Interstate Business Route 35

Interstate 35 has 16 active business loops/spurs, six business loops that aren't, and a few that might be business loops. In addition, Interstate 135 has two business routes associated with U.S. 81 in Kansas, but none of these are Interstate Business Loops.

	Location Status Description TEXAS Laredo Active Business Loop I-35A in Laredo from its junction with Interstate 35 south at Exit 3 along San Bernardo Avenue to Houston Street, thence westward along Houston Street to Salinas Avenue, thence southward along Salinas Avenue to the U.S. Customs Port-of-Entry; thence northward along Convent Avenue to Matamoros Street; and thence eastward along Matamoros Street to the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. 83, a total distance of approximately 4.0 miles. Located in Webb County, this business route follows Old U.S. 81, and it is clearly shown on the Texas DeLorme's Atlas. Encinal Active Business Loop I-35B from Interstate 35, southwesterly via Encinal to Interstate 35, a distance of approximately 1.2 miles. Located in La Salle and Webb Counties, this business route follows Old U.S. 81 between Exits 38 and 39. Cotulla Active Business Loop I-35C between Exits 65 and 69 in La Salle County via Old U.S. 81 for 3.1 miles. Dilley Active Business Loop I-35D between Exits 82 and 86 via Old U.S. 81. Pearsall Active Business Loop I-35E in Pearsall from its junction with I-35 north of Pearsall southward to Comal Street and then westward along and concurrent with FM 140 (West Comal Street) to its junction with FM 1581; thence southward along FM 1581 to its junction with I-35, a distance of approximately 5.5 miles in Frio County via Old U.S. 81 between Exits 99 and 104. San Antonio Not a Business Loop Prior to the 1991 decommissioning of U.S. 81 south of Fort Worth, old Laredo Highway was known as Business U.S. 81 between Exits 145B and 154A. Today, this is known as Texas Loop 353, but it could be a contender for Business Loop I-35F. San Antonio Not a Business Loop Prior to 1991, old Austin Highway was known as Business U.S. 81 between Exits 158 and 166. Today, this is known as Texas Loop 368, but it could be a contender for Business Loop I-35G. New Braunfels Active Business Loop I-35H in New Braunfels in Comal County between Exits 185 and 190. This 4.5-mile business route follows Old U.S. 81. Business route signing from the main line Interstate in Texas is different from most other states. The signs along the highway for "inbound" traffic have both the BL shield and New Braunfels as a control city, while the "outbound" sides have no control city, just the shield. Kyle Active Business Loop I-35J in Kyle, near Interstate 35 Milepost 213, a distance of approximately 1.2 miles in Hays County via Old U.S. 81. Austin Not a Business Loop Back in 1960, there was Business U.S. 79-81 through Austin, following (north to south) Lamar Boulevard, Guadalupe Street, and South Congress Avenue (including the cool Congress Avenue Bridge over Townlake/Colorado River). Today, this routing is known as FM-275, as both U.S. 79 and U.S. 81 has since been decommissioned within Austin. This would be a contender for a "Business Loop I-35K," but this routing is not signed as such. Round Rock Active Business Loop I-35L in Round Rock follows Mays Street between Exits 251 and 254. I verified this one when I visited a Round Rock Chamber of Commerce web page while researching the explosion of high-tech firms in the greater Austin area. They actually mentioned the business route definition in the directions. This loop is 3.6 miles in Williamson County. Georgetown Decom. Business Loop I-35M in Georgetown is 5.1 miles in Williamson County along Old U.S. 81 between Exits 259 and 262. Belton Not a business route. Old U.S. 81 is now part of Texas 317, Farm to Market Route 93 and Farm to Market Route 817. Temple Not a Business Route The original U.S. 81 passed through Temple on what are now city streets and parts of Texas 53 and Texas Loop 290. When the bypass was built (prior to it being designated as Interstate 35) U.S. 81 was rerouted. Today's Interstate 35 follows that U.S. 81 bypass route here. There is no business designation at all. Hewitt - Waco Not a Business Route Although not an Interstate Business Loop, Business U.S. 77 serves Waco via La Salle Avenue. Hillsboro Not a Business Route The likely candidate for a Business Loop here is actually an old section of the old U.S. 81 now renumbered as Texas 81. Alvarado Active Business Loop I-35V is located in Alvarado near Milepost 26A for a distance of 2.29 miles in Johnson County along old U.S. 81. Sanger Active Business Loop I-35X from Interstate 35 north of Sanger southerly to Interstate 35 in south Sanger, a distance of approximately 1.80 miles in Denton County. KANSAS Emporia Not a Business Loop This business route is signed as U.S. 50 between Exits 127 and 133, but it is not Business Loop I-35. Ottawa Not a Business Loop This business route is signed as Business U.S. 50 between Exits 183 and 187, but it is not Business Loop I-35 Cameron, Missouri Active This business route is cosigned with U.S. 69. IOWA Lamoni Proposed Iowa transportation officials petitioned in 1997 to add the section of U.S. 69 between Missouri Exit 114 and Iowa Exit 4 as a Business Loop I-35. It was denied by AASHTO on November 14, 1997. This was despite a previous petition that netted the Ames business loop, which was the first business loop commissioned in the state of Iowa. It is possible that officials may try to propose this business loop again at a future AASHTO route numbering committee meeting. Ames Active Iowa labeled its first Interstate business route in 1993; it was approved by AASHTO on October 27, 1995. It starts at Interstate 35 Exit 111 at Junction U.S. 30. Following the U.S. 30 freeway west, it exits into Ames along northbound U.S. 69. Following U.S. 69, it turns west at Lincolnway (old U.S. 30) and north on Grand Avenue. At 13th Street, the business route leaves U.S. 69 and heads east back to Interstate 35 at Exit 113. Clear Lake Active Created four years after the Ames business loop, the Clear Lake business route was approved by AASHTO on April 16, 1999. This business route starts at the junction of Interstate 35 and Iowa 122 (old U.S. 18) at Exit 193. Business Loop I-35 then heads west via Iowa 122 to meet Iowa 107. Turning north, the route meets U.S. 18 to head east back to Interstate 35 at Exit 194. MINNESOTA Albert Lea Active According to Adam Froehlig, there is a business loop on I-35 in Albert Lea. It runs along U.S. 65 through town, and is signed as such from the freeway. Steve Riner and Adam Froehlig both report that there is indeed an I-35 business loop marked in Albert Lea, along U.S. 65. This would be the only the fourth Interstate business loop marked in Minnesota (the others are located in Fairmont, Moorhead, and Austin), and the only one that is entirely along a trunk highway. It is marked with standard cutout Interstate business loop shields, and it actually appears that the business loop markers have replaced most of the U.S. 65 signs along the route. Faribault Active According to Jeff Morrison, this business loop begins at the Minnesota 60 interchange at Exit 56 and ends at the Minnesota 21 interchange at Exit 59. A recent addition (ca. 2006), this business route overlays state trunk highways through Faribault.

Interstate Business Route 135

Interstate 135 is paralleled by U.S. 81 for nearly its entire length. There are two business routes for U.S. 81 that could also be treated as business loops for Interstate 135.

	KANSAS McPherson Not a Business Loop This is not a business route, but is signed as Business U.S. 81 between Exits 58 and 60 including duplexes with State Route 61 and U.S. 56. Lindsborg Not a Business Loop This is not a business route, but is signed as Business U.S. 81 between Exits 72 and 78 including a duplex with Kansas 4.

Thanks to Alan Sims for providing needed information on several potential (but non-existent) Business Routes in Mid-Texas.

Page Updated March 23, 2007.