I-69 in TX

[thisdj78]

I drove from Houston to Boca Chica (South Padre) for the rocket launch.

Status of I-69

Freeway in Fort Bend County (to Kendleton) appears to be 100% complete. 3x3 main lanes have been open for a while, more than a year, but I did not see any lingering work on the frontage roads.

Wharton County, Kendleton to north Wharton: Traffic is on the frontage roads with work proceeding on the main lanes. Main lane progress is variable, substantial progress on the north half and less on the south half. I think it is at least 2 years before completion. A $341 project for work through Wharton is scheduled to be awarded in December.

Wharton to Victoria. Most of the highway has a recent, smooth asphalt overlay.

Corpus, multiplex with I-37: Substantial work in progress

South half of Kingsville bypass: traffic is on the frontage roads and main lanes look around 75% complete

Kingsville to Riviera: work is substantially progressed on the northbound frontage road, with most bridges in place. Minimal work on the southbound main lanes (which will be in the existing median.)

I-69C interchange at I-2 in Pharr: new ramps are either open or past 50% complete. There is substantial work on I-2 main lanes west of the interchange. I did not drive I-69C north of the interchange.

Nice! I wonder when work will start on the Odem bypass. I was looking at the aerial view and it almost appears like ROW is being cleared but maybe this is for something else, but it follows closely to the Option A and B route in this spot:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/S3YdX64N6RVRpdLe9?g_st=ic

[MaxConcrete]

Nice! I wonder when work will start on the Odem bypass. I was looking at the aerial view and it almost appears like ROW is being cleared but maybe this is for something else, but it follows closely to the Option A and B route in this spot:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/S3YdX64N6RVRpdLe9?g_st=ic

For Odem, the environmental process is still in progress and a preferred alternative has not been identified. So I think we're at least 5 years from construction starting. The Riviera bypass is scheduled for bids in June 2027 and will probably proceed first. The Refugio bypass has its route identified and is further along in the environmental process than Odem. So it appears nothing is imminent for these bypasses. Upcoming jobs receiving bids in December include $341 million in Wharton county and $184 million in Kenedy County.

[jgb191]

Kingsville to Riviera: work is substantially progressed on the northbound frontage road, with most bridges in place. Minimal work on the southbound main lanes (which will be in the existing median.)

Does the progress include though (or around) Ricardo?  I believe they can (and should) be able to upgrade US-77 on its current route right through Ricardo and not need to bypass around.

[abqtraveler]

Kingsville to Riviera: work is substantially progressed on the northbound frontage road, with most bridges in place. Minimal work on the southbound main lanes (which will be in the existing median.)

Does the progress include though (or around) Ricardo?  I believe they can (and should) be able to upgrade US-77 on its current route right through Ricardo and not need to bypass around.

From the GSV in Ricardo, it looks like that's exactly what they're doing.  Upgrading US-77 on the spot through town. The long pole in the tent to completing the remainder of I-69E between I-37 and the Mexican border is the bypass around Riviera. The latest I saw on that had construction on the Riviera Bypass starting in 2027. After the bypass around Riviera is finished, there will be about 45 miles left between Riviera and Yturria, which runs through a very sparsely populated area. I can't imagine that stretch being too hard to upgrade to interstate standards.

[Bobby5280]

Right now it looks like they're doing grading work on what will be a new Northbound frontage road from the South edge of Kingsville down to the North edge of Riviera. The grading work ends where the median for US-77 disappears and the highway turns into a 5 lane street going down into Riviera.

US-77 is being upgraded in place along this stretch thanks in part to the wide center median. I'd be surprised if it took until 2027 to get the Interstate upgrade work on that segment completed.

US-77 going South of Riviera doesn't have any serious obstacles. The little town of Sarita has freeway exit already. The Riviera bypass is the biggest individual project remaining on the work to do between Kingsville and Raymondville.

