I-69 in TX

[sprjus4]

I-69E now overlaps I-37? Interesting they'd make a move this early with no US-77 upgrade north of I-37.

I'll be in the area next month, I will update if anything changes.

Excellent.

Yes. I-69E should theoretically overlap I-37 where US 77 is concurrent with I-37.

It's official!  I took a trip to Corpus Christi this Memorial Day weekend and southbound I-37 past the north U.S. 77 exit is signed as I-37 and I-69E South (Kingsville Corpus Christi).  Sorry no picture.  On the way back home I noticed it was not signed this way northbound.  It is still signed as the I-37/U.S. 77 cosign.  So I-69E has now been extended about a 2.4 miles...in one direction only!!

In that case, I should go look for the minute order. BTW, Does that concurrency still use the exit numbers from I-37?

Yes it does.  Nothing has changed other than the overhead BGS.

Makes sense that they'd sign it southbound; that leads directly to an existing signed I-69E portion, where the opposite direction doesn't -- and there are active projects south from there to bring US 77 up to Interstate standards.  Question: does anyone with TX connections have any idea when work will commence on the conversion of US 77 to I-69E from I-37 north to Victoria?  Looks like Odem and Refugio will require bypasses; the one around Sinton appears to be partially completed as a freeway.

Not aware of much progress for north of I-37... projects were underway when I was in the area a couple years ago to upgrade the portion in Victoria north of Loop 463 up to the Telferner interchange, the northern portion of the El Campo bypass, and from Kendleton to Rosenburg to interstate standards, but that was it, all on US-59 north of Victoria. Nothing south.

A study was done a few years that evaluated a Refugio bypass and upgrade of existing US-77 south of there to Woodsboro. Nothing for construction has commenced that I'm aware of.

Obviously, there's south of I-37 where the segment from Robstown to Bishop is currently being upgraded, including a bypass around Driscoll. That will complete I-69E down to Kingsville from I-37 when those projects complete. If the upgrade from north of Driscoll to the Robstown bypass completed a few years ago is any indication, they will likely sign I-69 (oddly missing the "E" - not really complaining though (!) but I guess not technically right) on the new segment.

[Thegeet]

I-69E now overlaps I-37? Interesting they'd make a move this early with no US-77 upgrade north of I-37.

I'll be in the area next month, I will update if anything changes.

Excellent.

Yes. I-69E should theoretically overlap I-37 where US 77 is concurrent with I-37.

It's official!  I took a trip to Corpus Christi this Memorial Day weekend and southbound I-37 past the north U.S. 77 exit is signed as I-37 and I-69E South (Kingsville Corpus Christi).  Sorry no picture.  On the way back home I noticed it was not signed this way northbound.  It is still signed as the I-37/U.S. 77 cosign.  So I-69E has now been extended about a 2.4 miles...in one direction only!!

In that case, I should go look for the minute order. BTW, Does that concurrency still use the exit numbers from I-37?

Yes it does.  Nothing has changed other than the overhead BGS.

Makes sense that they'd sign it southbound; that leads directly to an existing signed I-69E portion, where the opposite direction doesn't -- and there are active projects south from there to bring US 77 up to Interstate standards.  Question: does anyone with TX connections have any idea when work will commence on the conversion of US 77 to I-69E from I-37 north to Victoria?  Looks like Odem and Refugio will require bypasses; the one around Sinton appears to be partially completed as a freeway.

Not aware of much progress for north of I-37... projects were underway when I was in the area a couple years ago to upgrade the portion in Victoria north of Loop 463 up to the Telferner interchange, the northern portion of the El Campo bypass, and from Kendleton to Rosenburg to interstate standards, but that was it, all on US-59 north of Victoria. Nothing south.

A study was done a few years that evaluated a Refugio bypass and upgrade of existing US-77 south of there to Woodsboro. Nothing for construction has commenced that I'm aware of.

Obviously, there's south of I-37 where the segment from Robstown to Bishop is currently being upgraded, including a bypass around Driscoll. That will complete I-69E down to Kingsville from I-37 when those projects complete. If the upgrade from north of Driscoll to the Robstown bypass completed a few years ago is any indication, they will likely sign I-69 (oddly missing the "E" - not really complaining though (!) but I guess not technically right) on the new segment.

I'm going to guess in 5 years we see Odem getting a freeway built.

Just called TxDot and found out that Loop 463 won't become an I-x69 interstate.Also, Jackson County won't see any construction until 15 years later.

