I-69 in TX

[vdeane]

I always thought that I-69 was proposed to end in Laredo (where I-69W is) and not Brownsville/Harlingen, and the C and E branches wouldn't come until later. If that is true, then this is really confusing, since I-39, I-41 and I-43 would've been much better fits for the two corridors.

Actually, the I-69E corridor is the highest priority by a huge margin.

There are multiple projects in progress on I-69E (US 77), including the Riviera bypass. Completing I-69E to interstate standards between Corpus and Brownsville is the top priority on the entire I-69 system in Texas. TxDOT is actively preparing for major work in Refugio and Odem to eliminate the remaining traffic signals between Victoria and Corpus.

There is only one project in progress on I-69C (US 281), upgrading a section north of Edinburg. For I-69W, the only construction is in Laredo on the loop. Outside of Laredo, there is no construction or planning activity for I-69W.

From Houston southward, I think we can potentially see I-69 to Victoria and I-69E from Victoria to Brownsville complete by 2050. I-69C will take much longer, and will probably have 2x2 divided highway (non-freeway) sections indefinitely. I don't see I-69W getting fully built in the lifetime of anyone reading this. In fact, we'll probably just get a section near Laredo and maybe some bypasses.

This is a good argument for why the I-69E/C/W thing is stupid and I-69E should have just been I-69 (in fact, even TXDOT appeared to agree at one point!).

[sprjus4]

I always thought that I-69 was proposed to end in Laredo (where I-69W is) and not Brownsville/Harlingen, and the C and E branches wouldn't come until later. If that is true, then this is really confusing, since I-39, I-41 and I-43 would've been much better fits for the two corridors.

Actually, the I-69E corridor is the highest priority by a huge margin.

There are multiple projects in progress on I-69E (US 77), including the Riviera bypass. Completing I-69E to interstate standards between Corpus and Brownsville is the top priority on the entire I-69 system in Texas. TxDOT is actively preparing for major work in Refugio and Odem to eliminate the remaining traffic signals between Victoria and Corpus.

There is only one project in progress on I-69C (US 281), upgrading a section north of Edinburg. For I-69W, the only construction is in Laredo on the loop. Outside of Laredo, there is no construction or planning activity for I-69W.

From Houston southward, I think we can potentially see I-69 to Victoria and I-69E from Victoria to Brownsville complete by 2050. I-69C will take much longer, and will probably have 2x2 divided highway (non-freeway) sections indefinitely. I don't see I-69W getting fully built in the lifetime of anyone reading this. In fact, we'll probably just get a section near Laredo and maybe some bypasses.

This is a good argument for why the I-69E/C/W thing is stupid and I-69E should have just been I-69 (in fact, even TXDOT appeared to agree at one point!).

Several of the route shields placed along the route south of I-37 simply said "I-69" as well. I think they've finally been replaced with I-69E, however.

I agree though - I-69W and I-69C should either a) be separate route numbers, or b) not exist.

I think I-69C serves far more utility than I-69W.

[ElishaGOtis]

I always thought that I-69 was proposed to end in Laredo (where I-69W is) and not Brownsville/Harlingen, and the C and E branches wouldn't come until later. If that is true, then this is really confusing, since I-39, I-41 and I-43 would've been much better fits for the two corridors.

Actually, the I-69E corridor is the highest priority by a huge margin.

There are multiple projects in progress on I-69E (US 77), including the Riviera bypass. Completing I-69E to interstate standards between Corpus and Brownsville is the top priority on the entire I-69 system in Texas. TxDOT is actively preparing for major work in Refugio and Odem to eliminate the remaining traffic signals between Victoria and Corpus.

There is only one project in progress on I-69C (US 281), upgrading a section north of Edinburg. For I-69W, the only construction is in Laredo on the loop. Outside of Laredo, there is no construction or planning activity for I-69W.

From Houston southward, I think we can potentially see I-69 to Victoria and I-69E from Victoria to Brownsville complete by 2050. I-69C will take much longer, and will probably have 2x2 divided highway (non-freeway) sections indefinitely. I don't see I-69W getting fully built in the lifetime of anyone reading this. In fact, we'll probably just get a section near Laredo and maybe some bypasses.

This is a good argument for why the I-69E/C/W thing is stupid and I-69E should have just been I-69 (in fact, even TXDOT appeared to agree at one point!).

Several of the route shields placed along the route south of I-37 simply said "I-69" as well. I think they've finally been replaced with I-69E, however.

I agree though - I-69W and I-69C should either a) be separate route numbers, or b) not exist.

I think I-69C serves far more utility than I-69W.

What's even funnier is that previous cases of triple-split routes kept the mainline on the center (i.e. US-70 being split into US-70N, US-70, and US-70S), rather than adding a C suffix.

[vdeane]

What makes it even weirder is that when I-69C and I-69E debuted, TXDOT was acting like I-69W was going to be just I-69.  Why make the glorified San Antonio bypass the mainline?

[Thegeet]

Just went on the newly opened U.S. 59/ FM 1161 overpass in Hungerford, and I spotted an I-69 shield! In fact, I-69 shields are visible there and the SB BUS 59 interchange!

[Phudman]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project. Estimated completion in late 2026.

[CtrlAltDel]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project. Estimated completion in late 2026.

It looks like they're finally getting somewhere. 

If I had to guess, I'd say there will be one more traffic reconfiguration on the north end to get the rest of the bridges done, but that is mostly it.

[The Road Warrior]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project. Estimated completion in late 2026.

It looks like they're finally getting somewhere. 

If I had to guess, I'd say there will be one more traffic reconfiguration on the north end to get the rest of the bridges done, but that is mostly it.

