SH79 begins at an intersection with US183/US283 in Throckmorton. The highway runs in an east–west direction until FM926, east of Elbert. The highway turns northeast, running to Olney and Archer City. The highway enters Wichita Falls and almost immediately begins an overlap with US281 on the Henry S. Grace Freeway. At the interchange with US82/US287, US281 travels north to downtown while SH79 travels to the east. Shortly after joining US82/287, SH79 leaves the highways and runs on the eastern edge of the city as the Waurika Freeway. SH79 runs through Dean, Petrolia and Byers before entering Oklahoma as OK-79.
Beginning in 1939, a multiple-span pony truss bridge carried the highway across the Red River into Oklahoma. This bridge was replaced by a new bridge in 2018.[2]
History
It was originally designated on August 21, 1923, from Wichita Falls to Olney, replacing a portion of SH22.[3] On October 11, 1927, it was extended southwest to Throckmorton.[4] On April 24, 1928, it was extended northeast to the Oklahoma state line.[5] On April 24, 1933, the section from Olney to Elbert was cancelled,[6] but restored on December 18, 1933.[7] This section was completed by 1938. The section north of Wichita Falls was cancelled on July 15, 1935,[8] but restored on February 11, 1937.[9] The route was previously proposed as the northern sections of SH22 and SH23. The intersection of SH79 and SH25, in Archer City, was the location for the filming of movie The Last Picture Show in 1971.
Junction list
This section is missing mileposts for junctions. Please help add them.
