How-to
Lubbock Roadside Guide: Loop 289 and the Marsha Sharp Freeway
Broke down on Loop 289 in Lubbock? Say which side of the loop you're on first: north, south, east or west. Then give the last cross street you passed and your direction. Many Lubbock cross streets meet the loop twice, so the side matters. If the car still rolls, get onto the frontage road. If anyone is hurt or you're stuck in a live lane, call 911 first.
Why does "which side of the loop" matter so much?
Loop 289 is a full ring of freeway around Lubbock. It runs about 26 miles. The trouble is that the same street names show up on more than one side.
Say your car dies "on the loop near Slide." There are two Slide Road exits. One is on the west leg, just past Quaker Avenue. The other is on the south leg, near Spur 327. They are miles apart. Your driver can't guess which one you mean.
Here are the repeat names that trip people up most:
| Cross street | Where it meets Loop 289 |
|---|---|
| I-27 | South end of I-27 on the south side, and again on the north side near the airport |
| US 84 | Slaton Highway on the southeast side, and the Littlefield road on the northwest side |
| University Avenue | North side and south side |
| Quaker Avenue | Northwest side, at Erskine, and south side |
| Slide Road | West side and south side |
| 4th Street | East side and west side |
| 19th Street | East side and west side |
| 50th Street | East side and west side |
So a good call sounds like this: "West Loop, southbound, just past 19th Street." Or: "South Loop, eastbound, between Quaker and Indiana."
How do I tell which way I'm going on the loop?
Loop 289 is a circle, so "north" and "south" change as you drive. On the west leg you're heading north or south. On the south leg you're heading east or west. Just name the next exit sign you were about to reach. That gives your direction without any guessing.
If you missed the sign, look at your phone map. Note the last cross street behind you. Then say the next one ahead.
Should I pull onto the frontage road?
Yes, if the car still moves. Loop 289 has frontage roads for nearly its whole length. That's the big safety edge of a Lubbock breakdown. A frontage road is slower and calmer than the main lanes.
- Car still rolling? Take the next exit and stop on the frontage road. Pull into a lot if one is right there.
- Car dead in the main lanes? Get as far right as you can. Hazards on. Stay buckled in.
- Stopped in a live lane? Call 911. Don't walk across the freeway to reach the frontage road.
- Car smoking or smelling of fuel? Get out on the side away from traffic and stand well back.
Once you're on a frontage road, you're closer to help than it feels. Your driver can reach you without merging into fast traffic. A dead battery or a flat is often an easy roadside fix from there.
Where does the Marsha Sharp Freeway fit in?
The Marsha Sharp Freeway is Lubbock's east-west freeway. It carries US 62 and US 82. It starts northeast of downtown and crosses town to past the West Loop. It meets Loop 289 twice. On the east side, that's where US 62/82 and SH 114 head toward Idalou. On the west side, it crosses the West Loop between 34th Street and 50th Street.
Inside the loop, the freeway has interchanges at Avenue Q, 4th Street, 19th Street and Quaker Avenue. It runs right past Texas Tech. Say your car quits after a game and you get on at Quaker. You're on the Marsha Sharp, not the loop. Tell your driver that.
The freeway is being extended west toward Wolfforth. If you break down out past the loop, say "Marsha Sharp, west of Loop 289," then the nearest crossroad you can see.
What about breakdowns on I-27?
I-27 is Lubbock's north-south freeway. It starts at Loop 289 on the south side and heads north to Amarillo. It crosses the loop again on the north side, near the airport. So "I-27 at the loop" isn't enough. Add north side or south side.
I-27 has numbered exits. Where it meets the loop, the exits are 530 on the south side and 536 on the north side. If you see a mile marker post, read the number out loud. It pins your spot fast.
Are there closures I should know about?
TxDOT is planning to replace the Loop 289 bridges that cross Slide Road. The old bridges have reached the end of their life. TxDOT says detours and temporary closures are planned. Work like that can shift ramps and push traffic onto the frontage roads.
Before a long drive across town, check DriveTexas. It's TxDOT's road conditions map. A closed ramp changes where your driver can reach you.
What if I had a small crash, not a breakdown?
Lubbock handles minor crashes in its own way. The Lubbock Police Department says that if nobody is hurt, the drivers trade information and fill out a CR-2, the Blue Form. You do that instead of waiting for an officer. LPD posts the form on its website.
Texas law also says to move off the freeway if both cars can still be driven safely. Texas Transportation Code 550.022 points you to the frontage road or the nearest cross street. On Loop 289, that frontage road is right there.
Need an officer, but nobody is hurt? Lubbock police dispatch is 806-775-2865. Anyone injured, or a car stuck in a lane, means 911.
If your car can't be driven after the crash, it needs a tow to a shop or home. A car that just won't start may only need a jump start.
Who helps when my car won't go?
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network, not a tow company. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We lock your price by text before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until help arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise.
Your partner handles the light-duty jobs that strand people around the loop:
- A jump start when the car clicks on a cold morning.
- A flat tire change, putting on your spare.
- A car lockout when the keys are inside.
- A tow for cars, SUVs, minivans and light pickups.
Once a driver takes the job, you get their name, photo and truck by text. You can track your truck on a map, so you know when to look up.
What should I do while I wait on the loop?
Stay in the car with your belt on, unless it's smoking. Keep your hazards on. At night, leave your parking lights on too.
Texas law tells passing drivers to move over a lane for a tow truck with flashing lights. If they can't, they have to slow to 20 mph under the limit. That rule is written for tow trucks and road crews. It doesn't cover your stalled car. So don't stand between your car and traffic.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
For towing anywhere from the Depot District to Wolfforth, see our Lubbock towing page.
Lubbock Roadside Questions
I'm on the loop near Slide Road. Is that enough?
No. Slide Road meets Loop 289 on the west side and on the south side. Say "West Loop" or "South Loop," then your direction. Add the next exit sign you see.
Do I have to wait for police after a fender bender in Lubbock?
Not if nobody is hurt. Lubbock police say drivers in a minor crash with no injuries swap information and fill out a CR-2, the Blue Form. If anyone is hurt, call 911.
Is the frontage road safer than the shoulder?
Usually, yes. Traffic there is slower, and your driver can reach you more easily. Loop 289 has frontage roads for nearly the whole ring. Only drive there if the car still moves safely.
My car died on the Marsha Sharp near Texas Tech. What do I say?
Say "Marsha Sharp Freeway," your direction and the last interchange, like Quaker Avenue or 19th Street. That tells your driver you're inside the loop, not on it.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Lubbock Police Department, TxDOT Loop 289 Bridge Replacement, Texas Transportation Code 550.022, Texas Transportation Code 545.157, DriveTexas.