I also checked the project tracker on txdot and they are considering building a bridge on I-69E at University Blvd.

[Scott5114]

It's official!  I took a trip to Corpus Christi this Memorial Day weekend and southbound I-37 past the north U.S. 77 exit is signed as I-37 and I-69E South (Kingsville Corpus Christi).  Sorry no picture.  On the way back home I noticed it was not signed this way northbound.  It is still signed as the I-37/U.S. 77 cosign.  So I-69E has now been extended about a 2.4 miles...in one direction only!!

It's actually been that way since at least May 2019, as I noted the concurrency when I visited Port Aransas two years ago. I didn't mention it here because I assumed it had been that way for a while.

[Thegeet]

It's official!  I took a trip to Corpus Christi this Memorial Day weekend and southbound I-37 past the north U.S. 77 exit is signed as I-37 and I-69E South (Kingsville Corpus Christi).  Sorry no picture.  On the way back home I noticed it was not signed this way northbound.  It is still signed as the I-37/U.S. 77 cosign.  So I-69E has now been extended about a 2.4 miles...in one direction only!!

It's actually been that way since at least May 2019, as I noted the concurrency when I visited Port Aransas two years ago. I didn't mention it here because I assumed it had been that way for a while.

Actually, I remember going to football games with my high school last year. (Tuloso-Midway and Alice), and I never saw I-69E being concurrent with I-37 southbound. This was in October & November 2020, mind y'all .

[sprjus4]

It's official!  I took a trip to Corpus Christi this Memorial Day weekend and southbound I-37 past the north U.S. 77 exit is signed as I-37 and I-69E South (Kingsville Corpus Christi).  Sorry no picture.  On the way back home I noticed it was not signed this way northbound.  It is still signed as the I-37/U.S. 77 cosign.  So I-69E has now been extended about a 2.4 miles...in one direction only!!

It's actually been that way since at least May 2019, as I noted the concurrency when I visited Port Aransas two years ago. I didn't mention it here because I assumed it had been that way for a while.

I was there in August 2019 and do not recall it...

Also Street View in August 2019 does not show any concurrency with I-69E.

Are you sure you're not thinking of US-77?

[Thegeet]

https://youtu.be/8XxOz3QjmJ4
This is a video showing US 59 in Victoria and I-37/US 77, from last month.

[sprjus4]

https://youtu.be/8XxOz3QjmJ4
This is a video showing US 59 in Victoria and I-37/US 77, from last month.

Is the interchange / overpass construction in Victoria a new one? I recall a similar configuration shifting to the frontage roads back in 2018, it can't still be the same one under construction.

Doesn't appear to show any I-69E signage on I-37 itself, at least from the US-77 approach. Must've been recent then.

Nice to see ongoing progress of the SH-358 reconstruction project in Corpus Christi.

Unrelated to the I-69 thread, but any recent photos or video of the US-181 Harbor Bridge project?

[sparker]

https://youtu.be/8XxOz3QjmJ4
This is a video showing US 59 in Victoria and I-37/US 77, from last month.

Cool video -- reminds me of Interstate Kyle's work out West (similar format).  Really liked passing the KCS freight train with that RR's great (and classic) paint scheme; too bad it'll probably be gone once either CP or CN purchases the company. 

[Thegeet]

https://youtu.be/8XxOz3QjmJ4
This is a video showing US 59 in Victoria and I-37/US 77, from last month.

Is the interchange / overpass construction in Victoria a new one? I recall a similar configuration shifting to the frontage roads back in 2018, it can't still be the same one under construction.

Doesn't appear to show any I-69E signage on I-37 itself, at least from the US-77 approach. Must've been recent then.

Nice to see ongoing progress of the SH-358 reconstruction project in Corpus Christi.

Unrelated to the I-69 thread, but any recent photos or video of the US-181 Harbor Bridge project?

US 59: There is an interchange for Holt Rd,between SL 463 and FM 1686, which is nearing the final days  of construction. There was another interchange for a road called Hanselman Rd between US 87 and SL 463, finished in 2018-ish.
I-37: I bet it was recent, like one or two weeks ago. This is in May 8 when it was recorded. Likely around May 21, an educated guess.
US 181: Unfortunately I don't have pictures, but i saw the bridge on Wednesday. It was still under construction, but the bridge structure is in place.

