I-69 in TX

[Phudman]

Nacogdoches:
I don't think I need to say much about what has already been said about the disappointment that is this project. Nevertheless, here are some photos of the current progress of the project:


A view of the future main lanes near Wildhurst Street. This area of the project has not really changed in at least a year.


A view of the overpass where the future main lanes will swing to the east on the southern end of the project. Note that part of the overpass has already been painted.


Here is a view of the onramp from US 59/59 Business where it merges onto Loop 224. It looks like the SB lanes of the future bypass (over on the left side of the image) are mostly complete. The NB lanes are still woefully behind schedule.


A closer view of the scene, with a good view of the orange exit sign on the right.


Another view of the bridge supports in that area. I'm guessing since the SB bridge is painted that it will open soon.


I believe this bridge structure is the future exit ramp for TX 7? On the northern side of the project.

They just opened up the SB frontage road past Spradley St at the southern end of the project yesterday. That would be on the left side of the first photo.

On the northern side of the project they just finished building the bridge piers for the SB main lanes, so they are nowhere near open. The bridge you refered to as complete is the onramp from TX 7 to the new lanes. The SB frontage road in that section hasn't been completed with parts of it that are still bare dirt.

In the last photo that is the off ramp to TX 7 with an onramp woven underneath.

They still have a mind boggling long way to go at the northern side. I'm guessing they might be done by Summer 2027. 

[bwana39]

They just opened up the SB frontage road past Spradley St at the southern end of the project yesterday. That would be on the left side of the first photo.

On the northern side of the project they just finished building the bridge piers for the SB main lanes, so they are nowhere near open. The bridge you refered to as complete is the onramp from TX 7 to the new lanes. The SB frontage road in that section hasn't been completed with parts of it that are still bare dirt.

In the last photo that is the off ramp to TX 7 with an onramp woven underneath.

They still have a mind boggling long way to go at the northern side. I'm guessing they might be done by Summer 2027. 

We might be disappointed at the Nacogdoches project, but the I-30 widening / reconstruct through Texarkana is far slower.

[Scott5114]

Interesting seeing Botts dots in use in Texas.

[CoreySamson]

Interesting seeing Botts dots in use in Texas.

I see them everywhere in Texas construction zones. Not so much in permanent lane marker installations, but they are out there.

[cenlaroads]

I have an update for the active work on I-69 north of Houston, as I just traveled that section this weekend. There are lots of interesting things to report! All pictures are from 6/6/25 looking northbound unless otherwise stated. I took all these with an old iPhone SE, so they aren't great, but the content of the pictures are more important than their quality anyways. WARNING: Lots of large pictures!

Between Cleveland and Shepherd:
Work is almost finished on the future SB feeder road, and they are starting work on the future SB main lanes. This work is pretty visible on the latest GSV imagery.

Corrigan:
Bridge supports are almost fully in place on the southern side of the bypass, but I didn't get a good look at the northern side of the bypass. Here is a picture overlooking the southern construction site:

You can see the future SB frontage road and the bridge supports for the main lanes going over the railroad tracks in the left-center of the image.

Diboll:
Um, I don't think anyone has reported this, but the northbound side of the Diboll bypass is now open! SB US 59 is still going through town, similar to how the I-69E Driscoll bypass was initially opened. It is running with an operational 70 mph speed limit. The business route is also signed. I'm surprised how quickly this all was done, as the approaches to the bypass were hardly worked on last time I was in the area. Here are some pictures:

Advance signage for the new US 59 business route in Diboll.


Right at the exit for the southern terminus of US 59 Business.


On the bypass approaching FM 1818. A great view. You may also notice that the SB lanes are not striped yet.


Exit signage for FM 1818 with a bit too much green space on the sign. Note the exit numbers increase north to south on the bypass. These will eventually be changed when I-69 is signed.


Advance signage for the northern terminus for US 59 Business. FM 2108 appears to have been realigned south, and the new overpass over it is also complete.


A view of the northern interchange with US 59 Business.

Lufkin:
The feeder road work within Lufkin looks like it is complete, but nothing else within Loop 287 is under construction. Just to the north of that (between Loop 287 and Redland), however, work is well underway on the new main lanes and SB feeder, which look almost complete. I do have a picture of that work as well:

US 59 is currently running on the ROW for the future NB feeder.


A little further to the north approaching the FM 2021 interchange, the main lanes shift back to the middle of the ROW, and both feeders are under construction here to provide access to Redland residents who live alongside the highway.

Nacogdoches:
I don't think I need to say much about what has already been said about the disappointment that is this project. Nevertheless, here are some photos of the current progress of the project:


A view of the future main lanes near Wildhurst Street. This area of the project has not really changed in at least a year.


A view of the overpass where the future main lanes will swing to the east on the southern end of the project. Note that part of the overpass has already been painted.


Here is a view of the onramp from US 59/59 Business where it merges onto Loop 224. It looks like the SB lanes of the future bypass (over on the left side of the image) are mostly complete. The NB lanes are still woefully behind schedule.