[MaxConcrete]

Bids were opened this week totaling $567 million for two major projects on I-69 and I-69E.

This project on I-69E in Kenedy county (just north of the Rio Grande Valley) will add overpasses to remove crossovers. In my opinion, most other work on I-69 is higher priority, since none of these crossovers has a traffic signal or any kind of slowdown. But it probably was "shovel ready", and other work is not.

County:   KENEDY   Let Date:   12/05/23
Type:   INTERSTATE DESIGNATION   Seq No:   3028
Time:   840 WORKING DAYS   Project ID:   F 2024(529)
Highway:   US 77   Contract #:   12233028
Length:   11.643   CCSJ:   0327-05-041
Limits:   
From:   NORIAS RD   Check:   $100,000
To:   1.34 MI N OF WILLACY/KENEDY C.L.   Misc Cost:   
Estimate   $181,963,013.52   % Over/Under   Company
Bidder 1   $190,998,296.01   +4.97%   POSILLICO CIVIL, INC.
Bidder 2   $229,719,235.18   +26.25%   PULICE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Bidder 3   $235,230,487.56   +29.27%   ANDERSON COLUMBIA CO., INC.
Bidder 4   $240,050,877.21   +31.92%   WEBBER, LLC
Bidder 5   $246,771,391.00   +35.62%   ZACHRY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

The second project upgrades the section through Wharton to a 3x3 freeway, including a new bridge over the Colorado River, which surely is a reason for the high cost. Williams Brothers is currently building the section to the north.

County:   WHARTON   Let Date:   12/06/23
Type:   CONVERT NON-FREEWAY   Seq No:   3201
Time:   0 X   Project ID:   F 2024(436)
Highway:   US 59   Contract #:   12233201
Length:   7.779   CCSJ:   0089-07-154
Limits:   
From:   0.26 MI. NORTH OF FM 102   Check:   $100,000
To:   1 MI SOUTH OF FM 961   Misc Cost:   
Estimate   $375,500,377.07   % Over/Under   Company
Bidder 1   $376,415,384.91   +0.24%   WILLIAMS BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
Bidder 2   $419,260,054.87   +11.65%   PULICE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Bidder 3   $424,392,986.67   +13.02%   WEBBER, LLC

[GreenLanternCorps]

Bids were opened this week totaling $567 million for two major projects on I-69 and I-69E.

This project on I-69E in Kenedy county (just north of the Rio Grande Valley) will add overpasses to remove crossovers. In my opinion, most other work on I-69 is higher priority, since none of these crossovers has a traffic signal or any kind of slowdown. But it probably was "shovel ready", and other work is not.

County:   KENEDY   Let Date:   12/05/23
Type:   INTERSTATE DESIGNATION   Seq No:   3028
Time:   840 WORKING DAYS   Project ID:   F 2024(529)
Highway:   US 77   Contract #:   12233028
Length:   11.643   CCSJ:   0327-05-041
Limits:   
From:   NORIAS RD   Check:   $100,000
To:   1.34 MI N OF WILLACY/KENEDY C.L.   Misc Cost:   
Estimate   $181,963,013.52   % Over/Under   Company
Bidder 1   $190,998,296.01   +4.97%   POSILLICO CIVIL, INC.
Bidder 2   $229,719,235.18   +26.25%   PULICE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Bidder 3   $235,230,487.56   +29.27%   ANDERSON COLUMBIA CO., INC.
Bidder 4   $240,050,877.21   +31.92%   WEBBER, LLC
Bidder 5   $246,771,391.00   +35.62%   ZACHRY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

The second project upgrades the section through Wharton to a 3x3 freeway, including a new bridge over the Colorado River, which surely is a reason for the high cost. Williams Brothers is currently building the section to the north.

