Texas State Highway 72

SH 72 begins in far western McMullen County, near the La Salle County line, at an intersection with SH 97 north of Fowlerton.{{Texas Mapbook|378|accessdate=November 3, 2012}} The highway has no major intersections until it intersects SH 16 north of Tilden.{{Texas Mapbook|408|accessdate=November 3, 2012}} 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.{{Texas Mapbook|438|accessdate=November 3, 2012}} 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.{{Texas Mapbook|437|accessdate=November 3, 2012}} 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.{{Texas Mapbook|436|accessdate=November 3, 2012}}{{Texas Mapbook|466|accessdate=November 3, 2012}} 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.

SH 72 was originally proposed on August 21, 1923 from Cuero to Carmine, absorbing previously designated SH 3B.{{cite web |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |date=August 21, 1923 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026054040/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003676878.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=3 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003676878.pdf}} On March 17, 1924, it was extended southwest to Yorktown.{{cite web |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |date=March 17, 1924 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020419/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003676885.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=3 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003676885.pdf}} On December 21, 1926, it was extended to Karnes City.{{cite web |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |date=December 20, 1926 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051949/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003676961.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=3 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003676961.pdf}} 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).{{cite web |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |date=March 15, 1937 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218092756/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673894.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=3 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673894.pdf}}{{cite web |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |date=February 27, 1931 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126190508/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673801.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=3 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673801.pdf}} 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.{{cite web |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |date=November 23, 1936 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019115929/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673888.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=3 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673888.pdf}} On November 16, 1937, it was extended to Three Rivers.{{cite web |archive-date=February 19, 2018 |date=November 15, 1937 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219095036/https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673908.pdf |title=Minutes |website=publicdocs.txdot.gov |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=3 May 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live |url=https://publicdocs.txdot.gov/minord/MinuteOrderDocLib/003673908.pdf}} 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.{{TxDOT|FM|63|accessdate=November 2, 2012}} 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.{{TxDOT|FM|3402|accessdate=November 2, 2012}}

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.{{cite news|title=DeWitt County officials, residents discuss increased oil industry traffic, concerns|url=http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/nov/18/sl_dewitt_traffic_111911_159017/|last=Long|first=Sonny|newspaper=The Victoria Advocate|date=November 18, 2011|accessdate=November 3, 2012}}

{{jcttop|state=TX|type=highway|length_ref={{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=TX-72+E&daddr=Unknown+road+to:TX-72+E%2FRiver+St+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:W+Thornton+St+to:N+Harborth+Ave+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E&hl=en&ll=28.627925,-98.313904&spn=1.161997,2.113495&sll=28.812435,-97.8581&sspn=0.008602,0.009463&geocode=FeXSsgEdaWoc-g%3BFRVusgEd-kYg-g%3BFe5JsgEdpEEg-g%3BFbJEsgEd4Ooh-g%3BFWxEsgEd9Doi-g%3BFcYXsgEdMi4j-g%3BFf4WsgEdqi0k-g%3BFQ5fsgEdzxkl-g%3BFc5GsgEdcNol-g%3BFeJpsgEdkOYl-g%3BFf6xsgEdmnIm-g%3BFaINswEdas8m-g%3BFZJjswEdYkon-g%3BFfIztQEdbI8o-g%3BFZdGtQEdUJMo-g%3BFQRttQEdLJgo-g%3BFWr3tQEd5s4o-g%3BFdZ3tgEdK3op-g%3BFa6EtwEdvKEq-g%3BFSyctwEdNrwq-g%3BFWyrtwEdRM0q-g&mra=mi&mrsp=20&sz=17&t=m&z=10|title=SH 72 Overview Map with Major Intersections: Jct. SH 97 to Jct. US 181|accessdate=November 2, 2012}}{{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=TX-72+E&daddr=W+Main+St+to:W+Main+St+to:Laredo+to:TX-72+E%2FLaredo+to:TX-72+E%2FLaredo+to:W+Main+St+to:Front+St+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:W+Main+St+to:W+Main+St+to:TX-72+E+to:TX-72+E+to:Farm+to+Market+3402%2FW+Heaton+St&hl=en&ll=28.946871,-97.536621&spn=0.560002,1.056747&sll=29.083945,-97.295426&sspn=0.008579,0.009602&geocode=FWyrtwEdRM0q-g%3BFaK5twEd6-Mq-g%3BFa2_twEdrPQq-g%3BFWTBtwEdlfkq-g%3BFaOytwEdFi8r-g%3BFUS8twEdNmgr-g%3BFdO6uAEdaQQt-g%3BFclMuQEdLpku-g%3BFToSugEdu4ov-g%3BFYMougEdVOAv-g%3BFcgyugEdhB0w-g%3BFVc3ugEdtDgw-g%3BFbZbugEduGgw-g%3BFfTEuwEdOHwy-g%3BFSzKuwEd7GQz-g&mra=mi&mrsp=14&sz=17&t=m&z=11|title=SH 72 Overview Map with Major Intersections: Jct. US 181 to Jct. US 183|accessdate=November 2, 2012}}
}}