A closer view of the scene, with a good view of the orange exit sign on the right.


Another view of the bridge supports in that area. I'm guessing since the SB bridge is painted that it will open soon.


I believe this bridge structure is the future exit ramp for TX 7? On the northern side of the project.


TL;DR
Diboll bypass is open NB; work in Corrigan, Lufkin, and north of Cleveland is steady and proceeding well; and Nacogdoches is still disappointing, but there are signs that the SB part of the bypass may open soon.

Thanks for the update and pictures.  Interesting to see the business route already signed in Diboll.  I guess we'll get another in Corrigan soon.

[Thegeet]

Drove to Kingsville for TAMUK. Went on a bit of a trip toward US 77 South. Construction on the 1st overpass after the BUS 77 interchange is about 50%.

[TBKS1]

Interesting seeing Botts dots in use in Texas.

These are extremely frequently used in Texas construction zones. They had them in Lufkin and Nacogdoches when I was there about a month ago (although I don't appear to have any pictures with them present).

[MaxConcrete]

There's good progress in Wharton County
County line (Fort Bend, Wharton) to north end of Wharton city: 3x3 main lanes are open. Signage is in progress and work remains to be done along frontage roads
North half in Wharton city: all traffic is on new concrete. Most lanes are in the final configuration.
South half in Wharton city: substantial work in progress on frontage roads. Minimal work on main lanes.


Link full resolution Driving southbound between the county line and Wharton. 3x3 main lanes are open.


Link full resolution Driving southbound in north Wharton. This is the only section where concrete paving is still in progress


Link to full resolution Driving southbound in north Wharton. Concrete paving is complete but is striped for 2x2.

[splashflash]

Corrigan relief route drone shots

https://kicks105.com/corrigan-relief-route-update/

[Thegeet]

I will say about Victoria: the new NB US 77 (SB US 59) bridge above US 59T at the Goliad exit is already been opened for a few months. Now they're building some new lanes on US 77 toward the North. Also, at the US 59T exit, they opened up a new exit ramp at the mentioned interchange. Still curves backwards like the old one. I will update y'all and tell ya hwat other updates I see.

[TheBox]

From the TxDOT 2026 UTP thread

The biggest changes of I-69 progress besides north of I-37 is US-59 (future I-69W) east of Laredo and US-59 (future I-369) bypass of Marshall

[dariusb]

They just opened up the SB frontage road past Spradley St at the southern end of the project yesterday. That would be on the left side of the first photo.

On the northern side of the project they just finished building the bridge piers for the SB main lanes, so they are nowhere near open. The bridge you refered to as complete is the onramp from TX 7 to the new lanes. The SB frontage road in that section hasn't been completed with parts of it that are still bare dirt.

In the last photo that is the off ramp to TX 7 with an onramp woven underneath.

They still have a mind boggling long way to go at the northern side. I'm guessing they might be done by Summer 2027. 

We might be disappointed at the Nacogdoches project, but the I-30 widening / reconstruct through Texarkana is far slower.

That's sad. Texarkana needs to get it together.

[Thegeet]

From the TxDOT 2026 UTP thread

The biggest changes of I-69 progress besides north of I-37 is US-59 (future I-69W) east of Laredo and US-59 (future I-369) bypass of Marshall

That Marshall bypass is so unbelievably departed from Marshall.

[splashflash]

From the TxDOT 2026 UTP thread

The biggest changes of I-69 progress besides north of I-37 is US-59 (future I-69W) east of Laredo and US-59 (future I-369) bypass of Marshall

That Marshall bypass is so unbelievably departed from Marshall.

Departed from?  You mean detached from?

[Thegeet]

From the TxDOT 2026 UTP thread

The biggest changes of I-69 progress besides north of I-37 is US-59 (future I-69W) east of Laredo and US-59 (future I-369) bypass of Marshall

That Marshall bypass is so unbelievably departed from Marshall.

Departed from?  You mean detached from?

Yeah, I mean...just look at it. It almost looks like it could be its own loop instead of just a bypass

[bwana39]

From the TxDOT 2026 UTP thread

The biggest changes of I-69 progress besides north of I-37 is US-59 (future I-69W) east of Laredo and US-59 (future I-369) bypass of Marshall

That Marshall bypass is so unbelievably departed from Marshall.

Departed from?  You mean detached from?

Yeah, I mean...just look at it. It almost looks like it could be its own loop instead of just a bypass

If you get any closer, it would be in town. The funding is in the UTP to have it run along I-20 and then complete it from I-20 to US-80

[MaxConcrete]

Today is the day bids were opened for the long awaited Riviera bypass on US 77 south of Corpus.

Estimate: $204.9 million

Low bid: $178.4 million by Anderson-Columbia (14.8% under estimate)

This will eliminate the only traffic signal between Corpus and the Rio Grande.

