Texas State Highway 103


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State Highway 103 (SH 103) is a state highway that runs through east Texas from an intersection with SH 7 near the Neches River through Lufkin to an intersection with SH 21 near the Louisiana state line. The route was originally designated in 1926.

State Highway 103 marker

State Highway 103

Map

SH 103, highlighted in red

Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length63.05 mi[1] (101.47 km)
Existedby 1933–present
Major junctions
West end SH 7 near Redtown
US 69 at Lufkin

Future I-69 / US 59 at Lufkin
US 96 near Bronson
East end SH 21 near Milam
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
Highway system
SH 102 SH 104

SH 103 begins at an intersection with SH 7 just east of the Neches River. It then travels generally eastward to the western outskirts of Lufkin. The route then briefly travels northeast along State Loop 287 and US Route 69 before entering Lufkin coinciding with the business route of US 69. At Atkinson Drive, it turns east and proceeds out of town. It crosses two arms of Lake Sam Rayburn before reaching its eastern terminus at SH 21 just west of Milam, and 10 miles from the Louisiana state line. The entire route covers 63.05 miles.

SH 103 was originally designated on February 17, 1925 from Centerville east through Crockett to Lufkin, and SH 103 was conditional on location and construction.[2] On March 28, 1927, another SH 103 was created as a renumbering of SH 104 from Ranger to Morton Valley (as it was unsure if the other SH 103 would be built). This SH 103 was eliminated by 1930. As a result, there was only one SH 103 from Centerville east through Crockett to Lufkin. On December 1, 1930, SH 103 was cancelled.[3] SH 103 was restored on January 22, 1931.[4] By 1933, the route had only been built between Crockett and Ratcliff, and was only an improved earth road. On July 15, 1935, only the already constructed section from Crockett to Ratcliff remained.[5] The section from Ratcliff to Lufkin was restored on February 25, 1937.[6] On January 26, 1939, SH 103 was extended east to Milam.[7] On September 26, 1939, the western section from Crockett to Ratcliff was reassigned to SH 7 (the original plan was to reroute it northeast over SH 266 to Nacogdoches), and the remainder was redesignated as SH 293 as originally planned. On October 30, 1939, before signage was changed, SH 293 was changed back to SH 103. By 1940, sections around Lufkin were completed, but did not connect to earthen roads to the west. On January 22, 1940, the section of SH 103 from Ratcliff to the Neches River was cancelled. On March 26, 1942, SH 103 was extended west 3.5 miles from the Neches River. On September 14, 1944, SH 103 was extended west to Ratcliff. On June 14, 1961, SH 103 was truncated to rerouted SH 7, which was built along a new route and part of cancelled FM 327 (the rest of FM 327 became part of FM 1819). On June 21, 1990, one small section of SH 103 from Loop 287 to Business US 59 was transferred to Business US 69.

  1. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 103". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation.
  2. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. February 17, 1925. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. November 29, 1930. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. January 19, 1931. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. July 15, 1935. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. February 25, 1937. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Minutes" (PDF). publicdocs.txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation. January 23, 1939. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2023.