State Highway 72 (SH 72) is a Texas state highway that runs approximately 111 miles (179 km) from near Fowlerton to Cuero in South Texas.[1]

State Highway 72 marker
State Highway 72
Map
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length111.733 mi[1][nb 1] (179.817 km)
Existed1923–present
Major junctions
West end SH 97 near Fowlerton
Major intersections US 281 in Three Rivers
I-37 near Three Rivers
US 181 in Kenedy
US 87 near Cuero
East end
US 77 Alt. / US 87 / US 183 in Cuero
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesMcMullen, Live Oak, Bee, Karnes, DeWitt
Highway system
SH 71 SH 73
FM 62FM 63 FM 64
FM 3401FM 3402 FM 3403

Route description

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SH 72 begins in far western McMullen County, near the La Salle County line, at an intersection with SH 97 north of Fowlerton.[1][2] The highway has no major intersections until it intersects SH 16 north of Tilden.[3] The two routes run concurrently into Tilden, where SH 72 resumes its eastward path, passing south of Choke Canyon Reservoir and State Park before entering Live Oak County. The highway enters Three Rivers, where it intersects and runs concurrently with US 281 through the city center.[4] After separating from US 281, SH 72 takes a more northeasterly trajectory for the remainder of its journey. After crossing I-37 at the freeway's exit #69, it continues through rural Live Oak County and briefly passes through Bee County before entering Karnes County.[5] In Kenedy, SH 72 intersects US 181 and passes through the city's downtown along Main Street; SH 72's only business route is also in this city. To the east of the city, SH 72 intersects SH 239 and passes through Runge before entering DeWitt County.[6][7] The highway passes through Yorktown along that city's Main Street, intersecting SH 119. SH 72 intersects US 87 to the west of Cuero before it turns to the east and into the city. SH 72 ends at US 77 Alt. / US 87 / US 183 on the south side of Cuero.[1]

History

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SH 72 was originally proposed on August 21, 1923 from Cuero to Carmine, absorbing previously designated SH 3B.[8] On March 17, 1924, it was extended southwest to Yorktown.[9] On December 21, 1926, it was extended to Karnes City.[10] On February 21, 1928, its south end was rerouted to Kenedy. On March 3, 1931, SH 72 Spur to Sweet Home was added, but was not part of the state highway system (it was added to the state highway system on March 16, 1937).[11][12] On May 15, 1934, SH 72 Bypass was designated in Yoakum. On November 24, 1936, its route had been readjusted, with the section north of Cuero transferred to US 77/SH 44 and SH 128.[13] On November 16, 1937, it was extended to Three Rivers.[14] On September 26, 1939, it was extended west to Cotulla, replacing part of SH 202, and everything north of Cuero was cancelled (as it was part of US 77). SH 72 Spur and SH 72 Bypass were renumbered Spur 27 (Sweet Home) and Loop 51 (Yoakum). On June 23, 1942, the section from Fowlerton to Three Rivers was either cancelled or transferred to Farm to Market Road 63.[15] On July 31, 1942, the section from Fowlerton to Cotulla was transferred to SH 97. On December 15, 1960, the section from Fowlerton to Three Rivers was transferred back to SH 72, replacing FM 63. On March 2, 1981, the section between Three Rivers and Tilden was relocated around the then-proposed Choke Canyon Reservoir, as the old route would be inundated by the Choke Canyon Reservoir. The section from the junction with US 87 in Cuero into the city was designated Farm to Market Road 3402 in 1977; this route was extended to the west to US 87 in 1983. FM 3402 was combined with SH 72 on March 31, 1994, completing the current route.[1][16]

SH 72 has seen increased traffic due to oil and gas exploration of the Eagle Ford Formation; recent counts have indicated that traffic on SH 72 exceeds that on US 87 around Cuero. As a result, TxDOT is considering the addition of shoulders to SH 72 in western DeWitt County.[17]

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmi[18][19]
[nb 1]
kmDestinationsNotes
McMullen0.00.0  SH 97 – Cotulla, CharlotteWestern terminus
15.625.1 
 
SH 16 north – Jourdanton
West end of SH 16 concurrency
Tilden16.326.2 
 
SH 16 south – Freer
East end of SH 16 concurrency
23.037.0  FM 99 – Whitsett
24.238.9 
 
RE 7 east – Choke Canyon Reservoir
Western terminus of RE 7
28.145.2 
 
RE 8 north – Choke Canyon State Park
Southern terminus of RE 8
Live Oak32.151.7 
 
FM 1545 east – Simmons City
Western terminus of FM 1545
36.158.1 
 
FM 1545 west
Eastern terminus of FM 1545
Three Rivers39.162.9 
 
US 281 north (Harborth Avenue)
West end of US 281 concurrency
39.864.1 
 
US 281 south (Harborth Avenue) – San Antonio
East end of US 281 concurrency
42.368.1  I-37 – Corpus Christi, San AntonioI-37 exit 69
44.571.6 
 