{{TXint

|mile=0.0

|county=McMullen

|cspan=6

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|97|city1=Cotulla|city2=Charlotte}}

|notes=Western terminus}}

{{TXint

|mile=15.6

|type=concur

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|16|dir1=North|city1=Jourdanton}}

|notes=West end of SH 16 concurrency}}

{{TXint

|mile=16.3

|type=concur

|location=Tilden

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|16|dir1=South|city1=Freer}}

|notes=East end of SH 16 concurrency}}

{{TXint

|mile=23.0

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|99|city1=Whitsett}}

}}

{{TXint

|mile=24.2

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|RE|7|dir1=east|location1=Choke Canyon Reservoir}}

|notes=Western terminus of RE 7}}

{{TXint

|mile=28.1

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|RE|8|dir1=north|location1=Choke Canyon State Park}}

|notes=Southern terminus of RE 8}}

{{TXint

|mile=32.1

|county=Live Oak

|cspan=7

|location=none|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1545|dir1=east|city1=Simmons City}}

|notes=Western terminus of FM 1545}}

{{TXint

|mile=36.1

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1545|dir1=west}}

|notes=Eastern terminus of FM 1545}}

{{TXint

|mile=39.1

|type=concur

|location=Three Rivers

|lspan=2

|road={{jct|state=TX|US|281|dir1=north|name1=Harborth Avenue}}

|notes=West end of US 281 concurrency}}

{{TXint

|mile=39.8

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=TX|US|281|dir1=south|name1=Harborth Avenue|city1=San Antonio}}

|notes=East end of US 281 concurrency}}

{{TXint

|mile=42.3

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|I|37|city1=Corpus Christi|city2=San Antonio}}

|notes=I-37 exit 69}}

{{TXint

|mile=44.5

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1358|dir1=south}}

|notes=Northern terminus of FM 1358}}

{{TXint

|mile=46.9

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2049|dir1=north}}

|notes=Southern terminus of FM 2049}}

{{TXint

|mile=56.8

|county=Bee

|cspan=3

|location=Pawnee

|lspan=2

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|798|dir1=east}}

|notes=Western terminus of FM 798}}

{{TXint

|mile=57.1

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|673|dir1=south|city1=Mineral}}

|notes=Northern terminus of FM 673}}

{{TXint

|mile=57.8

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|882|dir1=west}}

|notes=Eastern terminus of FM 882}}

{{TXint

|mile=60.5

|county=Karnes

|cspan=11

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|626|dir1=north}}

|notes=Southern terminus of FM 626}}

{{TXint

|mile=64.0

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2985|dir1=south}}

|notes=Northern terminus of FM 2985}}

{{TXint

|mile=70.6

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1145|dir1=east}}

|notes=Western terminus of FM 1145}}

{{TXint

|mile=71.2

|location=Kenedy

|lspan=6|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2102|dir1=west}}

|notes=Eastern terminus of FM 2102}}

{{TXint

|mile=71.6

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=TX|US|181|TX|239|dir2=begins|city1=Beeville|city2=Karnes City}}

