Texas State Highway 73

Infobox TX State Highway
type=State
route=73

---

length_mi=42.02Texas Department of Transportation, [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/tpp/hwy/sh/sh0073.htm] ]
length_km=67.62
formed=1941
dir1=West
dir2=East
from=
junction=
to=
previous_type=State
previous_route=72
next_type=State
next_route=74

State Highway 73 or SH 73 is a Texas state highway that runs 42 miles from Winnie through Port Arthur to near Orange.

In September 2008, Hurricane Ike forced the closure of SH 73. Among other debris left on the road by the storm were two 200 ton barges. The storm surge pushed the barges almost 10 miles before they came to rest on the highway. [http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/demolition_team_works_to_clear_barges_from_texas_73_09-21-2008.html]

Previous routes

The original SH 73 was designated by 1933 from Columbus to Houston. By 1941, the route was readjusted, with the route, instead of traveling west from Houston, now was designated east from Houston to Port Arthur. Construction was slow, with only small portions outside Houston, Port Arthur, and the stretch from Winnie to Anahuac (signed as 73-T) completed by 1954. In 1961, the route was shortened from Port Arthur to Winnie, with the western portions having been replaced by Interstate 10. SH 73-T was transferred to SH 65. In 1982, the route was extended along its current route to Orange, along a concurrent route with SH 87 and SH 62.

Counties and junctions

References