[Thegeet]

I also happened to see a Snapchat story in Driscoll. Looks like they've started to work on the northern BU77 interchange.

[ethanhopkin14]

It's official!  I took a trip to Corpus Christi this Memorial Day weekend and southbound I-37 past the north U.S. 77 exit is signed as I-37 and I-69E South (Kingsville Corpus Christi).  Sorry no picture.  On the way back home I noticed it was not signed this way northbound.  It is still signed as the I-37/U.S. 77 cosign.  So I-69E has now been extended about a 2.4 miles...in one direction only!!

It's actually been that way since at least May 2019, as I noted the concurrency when I visited Port Aransas two years ago. I didn't mention it here because I assumed it had been that way for a while.

I was there in August 2019 and do not recall it...

Also Street View in August 2019 does not show any concurrency with I-69E.

Are you sure you're not thinking of US-77?

Nope, it was 1000000% an interstate highway shield with 69E written in it.  It was this sign with 69E replacing US 77.  Strangely there was no mention of US 77.  I drove to Corpus in November of 2020 and the old setup was still signed. 

[sprjus4]

Nope, it was 1000000% an interstate highway shield with 69E written in it.  It was this sign with 69E replacing US 77.  Strangely there was no mention of US 77.  I drove to Corpus in November of 2020 and the old setup was still signed.

I was questioning Scott's claim it was in May 2019, not yours. Was he seeing US-77 and thinking that's what was being discussed?

[ethanhopkin14]

Nope, it was 1000000% an interstate highway shield with 69E written in it.  It was this sign with 69E replacing US 77.  Strangely there was no mention of US 77.  I drove to Corpus in November of 2020 and the old setup was still signed.

I was questioning Scott's claim it was in May 2019, not yours. Was he seeing US-77 and thinking that's what was being discussed?

Roger that.  Disregard.

[edwaleni]

[sprjus4]

That signage is not new.

[Thegeet]

Nope, it was 1000000% an interstate highway shield with 69E written in it.  It was this sign with 69E replacing US 77.  Strangely there was no mention of US 77.  I drove to Corpus in November of 2020 and the old setup was still signed.

I was questioning Scott's claim it was in May 2019, not yours. Was he seeing US-77 and thinking that's what was being discussed?

Roger that.  Disregard.

Did they also have the I-69E shield on a stick on I-37 SB? (Like all other highway signage not big&square)

[edwaleni]

Nope, it was 1000000% an interstate highway shield with 69E written in it.  It was this sign with 69E replacing US 77.  Strangely there was no mention of US 77.  I drove to Corpus in November of 2020 and the old setup was still signed.

I was questioning Scott's claim it was in May 2019, not yours. Was he seeing US-77 and thinking that's what was being discussed?

Roger that.  Disregard.

Did they also have the I-69E shield on a stick on I-37 SB? (Like all other highway signage not big&square)

[ethanhopkin14]

Nope, it was 1000000% an interstate highway shield with 69E written in it.  It was this sign with 69E replacing US 77.  Strangely there was no mention of US 77.  I drove to Corpus in November of 2020 and the old setup was still signed.

I was questioning Scott's claim it was in May 2019, not yours. Was he seeing US-77 and thinking that's what was being discussed?

Roger that.  Disregard.

Did they also have the I-69E shield on a stick on I-37 SB? (Like all other highway signage not big&square)

No, the only mention of the cosigning was on the overhead BGS. 

[ethanhopkin14]

The overhead BGS I am referring to is this one, of course recently replaced.  If you look closer in the streetview (the sign I believe has been replaced), the exit number tab is button copy!!

[Thegeet]

The overhead BGS I am referring to is this one, of course recently replaced.  If you look closer in the streetview (the sign I believe has been replaced), the exit number tab is button copy!!

Does that mean the new BGS is in Clearview? Or did they simply plaster on a I-69E sign on the old sign? Also, since when did they abandon button tab signs? Finally, I wonder how old these signs are.

[ethanhopkin14]

The overhead BGS I am referring to is this one, of course recently replaced.  If you look closer in the streetview (the sign I believe has been replaced), the exit number tab is button copy!!

Does that mean the new BGS is in Clearview? Or did they simply plaster on a I-69E sign on the old sign? Also, since when did they abandon button tab signs? Finally, I wonder how old these signs are.

The new BGS is regrettably Clearview.  Those signs in the pictures have to date back to the 90s, even the button copy one.  All this talk is making me regret not taking a picture, but it was 10:00 at night and I don't think my wife would have liked me taking a picture that wouldn't come out as we drove, let alone stop for it. 

