Texas State Highway 173
{{short description|State highway in Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=TX
|type=SH
|route=173
|alternate_name=173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial Highway
|map={{maplink-road|from=Texas State Highway 173.map|zoom=7}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=SH 173, highlighted in red
|length_mi=97.34
|length_ref={{TxDOT|SH|173|access-date=June 27, 2018}}Certified mileage does not include concurrency with SH 16 in Bandera.
|length_round=
|established=1932
|direction_a=South
|direction_b=North
|terminus_a={{jct|state=TX|SH|16}} near Jourdanton
|junction={{jct|state=TX|I|35}} in Devine
{{jct|state=TX|US|90}} near Hondo
{{jct|state=TX|SH|16}} in Bandera
|terminus_b={{jct|state=TX|SH|16}} in Kerrville
|counties=Atascosa, Frio, Medina, Bandera, Kerr
|previous_type=SH
|previous_route=172
|next_type=SH
|next_route=174
}}
State Highway 173 (SH 173) is a state highway that runs for {{convert|97.9|mi|km}} from Jourdanton to Kerrville in south Texas, traversing through the Texas Hill Country.
History
The highway was originally designated on August 4, 1932 from Hondo southeast to Devine.{{cite web |archive-date=January 29, 2018 |date=November 28, 1932 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140852/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673821.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673821.pdf}} On October 26, 1932, it was extended southeast to Pleasanton.{{cite web |archive-date=January 29, 2018 |date=October 24, 1932 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129141933/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673818.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673818.pdf}} On January 11, 1933, it was rerouted to end in Jourdanton.{{cite web |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |date=January 10, 1933 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203005656/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673824.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673824.pdf}} On October 16, 1933, this section from Devine to Jourdanton was cancelled.{{cite web |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |date=October 16, 1933 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204071903/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673837.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673837.pdf}} On May 14, 1935, it was extended back to Jourdanton.{{cite web |archive-date=October 20, 2017 |date=May 13, 1935 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020140818/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673872.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673872.pdf}} On July 15, 1935, SH 173 was cancelled.{{cite web |archive-date=October 20, 2017 |date= July 15, 1935 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020091156/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673871.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673871.pdf}} On September 3, 1935, a road from Devine to Jourdanton was being investigated for preparation for restoration of this section of SH 173. On April 20, 1936, the entire route was restored.{{cite web |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |date=April 20, 1936 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004641/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673881.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673881.pdf}} On September 26, 1939, the designated route was extended south from Jourdanton through Freer, absorbing most of SH 241, with an expected terminus at Hebbronville.{{TxDOT|SH|241|access-date=July 3, 2017|link=no}} on January 29, 1942, the section from Freer to Hebbronville had been cancelled. On August 31, 1965, the section south of Jourdanton was transferred to SH 16. On February 21, 1972, SH 173 was signed, but not designated along FM 689 to Kerrville. On October 23, 1978, the section west of Loop 534 was transferred to Loop 534, but still signed as SH 173.. On August 29, 1990, the route was extended northward to Kerrville, replacing FM 689.{{TxDOT|FM|689|access-date=July 3, 2017|link=no}}
Route description
SH 173 begins at SH 16 just north of Jourdanton. SH 173 runs northwest toward Devine where it intersects I-35 in the south part of town. Leaving Devine, 173 turns running in a sharper northwest direction. Just east of Hondo, the highway interchanges with US 90. The highway turns to run in a more north–south direction, twisting and turning many times through canyons. SH 173 enters Bandera and intersects SH 16 for a second time. The two highways share a short overlap before splitting. Here, signs are posted advising trucks and through traffic to use SH 173 as a route to Kerrville instead of SH 16, as SH 173 is a shorter and faster route, while SH 16 traverses a hill with many sharp curves. SH 173 intersects SH 16 for a third time in Kerrville, where the highway ends.
{{Clear}}
Junction list
{{TXint
|county=Atascosa
|cspan=5
|location=Jourdanton
|mile=0.0
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|16}}
|notes=Southern terminus of SH 173
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=6.0
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2146|dir1=north|to2=to|FM|476}}
|notes=South end of FM 2146 overlap
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=6.3
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2146|dir1=south|to2=to|FM|1333}}
|notes=North end of FM 2146 overlap
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=9.8
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1333|city1=Charlotte}}
|notes=
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=15.2
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2504|dir1=north|city1=Rossville}}
|notes=Southern terminus of FM 2504
}}
{{TXint
|county=Frio
|location=Bigfoot
|mile=21.5
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|472|dir1=south|city1=Bigfoot}}
|notes=
}}
{{TXint
|county=Medina
|cspan=8
|location=Devine
|lspan=4
|mile=24.9
|road={{jct|state=TX|I|35|city1=Moore|city2=Natalia}}
|notes=I-35 exit 122.
}}
{{TXint
|mile=25.7
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|3176|dir1=south|to2=to|FM|462}}
|notes=Northern terminus of FM 3176
}}
{{TXint
|mile=25.8
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|132|city1=Pearsall}}
|notes=
}}
{{TXint
|mile=26.6
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2200|dir1=north|city1=Yancey}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of FM 2200
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=30.7
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1343|dir1=north|city1=Castroville}}
|notes=Southern terminus of FM 1343
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=45.7
|road={{jct|state=TX|US|90|city1=Hondo|city2=San Antonio}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=45.8
|road=18th Street
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=47.0
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2676|dir1=east|city1=Quihi|city2=Rio Medina}}
|notes=Western terminus of FM 2676
}}
{{TXint
|county=Bandera
|cspan=5
|location=none
|mile=72.9
|road={{jct|state=TX|RM|1077|dir1=west|location1=Hill Country State Natural Area}}
|notes=
}}
{{TXint
|location=Bandera
|lspan=2
|mile=73.3
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|16|dir1=south|city1=San Antonio}}
|notes=South end of SH 16 overlap
}}
{{TXint
|mile=73.8
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|16|dir1=north|name1=Main Street|location1=Medina}}
|notes=North end of SH 16 overlap
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=74.3
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|3240|dir1=west}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of FM 3240
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=84.0
|road={{jct|state=TX|RM|2828|dir1=west|location1=Medina}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of RM 2828
}}
{{TXint
|county=Kerr
|cspan=4
|location=Camp Verde
|mile=86.6
|road={{jct|state=TX|RM|480|dir1=north|location1=Center Point}}
|notes=Southern terminus of RM 480
}}
{{TXint
|location=none
|mile=92.0
|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2771|dir1=west|name1=Lower Turtle Creek Road}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of FM 2771
}}
{{TXint
|location=Kerrville
|lspan=2
|mile=95.8
|road={{jct|state=TX|Loop|534|dir1=north|to2=to|I|10|SH|27}}
|notes=Southern terminus of Loop 534
}}
{{TXint
|mile=97.9
|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|16|extra=hospital|location1=Medina|city2=Kerrville}}
|notes=Northern terminus of SH 173; access to Peterson Regional Medical Center
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
Notes
{{reflist|group=nb}}