County:   WHARTON   Let Date:   12/06/23
Type:   CONVERT NON-FREEWAY   Seq No:   3201
Time:   0 X   Project ID:   F 2024(436)
Highway:   US 59   Contract #:   12233201
Length:   7.779   CCSJ:   0089-07-154
Limits:   
From:   0.26 MI. NORTH OF FM 102   Check:   $100,000
To:   1 MI SOUTH OF FM 961   Misc Cost:   
Estimate   $375,500,377.07   % Over/Under   Company
Bidder 1   $376,415,384.91   +0.24%   WILLIAMS BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
Bidder 2   $419,260,054.87   +11.65%   PULICE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Bidder 3   $424,392,986.67   +13.02%   WEBBER, LLC

Both of these are logical, Wharton is the next section moving South on I-69 from Houston, and the Kenedy County stretch takes I-69E to just South of Rivera

[Bobby5280]

Is the bypass around Riviera funded and/or scheduled for construction?

[MaxConcrete]

Is the bypass around Riviera funded and/or scheduled for construction?

It is currently listed at $178 million with bidding in June 2027.

There are multiple other large projects on US 77 going to bid before Riviera. Those other projects should be lower priority than Riviera, in my opinion, since they are on sections which don't have traffic signals. But that's the schedule.

[sprjus4]

I believe this is because TxDOT is trying to push the completion of I-69E between I-37 and Brownsville entirely.

[abqtraveler]

I believe this is because TxDOT is trying to push the completion of I-69E between I-37 and Brownsville entirely.

From what I'm seeing, it looks like the bypass around Riviera will be the last piece of the puzzle to complete I-69E from I-37 to the Mexican border. If that's the case and the Riviera Bypass starts construction as scheduled in 2027, then you'll likely see that stretch of I-69E completed by 2030.

[jgb191]

Yeah it makes a lot of sense that Refugio and Riviera are the two final pieces of the puzzle, could be built simultaneously.  And both towns are major stopping points for food, fuel, and rest/sleep so I imagine both towns are willing to wait as long as possible before being bypassed.

[sprjus4]

I believe this is because TxDOT is trying to push the completion of I-69E between I-37 and Brownsville entirely.

From what I'm seeing, it looks like the bypass around Riviera will be the last piece of the puzzle to complete I-69E from I-37 to the Mexican border. If that's the case and the Riviera Bypass starts construction as scheduled in 2027, then you'll likely see that stretch of I-69E completed by 2030.

You still have the nearly 50 mile segment south of Riviera to Yturria that needs upgrades. Well the segment is largely desolated and operates functionally as a freeway, there's still numerous of ranch access points that need to be closed / relocated. In Texas fashion, I imagine a number of frontage road miles, along with grade separations constructed.

[The Ghostbuster]

Would a future Interstate 69E bypass of Riviera go to the west of the town or to the east?

[sprjus4]

Would a future Interstate 69E bypass of Riviera go to the west of the town or to the east?

East.

[Bobby5280]

You still have the nearly 50 mile segment south of Riviera to Yturria that needs upgrades. Well the segment is largely desolated and operates functionally as a freeway, there's still numerous of ranch access points that need to be closed / relocated. In Texas fashion, I imagine a number of frontage road miles, along with grade separations constructed.

I think the stretch between Riviera and Yturria is what MaxConcrete is referring to by other projects on US-77 being ahead of the Riviera bypass. That stretch of US-77 will be an easy upgrade. Next to nothing in terms of new ROW will be required. The location is desolate. The segment may be 50 miles long but it doesn't have any serious obstacles to slow down construction. The town of Sarita already has its freeway exit built too.

I figure they'll probably just keep building on to the parts of I-69E going North of Raymondville in a linear fashion.

For the ranch access roads, there are already hints of how intersections with those will be handled via the I-69E construction going North of Raymondville. Think of a frontage road not even the length of a rest area with slip ramps on both ends.

[abqtraveler]

I believe this is because TxDOT is trying to push the completion of I-69E between I-37 and Brownsville entirely.