|notes=West end of SH 239 concurrency}}

{{TXint

|mile=72.0

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|181|dir1=north|name1=5th Street}}

|notes=West end of Bus. US 181 concurrency}}

{{TXint

|mile=72.3

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|181|dir1=south|name1=2nd Street}}

|notes=East end of Bus. US 181 concurrency}}

{{TXint

|mile=72.4

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|792|dir1=north}}

|notes=Southern terminus of FM 792}}

{{TXint

|mile=73.3

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH-Bus|72|dab1=B|dir1=south|name1=Truck Route}}

|notes=Northeastern terminus of Bus. SH 72}}

{{TXint

|mile=74.2

|location=none

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|239|dir1=east|city1=Goliad}}

|notes=East end of SH 239 concurrency}}

{{TXint

|mile=82.6

|location=Runge

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|81|city1=Helena|city2=Charco}}

}}

{{TXint|mile=89.6|county=DeWitt|cspan=8|location=Nordheim|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|239}}}}

{{TXint|mile=94.7|location=none|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|952|city1=Cotton Patch}}}}

{{TXint|mile=96.1|location=none|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2980}}}}

{{TXint|mile=97.1|location=Yorktown|lspan=2|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|119|city1=Goliad|city2=Stockdale}}}}

{{TXint|mile=97.5|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|240}}}}

{{TXint|mile=98.6|location=none|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|237}}}}

{{TXint

|mile=109.0

|location=none

|road={{jct|state=TX|US|87|city1=Westhoff}}

}}

{{TXint

|mile=112.9

|location=Cuero

|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Alt|77|US|87|US|183|name3=South Esplanade Street}}

|notes=Eastern terminus}}

{{jctbtm}}

{{Infobox road small

|state=TX

|type=SH-Bus

|route=72

|dab=

|location=Kenedy

|length_mi=1.096

|length_round=3

|length_ref=

|formed=1982 (as Spur 542)

|yr_ref=

}}

Image:Texas Spur 542.svg

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.{{TxDOT|BS|72|B|accessdate=November 2, 2012}} The route was designated as Spur 542 on April 20, 1982, when SH 72 was rerouted to use Main Street.{{TxDOT|SS|542|accessdate=November 2, 2012}} 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.{{TxDOT|SS|259|accessdate=November 2, 2012}}

;Junction list

{{jcttop|state=TX|county=Karnes|location=Kenedy|length_ref={{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/28.8118999,-97.8488477/28.8155449,-97.8310654/@28.811654,-97.8470633,15.46z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-97.8463031!2d28.8126388!3s0x865d4a747187a035:0x60137568f09aca31!1m0!3e0?entry=ttu |title=Overview Map of Bus. SH 72 |access-date=October 9, 2023}}}}

{{TXint

|mile=0.0

|road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|181|dab1=Kenedy}}

|notes=Southwestern terminus}}

{{TXint

|mile=0.2

|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|743|dir1=north}}

|notes=Southern terminus of FM 743}}

{{TXint

|mile=1.1

|road={{jct|state=TX|SH|72|nolink1=yes|SH|239}}

|notes=Northeastern terminus}}

{{jctbtm}}

{{portal|U.S. Roads|Texas}}

• List of state highways in Texas

{{reflist|group="nb"}}

{{reflist|22em}}

• [http://www.aaroads.com/texas/tx-072.html Texas State Highway 72 at AARoads]

{{authority control}}

072

Category:Transportation in DeWitt County, Texas

Category:Transportation in Karnes County, Texas

Category:Transportation in Bee County, Texas

Category:Transportation in Live Oak County, Texas

Category:Transportation in McMullen County, Texas