[4] 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.

On October 24, 1955, SH 71 was signed, but not designated along Ranch to Market Road 93 to Llano.

Major displacements of commercial properties were required to build the Austin expansions.

The section at the western end required many more business displacements.

SH 71-E) is a business loop that runs through La Grange.

The city was bypassed on February 16, 1982, and the original route was designated as Loop 329.