Antonio