From what I'm seeing, it looks like the bypass around Riviera will be the last piece of the puzzle to complete I-69E from I-37 to the Mexican border. If that's the case and the Riviera Bypass starts construction as scheduled in 2027, then you'll likely see that stretch of I-69E completed by 2030.

You still have the nearly 50 mile segment south of Riviera to Yturria that needs upgrades. Well the segment is largely desolated and operates functionally as a freeway, there's still numerous of ranch access points that need to be closed / relocated. In Texas fashion, I imagine a number of frontage road miles, along with grade separations constructed.

True, but it appears that's being worked as well and it's starting to look like a lot of the work between Riviera and Yturria will be finished (or close to finished) by the time the Riviera Bypass opens.

[MaxConcrete]

Would a future Interstate 69E bypass of Riviera go to the west of the town or to the east?

The 2012 environmental assessment shows it on the east side of Riviera.

[splashflash]

Loop 224

Huge Traffic Switch Begins Jan 4 in Nacogdoches Construction Zone

Read More: Huge Traffic Switch Begins Jan 4 in Nacogdoches Construction Zone | https://kicks105.com/nacogdoches-highway-59-traffic-switch/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Unfortunately the video is prior to the traffic switch

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=UEMonUuP3AKU4Eoe&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fkicks105.com%2F&source_ve_path=MzY4NDIsMzY4NDIsMTY0OTksMjg2NjQsMTY0NTA2&feature=emb_share&v=kmHrBZjqmhY

https://kicks105.com/nacogdoches-highway-59-traffic-switch/

[Thegeet]

New Laredo Update! https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/laredo-holds-groundbreaking-360m-txdot-us-59-18663037.php

[Bobby5280]

So, basically, this project starts where the current I-69W freeway ends: at the International Blvd exit and then extends Southward. When the article mentions "overpasses" are they really talking about freeway exits? Shiloh Road, Del Mar Boulevard, University Boulevard and Jacaman Road are significant intersections. But there are plenty of other surface streets in between those four that were mentioned. It sounds like the new frontage roads would provide access for those other streets.

If the South end of the project goes as far as East Corridor Road (main entrance to Laredo's airport) that would put the project end on the North edge of the Lake Casa Blanca State Park. It will be interesting to see what kind of designs they have to deal with the United ISD Food Production Center sitting in the freeway's expansion path. An elevated highway structure would be needed to avoid demolishing the building and/or "eating" most of its parking lot.

I'm guessing a freeway exit for the Laredo Int'l Airport entrance will happen on a later project. The Casa Blanca Golf Course would be the last obstacle standing in the way of a continuous freeway going South out of Laredo (possibly I-2).

[TheBox]

Finally, something being done at Laredo for the first time in years

[sprjus4]

Beyond just I-69W, this looks like it will eliminate the remaining traffic signals on the entirety of Loop 20 around Laredo, allowing 60-65 mph travel between US-83 south of the city and I-35 north of the city.

[Anthony_JK]

Beyond just I-69W, this looks like it will eliminate the remaining traffic signals on the entirety of Loop 20 around Laredo, allowing 60-65 mph travel between US-83 south of the city and I-35 north of the city.

Anyone have links to any schematics for this?

Also, have they decided whether they will still use the entirety of Loop 20 north of US 59 for I-69, or will they build a cut-off for a more direct connection?

[J N Winkler]

Beyond just I-69W, this looks like it will eliminate the remaining traffic signals on the entirety of Loop 20 around Laredo, allowing 60-65 mph travel between US-83 south of the city and I-35 north of the city.

Anyone have links to any schematics for this?

Also, have they decided whether they will still use the entirety of Loop 20 north of US 59 for I-69, or will they build a cut-off for a more direct connection?

This project was in the August 2023 letting as CCSJ 0086-14-075 (will have to scroll down to the cost breakdown, which includes three instances of "interchange improvement" and two of "reconstruct roadway").  The construction plans are still available through TxDOT's Plans Online facility.