Texas State Highway Loop 540

State Highway Loop 540
Route information
Length:	3.354 mi[1] (5.398 km)
Existed:	1980 – present
Major junctions
North end:	I-69 / US 59
	FM 1875
South end:	I-69 / US 59 / FM 360
Highway system
Highways in Texas Interstate US State Toll Loops Spurs Park Rec FM ← Loop 539 Loop 541 →

Loop 540 is a loop route through Beasley in the U.S. state of Texas. The highway begins at US 59 northeast of Beasley, continues straight through the center of the city and ends at US 59 southwest of Beasley. Loop 540 runs parallel with the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Route description

Loop 540 is best described from north to south because its north-to-south distance is longer than if the highway is traveled from south to north. The highway begins at a US 59 exit ramp about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) after the intersection with Daily Road to the northeast of Beasley. At first, the Loop 540 right-of-way is one-way going southwest on an old two-lane pavement alongside the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. After 0.2 miles (0.3 km), there is a loop where northeast-bound traffic must turn around to avoid heading the wrong way onto US 59. From this point until nearly its end, Loop 540 has two-way traffic. From the turnaround loop to Hamlink Road is a distance of 0.5 miles (0.8 km). At Hamlink Road, northbound traffic can access US 59 going northeast. From Hamlink Road to 4th Street in the center of Beasley is 0.7 miles (1.1 km). In this stretch, Loop 540 passes the U.S. Post Office at 1st Street South. Between 4th and 5th Streets the highway passes several grain storage structures, which are on the north side of the railroad tracks. These buildings are a prominent landmark and can be easily seen from almost anywhere on Loop 540. From 4th Street to FM 1875 is 0.8 miles (1.3 km). From FM 1875 to FM 360 is about 0.6 miles (1.0 km). FM 360 passes under US 59 before heading southeast to Needville. One-way traffic on Loop 540 continues another 0.4 miles (0.6 km) from the FM 360 intersection to the southwest before entering US 59 at an entrance ramp.^[2]

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  Beasley Post Office at 1st Street and Loop 540

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  Grain storage buildings on Loop 540 in Beasley

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  Looking northwest from Loop 540 and FM 1875

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  View northeast toward Beasley near US 59

History

On April 14, 1980, Loop 540 was designated to start at US 59 about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) southwest of Beasley and continue about 3.1 miles (5.0 km) northeast to US 59. The highway is also referred to as the Beasley Loop.^[1]

Major intersections

The entire highway is in Beasley, Fort Bend County.

mi	km	Destinations	Notes
0.0	0.0	US 59 – Wharton, Rosenberg	Northern terminus of Loop 540
2.2	3.5	FM 1875 – Tavener	Southern terminus of FM 1875
3.4	5.5	US 59 / FM 360 – Needville	Southern terminus of Loop 540
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. Transportation Planning and Programming Division. "State Highway Loop No. 540". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
2. Google (March 27, 2013). "Texas State Highway Loop 540" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 27, 2013.