FM 1358 south
Northern terminus of FM 1358
46.975.5 
 
FM 2049 north
Southern terminus of FM 2049
BeePawnee56.891.4 
 
FM 798 east
Western terminus of FM 798
57.191.9 
 
FM 673 south – Mineral
Northern terminus of FM 673
57.893.0 
 
FM 882 west
Eastern terminus of FM 882
Karnes60.597.4 
 
FM 626 north
Southern terminus of FM 626
64.0103.0 
 
FM 2985 south
Northern terminus of FM 2985
70.6113.6 
 
FM 1145 east
Western terminus of FM 1145
Kenedy71.2114.6 
 
FM 2102 west
Eastern terminus of FM 2102
71.6115.2  
 
US 181 / SH 239 begins – Beeville, Karnes City
West end of SH 239 concurrency
72.0115.9 
 
 
Bus. US 181 north (5th Street)
West end of Bus. US 181 concurrency
72.3116.4 
 
 
Bus. US 181 south (2nd Street)
East end of Bus. US 181 concurrency
72.4116.5 
 
FM 792 north
Southern terminus of FM 792
73.3118.0 
 
 
Bus. SH 72 south (Truck Route)
Northeastern terminus of Bus. SH 72
74.2119.4 
 
SH 239 east – Goliad
East end of SH 239 concurrency
Runge82.6132.9  FM 81 – Helena, Charco
DeWittNordheim89.6144.2  FM 239
94.7152.4  FM 952 – Cotton Patch
96.1154.7  FM 2980
Yorktown97.1156.3  SH 119 – Goliad, Stockdale
97.5156.9  FM 240
98.6158.7  FM 237
109.0175.4  US 87 – Westhoff
Cuero112.9181.7 
 
   US 77 Alt. / US 87 / US 183 (South Esplanade Street)
Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Business route

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Business State Highway 72
LocationKenedy
Length1.096 mi[20] (1.764 km)
Existed1982 (as Spur 542)–present[20]
 

SH 72 has one business route, Business SH 72-B in Kenedy, which is a former alignment of the state highway along Karnes Street through that city.[20] The route was designated as Spur 542 on April 20, 1982, when SH 72 was rerouted to use Main Street.[21] The route was changed to Business SH 72-B on June 21, 1990. The western end of the business route is at Bus. US 181, which was renumbered from Spur 259 the same day.[22]

Junction list

The entire route is in Kenedy, Karnes County.

mi[23]kmDestinationsNotes
0.00.0 
 
Bus. US 181
Southwestern terminus
0.20.32 
 
FM 743 north
Southern terminus of FM 743
1.11.8   SH 72 / SH 239Northeastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The certified length given is shorter than the actual mileage, as TxDOT does not include the concurrencies with SH 16 and US 281.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 72". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  2. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2012). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2012 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 378. OCLC 867856197. Retrieved November 3, 2012.[dead link]
  3. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2012). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2012 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 408. OCLC 867856197. Retrieved November 3, 2012.[dead link]
  4. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2012). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2012 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 438. OCLC 867856197. Retrieved November 3, 2012.[dead link]
  5. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2012). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2012 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 437. OCLC 867856197. Retrieved November 3, 2012.[dead link]
  6. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2012). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2012 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 436. OCLC 867856197. Retrieved November 3, 2012.[dead link]
  7. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (2012). Texas County Mapbook (PDF) (Map) (2012 ed.). 1:120,000. Texas Department of Transportation. p. 466. OCLC 867856197. Retrieved November 3, 2012.[dead link]
  8. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. August 21, 1923. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. March 17, 1924. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. December 20, 1926. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. March 15, 1937. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. February 27, 1931. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. November 23, 1936. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. November 15, 1937. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  15. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Farm to Market Road No. 63". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  16. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Farm to Market Road No. 3402". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  17. ^ Long, Sonny (November 18, 2011). "DeWitt County officials, residents discuss increased oil industry traffic, concerns". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  18. ^ "SH 72 Overview Map with Major Intersections: Jct. SH 97 to Jct. US 181" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  19. ^ "SH 72 Overview Map with Major Intersections: Jct. US 181 to Jct. US 183" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  20. ^ a b c Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Business State Highway No. 72-B". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  21. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 542". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  22. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Spur No. 259". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  23. ^ "Overview Map of Bus. SH 72" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
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