There's a number that becomes familiar when you live in San Antonio. That's Loop 1604.

It's read as Loop 16-04, or sixteen-oh-four. Instead of reading the number digit by digit, it's split into 16-04.

So in actual conversation, it sounds like this: "Take sixteen-oh-four west." "I live outside sixteen-oh-four."

Sometimes it's officially referred to as "Loop one thousand six hundred four," but that's rarely used in everyday conversation.

The northern part of Loop 1604 feels almost like a freeway, while heading south, you suddenly encounter traffic lights and a decrease in speed, leading to the realization, "Ah, this is Loop."

Over time, you come to feel that this road serves as a baseline for city life.

When talking about home locations, people often ask, "Is it inside or outside 1604?" and when discussing commercial areas or school districts, this road serves as a reference point.

Loop 1604 is a circular road that largely encircles San Antonio. It's not perfectly round, but it functions like an outer ring road as it goes around the city.

The total length is about 96 miles, which is roughly 155 kilometers. While the numbers might not convey much, it's actually quite long compared to the Seoul Outer Ring Expressway.

So how long does it actually take to drive around? During times of smooth traffic, like late at night or early in the morning, if you drive at an average speed of 65-70 miles per hour, it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete a lap.

However, during rush hour or weekend shopping times, if you pass through the northwestern section, especially near I-10 or US-281, the speed drops significantly. This area has seen the fastest development in San Antonio, leading to heavy traffic. During these times, it can take 2 to 2 and a half hours to complete a full lap.

Interestingly, as you drive along 1604, you'll notice that the character of San Antonio changes slightly from section to section. The northwest is filled with new housing developments and shopping centers, while the north has a more spacious and organized residential atmosphere. Moving east, there are still many undeveloped lands, and heading south, you can see the city's older residential and industrial areas.

There's a saying among locals: "Inside 1604 is old San Antonio, outside is the future of San Antonio."

In reality, development continues to expand outward, so in a few years, what is now the outer area often becomes a new center of living.

Sometimes, when I have extra time, I intentionally take a long drive on 1604, and it helps me understand why the city feels so expansive. On the map, it's one city, but in reality, it feels like several small towns connected together.

Driving on this road gives you the feeling that you're not just moving, but also passing through the changes of the city.