Texas State Highway Loop 7
# Texas State Highway Loop 7

Loop 7 is a beltway in the U.S. state of Texas around the town of Athens. The highway additionally serves as a bypass for U.S. Highway 175 (US 175), State Highway 19 (SH 19), and SH 31 around the town.

## Route description

Loop 7 officially begins at an interchange with SH 31 (West Corsicana Street) west of downtown Athens. SH 31 overlaps with Loop 7 and the two highways turn northeast before having an interchange with US 175; that highway then joins the overlap as well. The beltway turns towards the east and has an interchange with SH 19; SH 19 joins the beltway. Loop 7 continues to run east with SH 31 leaving at an interchange with Business SH 31 (Bus. SH 31, East Tyler Street). Loop 7 turns south at the interchange and has an interchange with Farm to Market Road 2495 (FM 2495). Loop 7 starts turning southeast with US 175 leaving at an interchange with Bus. US 175 (E. Corsicana Street). After US 175 leaves the beltway, Loop 7 turns west with SH 19 leaving at an interchange with Bus. SH 19 (South Palestine Street). After SH 19 leaves the beltway, Loop 7 travels without any concurrences and has an interchange with FM 59 and FM 2494. After the FM 2494 interchange, Loop 7 turns north before arriving back at its start point with SH 31 (West Corsicana Street).

## History

### Current route

The section of Loop 7 from SH 31 (West Corsicana Street) to FM 317 was originally the westernmost section of FM 317. This portion of FM 317 was redesignated as Loop 7 on January 28, 2005. On May 30, 2013, SH 31 was rerouted around Athens, bypassing the town and overlapping with Loop 7.

## Junction list

The entire route is in Henderson County.

| Location | Destinations | Notes |
| - | - | - |
| Athens | SH 31 west / Bus. SH 31 east – Corsicana, Athens | Interchange; counter-clockwise end of SH 31 concurrency |
| Athens | US 175 west / Bus. US 175 east – Mabank, Athens | Interchange; counter-clockwise end of US 175 concurrency |
| Athens | SH 19 north / Bus. SH 19 south – Canton, Athens | Interchange; counter-clockwise end of SH 19 concurrency |
| Athens | FM 1616 north – Murchison | |
| Athens | SH 31 east / Bus. SH 31 west – Tyler, Athens | Interchange; clockwise end of SH 31 concurrency |
| Athens | FM 2495 – Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center | Interchange |
| Athens | US 175 west / Bus. US 175 east – Jacksonville, Athens | Interchange; clockwise end of US 175 concurrency |
| Athens | SH 19 south / Bus. SH 19 north – Palestine, Athens | Interchange; clockwise end of SH 19 concurrency |
| ​ | FM 59 – Cayuga, Athens | Interchange |
| ​ | FM 2494 | Interchange |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus |||||
