Highway Designation File

Transportation Planning and Programming Division
Current Description-Effective Date-Authority


Certified Mileage (Open to Traffic)
580.608 2010

U. S. HIGHWAY NO. 281

Original Description per Administrative Circular No 16-1944

03/01/1935 - Wichita Falls 62, Jacksboro 72, Stephenville 54, Hamilton 44, Lampasas 25, Burnet 37, Johnson City 65, San Antonio 75, Three Rivers 65, Alice 38, Falfurrias 74, Pharr 59, Brownsville.

01/01/1939 - Wichita Falls 62, Jacksboro 72, Stephenville 54, Hamilton 44, Lampasas 25, Burnet 37, Johnson City 65, San Antonio 75, Three Rivers 65, Alice 38, Falfurrias 74, Pharr 9, Hidalgo 49, Brownsville.

05/01/1942 - Wichita Falls 58, Jacksboro 73, Stephenville 41, Hamilton 45, Lampasas 22, Burnet 36, Johnson City 62, San Antonio 69, Three Rivers 55, Alice 38, Falfurrias 73, Pharr 9, Hidalgo 49, Brownsville.



Minute Order 016701, dated 09/26/1939

From the Texas-Oklahoma State Line via Wichita Falls, Windthorst, Antelope, Jacksboro, Mineral Wells, Stephenville, Hico, Hamilton, Evant, Lampasas, Burnet, Marble Falls, Johnson City, Blanco, Spring Branch, San Antonio, Pleasanton, Three Rivers, George West, Alice, Falfurrias, Pharr, and Progresso to Brownsville with a spur from a point on US 281 east of Hidalgo, via Hidalgo to the International Boundary at Reynosa, Mexico.  General redescription of Highway System.



Minute Order 074086, dated 02/23/1978

No change to description.  Relocated in San Antonio.



Adm. Auth., 09/11/1978; Adm. Ltr. 010-1978, 10/16/1978

From the Texas/Oklahoma S/L via Wichita Falls, Windthorst, Antelope, Jacksboro, Mineral Wells, Stephenville, Hico, Hamilton, Evant, Lampasas, Burnet, Marble Falls, Johnson City, Blanco, Spring Branch, San Antonio, Pleasanton, Three Rivers, George West, Alice, Falfurrias, Pharr, and Progresso to Brownsville, with a spur connection from a point on US 281 east of Hidalgo via Hidalgo to a point approximately 150' north of Bridge Street. (Wichita, Archer, Jack, Palo Pinto, Erath, Hamilton, Coryell, Lampasas, Burnet, Blanco, Comal, Bexar, Atascosa, Live Oak, Jim Wells, Brooks, Hidalgo, and Cameron Counties)  Section from International Bridge in Hidalgo northeastward approx. 0.2 mile cancelled.


[Congressman Frank M. Tejeda Memorial Highway--US 281 from its intersection with SL 410 in Bexar County to its intersection with the Atascosa/Bexar County Line.  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 519, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997]
[American Legion Memorial Highway--US 281from beginning to end. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1263, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2005]