[J N Winkler]

I've had a quick look at recent Corpus Christi districtwide sign replacements (CCSJs beginning with 0916-00) and haven't found sign panel detail sheets for new signs for the southbound direction at I-37 Exit 17, though the northbound direction was done as part of CCSJ 0916-00-091 (plans approval date of February 10, 2020).  I suspect this was a one-off replacement.

Also, since when did they abandon button tab signs? Finally, I wonder how old these signs are.

TxDOT abandoned button copy in the mid- to late 1990's.  At that point it began upgrading all guide signs statewide to retroreflective sheeting, a process that took about 10 years and resulted in thousands of sign panel detail sheets just for 09XX-00 districtwide sign replacement contracts (XX = number of the TxDOT district, still used in CCSJs though TxDOT has since moved on to three-letter abbreviations of district HQ city for public-facing materials:  e.g., 04 = AMA = Amarillo, 07 = LBB = Lubbock, 15 = SAT = San Antonio).

Given that the sign at the StreetView link (which Ethanhopkin14 reports has been replaced) has what appear to be blooms of corrosion at the edges of the lettering and other foreground elements, I believe it was installed fairly early in the statewide sign sheeting upgrade.

[Thegeet]

The overhead BGS I am referring to is this one, of course recently replaced.  If you look closer in the streetview (the sign I believe has been replaced), the exit number tab is button copy!!

Does that mean the new BGS is in Clearview? Or did they simply plaster on a I-69E sign on the old sign? Also, since when did they abandon button tab signs? Finally, I wonder how old these signs are.

The new BGS is regrettably Clearview.  Those signs in the pictures have to date back to the 90s, even the button copy one.  All this talk is making me regret not taking a picture, but it was 10:00 at night and I don't think my wife would have liked me taking a picture that wouldn't come out as we drove, let alone stop for it.

I bet it was 90's, considering the disproportioned interstate shield. Whenever you decide to go back to Corpus, I highly recommend taking a video instead of a photo. I think that taking a photo is a high risk, and you might miss the sign. Also, did they replace the US 77 Victoria sign too?

[Thegeet]

I've had a quick look at recent Corpus Christi districtwide sign replacements (CCSJs beginning with 0916-00) and haven't found sign panel detail sheets for new signs for the southbound direction at I-37 Exit 17, though the northbound direction was done as part of CCSJ 0916-00-091 (plans approval date of February 10, 2020).  I suspect this was a one-off replacement.

Also, since when did they abandon button tab signs? Finally, I wonder how old these signs are.

TxDOT abandoned button copy in the mid- to late 1990's.  At that point it began upgrading all guide signs statewide to retroreflective sheeting, a process that took about 10 years and resulted in thousands of sign panel detail sheets just for 09XX-00 districtwide sign replacement contracts (XX = number of the TxDOT district, still used in CCSJs though TxDOT has since moved on to three-letter abbreviations of district HQ city for public-facing materials:  e.g., 04 = AMA = Amarillo, 07 = LBB = Lubbock, 15 = SAT = San Antonio).

Given that the sign at the StreetView link (which Ethanhopkin14 reports has been replaced) has what appear to be blooms of corrosion at the edges of the lettering and other foreground elements, I believe it was installed fairly early in the statewide sign sheeting upgrade.

Ive seen button copy signs on I-459 east of Birmingham, AL. They look kind of washed.

[ethanhopkin14]

The overhead BGS I am referring to is this one, of course recently replaced.  If you look closer in the streetview (the sign I believe has been replaced), the exit number tab is button copy!!

Does that mean the new BGS is in Clearview? Or did they simply plaster on a I-69E sign on the old sign? Also, since when did they abandon button tab signs? Finally, I wonder how old these signs are.

The new BGS is regrettably Clearview.  Those signs in the pictures have to date back to the 90s, even the button copy one.  All this talk is making me regret not taking a picture, but it was 10:00 at night and I don't think my wife would have liked me taking a picture that wouldn't come out as we drove, let alone stop for it.

I bet it was 90's, considering the disproportioned interstate shield. Whenever you decide to go back to Corpus, I highly recommend taking a video instead of a photo. I think that taking a photo is a high risk, and you might miss the sign. Also, did they replace the US 77 Victoria sign too?

If I remember correctly, the whole gantry got new BGSs.