ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi fˈaɪv, jˈuː.ˈɛs. hˈaɪweɪ tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wʌz kˈoʊdsɪɡnˌeɪɾᵻd ɐlˈɔŋ ðə stɹˈɛtʃ fɹʌm ˈɔːstɪn tə bˈæstɹɑːp, dɹˈɑːpɪŋ ˌɛsˈeɪtʃ sˈɛvənti wˈʌn fɹʌm ðɪs sˈɛkʃən kəmplˈiːtli ˌɔn sɛptˈɛmbɚ twˈɛnti sˈɪks, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi nˈaɪn.
In 1935, U.S. Highway 290 was codesignated along the stretch from Austin to Bastrop, dropping SH 71 from this section completely on September 26, 1939.