Texas State Highway 165

State Highway 165
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length:	0.512 mi[1] (0.824 km)
Existed:	1932 – present
Major junctions
South end:	7th Street in Austin
North end:	Texas State Cemetery in Austin
Highway system
Highways in Texas Interstate US State Toll Loops Spurs FM/RM Park Rec ← SH 164 SH 166 →

State Highway 165 (SH 165) is a state highway in the state of Texas in the United States. At 0.51 miles (0.82 km) long, it is the shortest main state highway in Texas, and perhaps the only one partially locked at night. It is connected to no other Texas highway system roads.

Route description

State Highway 165, viewed from the north gate of the cemetery.

Officially, SH 165 runs north along Comal Street from 7th Street into and within the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.^[2] As of December 2005, it is signed only within the State Cemetery while the Comal Street portion is unsigned. The posted speed limit for the highway is 10 miles per hour (16 km/h).

History

In 1932, Texas historian Louis Kemp brought the neglected Texas State Cemetery to the attention of officials at the Texas Highway Department. At the time, the 22-acre (8.9 ha) State Cemetery, located just east of current downtown Austin, had no roads. The Highway Department established a highway to and created and paved roads through the cemetery. The highway to the State Cemetery was also previously known informally as the "Lou Kemp Highway".

At various times, SH 165 originated from US 290 and SH 20 (probably the same route redesignated) in downtown Austin, and at Loop 343. In 1965, SH 165 was truncated to Comal Street from 7th Street to the entrance of the State Cemetery as well as the roads within the cemetery. At that time, Loop 343 ran along 7th Street (which borders the State Cemetery). In 1977, the eastern section of Loop 343, including the routing along 7th Street, was deleted from the Texas highway system, leaving SH 165 officially isolated from other highways in the Texas highway system. However, the Texas State Cemetery — and SH 165 — are located just six blocks east of Interstate 35.

This route has only been designated as SH 165 or, on an informal basis, as "Lou Kemp Highway".

Major intersections

The entire route is in Austin, Travis County.

References