San Antonio Area
Freeway System
US Highway 281 North
Roadside Photos |
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This page last updated
January 01, 2010 |
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Below are pictures from
the roadside and overpasses along US 281 North from Mulberry Ave. to
just north of Loop 1604. The map below shows the
locations of available photos. The letters are clickable.
There may be more than one picture from each location.
Click
here to return
to the US 281 North photo galleries page. |


A
From the Sonterra Blvd.
overpass looking north
This is where the
freeway currently ends. Construction of a controversial tollway
from this point north has been stalled due to ongoing litigation and
environmental studies.
(September 2005)

A
From the Sonterra Blvd.
overpass looking south
This is the Loop 1604
intersection. The Loop 1604 mainlanes are on the top bridge.
Construction on the first phase of a stack interchange is planned to start in late
2010.
(September 2005)

B
From the Henderson Pass
overpass looking north
Again, looking at the
Loop 1604 intersection, this time from the south.
(September 2005)

B
From the Henderson Pass
overpass looking south
The freeway runs in a
mile-long trench at this location.
(September 2005)

B
The Henderson Pass
overpass over US 281
This bridge was closed
in the late '90s due to structural problems and excessive conflicts
resulting from through-traffic for the Loop 1604 interchange.
(September 2005)

B
Looking at the abandoned
Henderson Pass overpass from across the access road
(September 2005)

C
From the Donella Dr. overpass
looking north
(September 2005)

C
From the Donella Dr. overpass
looking south
(September 2005)

D
From the side of the
southbound lanes between Thousand Oaks Dr. and Brookhollow Blvd., looking
north
(September 2005)

D
From the side of the
southbound lanes between Thousand Oaks Dr. and Brookhollow Blvd., looking
south
(September 2005)

E
From the Oak
Shadows/Winding Way overpass, looking north
The roadway at the
right is the exit ramp to Brookhollow Dr.
(September 2005)

E
From the Oak
Shadows/Winding Way overpass, looking south
(September 2005)

F
From the side of the
southbound access road just north of Bitters Rd., looking south
(September 2005)

G
Looking north from the
Nakoma Rd. overpass
(September 2005)

G
Looking south from the
Nakoma Rd. overpass
Note the low-profile
street lights-- a runway at San Antonio International Airport sits
just off to the east (left) here.
(September 2005)

H
Looking north from the
Sandau Rd./Rhapsody Dr. overpass
As the plane makes
obvious, we're again looking at the area at the end of the runway.
(September 2005)

H
Looking south from the
Sandau Rd./Rhapsody Dr. overpass
This is the San Pedro
Ave. interchange. Prior to the freeway, US 281 used to
continue south along San Pedro from here.
Now it bends to the east to continue its path downtown. At
present, San Pedro is also the exit for Loop 410. That will
change when the US 281/Loop 410 interchange is completed in a few
years.
(September 2005)

I
From the Isom Rd.
overpass, looking northbound
The tunnel-like exit
on the right is the exit for Nakoma
(September 2005)

I
From the Isom Rd.
overpass, looking southbound
This area is about to
undergo construction as part of the US 281/Loop 410 interchange
project.
(September 2005)

J
Looking north from the
pedestrian overpass just north of Hildebrand Ave.
(September 2005)

K
Looking further north from
the pedestrian overpass just north of Hildebrand Ave.
The freeway passes
over the Olmos Basin here. This was the much-disputed section
of freeway,
and is now the main reason that this freeway is consistently rated
as one of American's most scenic urban freeways.
(September 2005)

K
Looking south from the
pedestrian overpass just north of Hildebrand Ave.
The overpass is
Hildebrand Ave. Downtown is visible in the background.
Just behind the clump of trees to the left of the skyline is the San
Antonio Zoo.
(September 2005)

L
Looking at the freeway
just south of Hildebrand Ave.
The freeway curves
around the zoo and Brackenridge Park here.
(September 2005)

M
Looking north from the
Stadium Dr. overpass
The freeway is shoehorned between Brackenridge Park (right) and
Alamo Stadium (left) here.
The overhang along the right is a cantilevered roadway running
around the perimeter of the Sunken Gardens.
This whole area was a rock quarry in the early 1900s as evidenced by
the natural limestone wall at the far right. TxDOT is apparently letting the center median return to nature.
(September 2005)

M
Looking south from the
Stadium Dr. overpass
The freeway begins a
winding homestretch into downtown from here.
(September 2005)

M
Dedication plaque at the
Stadium Dr. overpass
As this freeway was so
controversial, it was quite a civic accomplishment to get it built.
Walter McAllister, mayor of
San Antonio at the time, was the driving
force behind its completion. Thus, it was only fitting to name it
for him.
A raised City of San Antonio crest used to occupy the vacant spot
at the top.
(September 2005)
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