Texas State Highway 173

State Highway 173 (SH 173) is a state highway that runs for 97.9 miles (157.6 km) from Jourdanton to Kerrville in south Texas, traversing through the Texas Hill Country.

State Highway 173
173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial Highway
SH 173, highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length	97.34 mi (156.65 km)
Existed	1932–present
Major junctions
South end	SH 16 near Jourdanton
Major intersections	I-35 in Devine US 90 near Hondo SH 16 in Bandera
North end	SH 16 in Kerrville
Location
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Atascosa, Frio, Medina, Bandera, Kerr
Highway system
Highways in Texas Interstate US State Toll Loops Spurs FM/RM Park Rec
← SH 172 → SH 174

History

The highway was originally designated on August 4, 1932 from Hondo southeast to Devine. On October 26, 1932, it was extended southeast to Pleasanton. On January 11, 1933, it was rerouted to end in Jourdanton. On October 16, 1933, this section from Devine to Jourdanton was cancelled. On May 14, 1935, it was extended back to Jourdanton. On July 15, 1935, SH 173 was cancelled. 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. 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. 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.

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.

Junction list

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Atascosa	Jourdanton	0.0	0.0	SH 16	Southern terminus of SH 173
	​	6.0	9.7	FM 2146 north to FM 476	South end of FM 2146 overlap
	​	6.3	10.1	FM 2146 south to FM 1333	North end of FM 2146 overlap
	​	9.8	15.8	FM 1333 – Charlotte
	​	15.2	24.5	FM 2504 north – Rossville	Southern terminus of FM 2504
Frio	Bigfoot	21.5	34.6	FM 472 south – Bigfoot
Medina	Devine	24.9	40.1	I-35 – Moore, Natalia	I-35 exit 122.
		25.7	41.4	FM 3176 south to FM 462	Northern terminus of FM 3176
		25.8	41.5	SH 132 – Pearsall
		26.6	42.8	FM 2200 north – Yancey	Eastern terminus of FM 2200
	​	30.7	49.4	FM 1343 north – Castroville	Southern terminus of FM 1343
	​	45.7	73.5	US 90 – Hondo, San Antonio	Interchange
	​	45.8	73.7	18th Street	Interchange
	​	47.0	75.6	FM 2676 east – Quihi, Rio Medina	Western terminus of FM 2676
Bandera	​	72.9	117.3	RM 1077 west – Hill Country State Natural Area
	Bandera	73.3	118.0	SH 16 south – San Antonio	South end of SH 16 overlap
		73.8	118.8	SH 16 north (Main Street) – Medina	North end of SH 16 overlap
	​	74.3	119.6	FM 3240 west	Eastern terminus of FM 3240
	​	84.0	135.2	RM 2828 west – Medina	Eastern terminus of RM 2828
Kerr	Camp Verde	86.6	139.4	RM 480 north – Center Point	Southern terminus of RM 480
	​	92.0	148.1	FM 2771 west (Lower Turtle Creek Road)	Eastern terminus of FM 2771
	Kerrville	95.8	154.2	Loop 534 north to I-10 / SH 27	Southern terminus of Loop 534
		97.9	157.6	SH 16 – Medina, Kerrville	Northern terminus of SH 173; access to Peterson Regional Medical Center
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus