Hill Country / Interstate photo archive

Interstate 10 from Kerrville to Junction

Last updated September 4, 2001

Follow the September 2001 drive west from Kerrville through limestone cuts and down to the Llano River at Junction. Two 1970 photographs provide a comparison.

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Collection: TexasFreeway

One of the larger limestone cuts along this stretch.

18 photographs · September 2001 and 1970

Follow I-10 through the limestone cuts to Junction.

Scan the photographs and captions, or settle into the larger slideshow.

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Explore the I-10 photographs

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I-10 Kerrville to Junction photographsBack to top ↑

First views west of Kerrville

Limestone cuts west of Kerrville

September 2001 limestone-cut photographs

9 archive photographs

Photos taken 2-September-2001 and proceed from east to west

I-10 descends toward a limestone cut and curved bridge west of Kerrville. — Collection: TexasFreeway
Limestone cut west of Kerrville
Just west of Kerrville, an impressive limestone cut appears on the horizon.

I-10 on a curving bridge between wooded limestone hills. — Collection: TexasFreeway
Limestone cuts and bridge

I-10 runs between high limestone cuts. — Collection: TexasFreeway
I-10 limestone cut

Westbound I-10 approaching a limestone cut beneath a blue sky. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Approaching a smaller cut
Approaching a smaller limestone cut.

I-10 inside a limestone road cut. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Inside a limestone cut
Inside the cut

I-10 mileage sign beside a limestone hillside. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Junction and El Paso mileage sign
A mileage indicator. It's a long, long way to El Paso.

I-10 stretches across a low series of Hill Country grades. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Long straight grade
The Interstate is straight with consistent grades.

I-10 runs straight through rolling wooded hills. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Road view from a car
Another typical view.

I-10 drops and climbs across rolling terrain west of FM 479. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
I-10 west of FM 479

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Historic 1970 comparison

Descending toward Junction

Descent toward Junction and the 1970 comparison

6 archive photographs

I-10 descending through limestone toward the Llano River valley. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Approaching Junction
Just east of Junction, the things become interesting as the highway descends into the Llano River valley.

I-10 runs westbound down a grade with limestone on both sides. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Westbound descent near Junction
Proceeding westbound down the grade.

Historic Texas Highways magazine photograph of I-10 construction near Junction. — July 1970
Source: Texas Highways, July 1970
Texas Highways 1970 Junction view

I-10 eastbound lanes near Junction in September 2001, shown below a July 1970 comparison. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
I-10 near Junction in 2001
The upper image appeared on the cover of Texas Highways Magazine in July 1970. The view below shows the same location on September 2, 2001. This is just east of Junction on the eastbound lanes, looking towards the west.

I-10 eastbound lanes climbing a grade east of Junction. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Eastbound grade near Junction
Another view of the eastbound lanes going up the grade.

I-10 looking west through a limestone cut east of Junction. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Eastbound lanes east of Junction
One last view of the eastbound lanes, east of Junction, looking west.

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Bridge and western edge of Junction

The Llano River crossing

Llano River crossing and west end of Junction

3 archive photographs

Black-and-white May 1970 construction view of the I-10 Llano River bridge. — May 1970
Original source not stated
Llano River bridge construction in 1970

The I-10 Llano River bridge photographed in September 2001 below the May 1970 construction view. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
Llano River bridge in 2001
The upper image is a May 1970 view of construction of the IH-10 crossing over the Llano River. The view below shows the same location on September 2, 2001. The Llano Rivers drains the semi-arid terrain of the region, so flow is normally minimal. But as the wide flood plain suggests, occasional floods can cause heavy flows. See photos from a November 2000 flood event.

I-10 looking west from FM 2291 at the edge of Junction. — September 2, 2001
Collection: TexasFreeway
I-10 west of Junction
Looking west from the FM 2291 overpass at the western edge of Junction. Westbound motorists face a grueling 435 mile drive across the desert wastelands of west Texas to reach El Paso.

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From the original archive

Kerrville to Junction: historical notes and route map

Last updated September 4, 2001 · Return to the photographs ↑

Interstate 10, Kerrville to Junction

Also see: Interstate 10 Comfort to Kerrville

Interstate 10 between Kerrville and Junction is probably the most interesting section of Interstate Highway in Texas. Rugged landscapes, numerous cuts through the limestone, and very high design standards make this an impressive facility. Junction receives about 24.8 inches in rainfall annually, according to the NOAA web site. Although this does not officially qualify as a desert, this is a very dry region.

This section of Interstate 10 was completed throughout the 1970s. The major limestone cuts near Junction were open by 1972. A 1976 map shows all of this section complete except for about 10 miles midway between Kerrville and Junction.

Original locator map for I-10 between Kerrville and Junction — Collection: TexasFreeway
I-10 Kerrville to Junction locator map

Follow I-10 through the limestone cuts to Junction.

Explore the I-10 photographs

Limestone cuts west of Kerrville

Limestone cut west of Kerrville

Limestone cuts and bridge

I-10 limestone cut

Approaching a smaller cut

Inside a limestone cut

Junction and El Paso mileage sign

Long straight grade

Road view from a car

I-10 west of FM 479

Descending toward Junction

Approaching Junction

Westbound descent near Junction

Texas Highways 1970 Junction view

I-10 near Junction in 2001

Eastbound grade near Junction

Eastbound lanes east of Junction

The Llano River crossing

Llano River bridge construction in 1970

Llano River bridge in 2001

I-10 west of Junction

Kerrville to Junction: historical notes and route map

Interstate 10, Kerrville to Junction

I-10 Kerrville to Junction locator map