The next landmark event for I-69 south will be the long-delayed Refugio bypass. I seem to remember it was poised to proceed long ago, probably the 1990s, but of course it didn't happen. I think Refugio has tried to defer the bypass as long as possible, but eventually their time will run out. All Refugio work is funded. The Woodsboro section (south of Refugio) is slated for letting in the period 2026-2029, and the actual Refugio bypass is slated for letting in the 2030-2035 period.

[Thegeet]

Today is the day bids were opened for the long awaited Riviera bypass on US 77 south of Corpus.

Estimate: $204.9 million

Low bid: $178.4 million by Anderson-Columbia (14.8% under estimate)

This will eliminate the only traffic signal between Corpus and the Rio Grande.

The next landmark event for I-69 south will be the long-delayed Refugio bypass. I seem to remember it was poised to proceed long ago, probably the 1990s, but of course it didn't happen. I think Refugio has tried to defer the bypass as long as possible, but eventually their time will run out. All Refugio work is funded. The Woodsboro section (south of Refugio) is slated for letting in the period 2026-2029, and the actual Refugio bypass is slated for letting in the 2030-2035 period.

Finally! The last undivided connection between Brownsville and Calallen is being dealt with, creating officially an efficient expressway between both locations.

As for the Refugio bypass, I still remember how TxDOT wanted to build the western route so badly...and then the eastern route was chosen.

[Chris]

Google Earth and Google Street View also show work on the US 77 to I-69 conversion between Kingsville and the north side of Riviera.

According to the TxDOT project tracker it has an estimated completion date of June 30, 2027.


These upgrades of existing four lane divided highways to I-69 are pretty extensive, they don't just close a few crossings and build a grade-separation here and there. It's a completely new freeway with frontage roads.

Google Street View from March 2025:

[Thegeet]

For the Wharton portion of construction, can anyone recall if:

a): Pumping Station Rd is getting an interchange built

and,

b): FM 102 Overpass will be rebuilt?

P.S. TO anyone wondering, Hinze's BBQ is slated to come back near the Frontage road. They're that BBQ restaurant that burnt down and relocated in-town.

[CtrlAltDel]

Yes, the ones on Diboll are wrong, but the exit numbers are planned to be numbered from South to North with numbers (apparently) matching I-69. 400 miles would have you in Tennessee if numbers were from the North. Just a screw up. Ironically the sign contractors make them match the drawings even if they are wrong or they don't get paid.

For better or for worse, these exit numbers follow the Texas system for reference markers, which start in the north and work their way to the south, following something of a grid pattern. For example, the lowest reference marker for US-59, near Texarkana, is 218, since it's about 218 miles south of the top of the panhandle.

[bwana39]

Yes, the ones on Diboll are wrong, but the exit numbers are planned to be numbered from South to North with numbers (apparently) matching I-69. 400 miles would have you in Tennessee if numbers were from the North. Just a screw up. Ironically the sign contractors make them match the drawings even if they are wrong or they don't get paid.

For better or for worse, these exit numbers follow the Texas system for reference markers, which start in the north and work their way to the south, following something of a grid pattern. For example, the lowest reference marker for US-59, near Texarkana, is 218, since it's about 218 miles south of the top of the panhandle.

You're right. That grid pattern. This is my first experience seeing it on an N/S road. I am used to it on E/W state & US Highways.

[Rick Powell]

For the Wharton portion of construction, can anyone recall if:

a): Pumping Station Rd is getting an interchange built

and,

b): FM 102 Overpass will be rebuilt?

P.S. TO anyone wondering, Hinze's BBQ is slated to come back near the Frontage road. They're that BBQ restaurant that burnt down and relocated in-town.

See sheets 7 and 8 at https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/ykm/us59-wharton/032819-schematic.pdf
Pump Station has an exit. FM 102 overpass looks like it gets rebuilt.

[Thegeet]

For the Wharton portion of construction, can anyone recall if:

a): Pumping Station Rd is getting an interchange built

and,

b): FM 102 Overpass will be rebuilt?

P.S. TO anyone wondering, Hinze's BBQ is slated to come back near the Frontage road. They're that BBQ restaurant that burnt down and relocated in-town.

See sheets 7 and 8 at https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/ykm/us59-wharton/032819-schematic.pdf
Pump Station has an exit. FM 102 overpass looks like it gets rebuilt.

Did FM 102 once have a railroad next to it? It looks so based on the current configuration.

[sprjus4]

For the Wharton portion of construction, can anyone recall if:

a): Pumping Station Rd is getting an interchange built

and,

b): FM 102 Overpass will be rebuilt?

P.S. TO anyone wondering, Hinze's BBQ is slated to come back near the Frontage road. They're that BBQ restaurant that burnt down and relocated in-town.

See sheets 7 and 8 at https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/ykm/us59-wharton/032819-schematic.pdf
Pump Station has an exit. FM 102 overpass looks like it gets rebuilt.

Did FM 102 once have a railroad next to it? It looks so based on the current configuration.

Yes. The southbound on-ramp was added when Buc-ee's was built. Originally all movements were handled on the north side of the interchange due to the railroad tracks.

That is also why the bridge is taller than typical.