Yeah, you can finally see how their going to handle traffic movement. They will reroute the loop traffic on to the service road. Currently, traffic merges back on to the mainline lanes at a temporary exit; that will replaced with another exit further up, which will be part of the final design. Southbound traffic on the existing highway will be rerouted to a set of new lanes currently being constructed under the new bridges. That will allow them to finish the bridges themselves so that they can link into the old lanes.

[TheBox]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project. Estimated completion in late 2026.

It looks like they're finally getting somewhere. 

If I had to guess, I'd say there will be one more traffic reconfiguration on the north end to get the rest of the bridges done, but that is mostly it.

So why did this take so long again?
I forgot

EDIT: iirc, this was originally supposed to be finished by 2024 right?

[bwana39]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project. Estimated completion in late 2026.

It looks like they're finally getting somewhere. 

If I had to guess, I'd say there will be one more traffic reconfiguration on the north end to get the rest of the bridges done, but that is mostly it.

So why did this take so long again?
I forgot

EDIT: iirc, this was originally supposed to be finished by 2024 right?

I-30 in Texarkana started before it and is running behind it... Same contractor!

[TheBox]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project. Estimated completion in late 2026.

It looks like they're finally getting somewhere. 

If I had to guess, I'd say there will be one more traffic reconfiguration on the north end to get the rest of the bridges done, but that is mostly it.

So why did this take so long again?
I forgot

EDIT: iirc, this was originally supposed to be finished by 2024 right?

I-30 in Texarkana started before it and is running behind it... Same contractor!

What a incompetent contractor

[CoreySamson]

The new section of I-69 in Cleveland that was designated recently still does not have I-69 shields as of this Monday.

[Phudman]

An excellent article with a run-down of six US 59 projects in East Texas. https://kicks105.com/highway-59-construction-update/

US 59 Upgrade - Moffett Road to State Highway 103
US 59 Upgrade - Redland
US 59 - Corrigan Relief Route
US 59 - Diboll Relief Route
US 59 Upgrade - Shepherd to Cleveland
US 59/Loop 224 Interchange (South Nacogdoches)

They released a new article with updated timelines.
https://kicks105.com/lufkin-road-construction-updates-2/

[Thegeet]

Just an Update: all new mainlanes are open on US 59 from Wharton/Hungerford to Kendleton. I-69 shields are spotted in Kendleton.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Progress on the segment of future I-69C in Alice, from the I-69 Texas Alliance website:

Alice Relief Route Part of Future I-69 Central

"A total of 150 miles of US Highway 281 from Interstate at McAllen in the Rio Grande Valley north to US 59 in George West is being reconstructed in segments as I-69 Central, part of the congressionally designated I-69 System in Texas. Segments have been completed from McAllen to Edinburg and at Falfurrias and Premont.

The next section being constructed to interstate standard is the Alice Relief Route in Jim Wells County. Construction continues along the entire 9.5 miles of the relief route which includes an important crossroads intersection with SH 44 which runs between Corpus Christi and Laredo. The $138 million project is adding two new grade separations and miles of new freeway and frontage road lanes. Included is a 1.25-mile set of twin bridges over a wide floodplain and two county road intersections.

The relief route has been built in phases over the past two decades and includes a major overpass of SH 44 and the CPKC Railroad's mainline running east and west. Earlier projects included construction of three other grade separation bridges. All of these elements will be tied together in the current project which is scheduled for completion in 2027."

https://i69texasalliance.com/index.html

[jgb191]

SH 44 which runs between Corpus Christi and Laredo.

TX-44 doesn't actually lead directly into Laredo; it misses Laredo by almost forty miles.....I thought the article scripter would have known that.

Anyway, I'm interested in where (or if) I-69C intersects I-37.  Will it continue north and meet I-37 near Three Rivers?

[Great Lakes Roads]

SH 44 which runs between Corpus Christi and Laredo.

TX-44 doesn't actually lead directly into Laredo; it misses Laredo by almost forty miles.....I thought the article scripter would have known that.

Anyway, I'm interested in where (or if) I-69C intersects I-37.  Will it continue north and meet I-37 near Three Rivers?

No, I-69C is expected to end at US 59 (future I-69W), but that is DECADES from this reality happening.

[MaxConcrete]

The final environmental assessment for the 13-mile-long Refugio-Woodsboro bypass is officially released.

Announcement
Assessment
Info page

This enables right-of-way acquisition to proceed.

[abqtraveler]

The final environmental assessment for the 13-mile-long Refugio-Woodsboro bypass is officially released.

Announcement
Assessment
Info page

This enables right-of-way acquisition to proceed.

When do they anticipate construction starting?

[Thegeet]

The final environmental assessment for the 13-mile-long Refugio-Woodsboro bypass is officially released.

Announcement
Assessment
Info page

This enables right-of-way acquisition to proceed.

When do they anticipate construction starting?

2029.

[TheBox]

Google Maps satellite at Wharton has updated, and there's work going on there

[Thegeet]

On another note, down in Riviera, they are pretty much bulldozing and getting the right of way of the new bypass cleared. So all you see is sand/dirt.

[MaxConcrete]

I drove from Nacogdoches to Houston yesterday.

South Nacogdoches project: workers were on site at 5pm, but there's still a lot of work to be done at the north end (see photo). Work is also in progress on the section of main lanes on the south end on the existing alignment. I'm thinking a minimum of one more year to complete the project.

North of Lufkin: this project is also being done by the chronically late Longview Road and Bridge. I don't know if this project is behind schedule (but I'm thinking it probably is). Work is probably 80% done, see photo.

Observation: traffic between Nacogdoches and Lufkin was surprisingly light at 5pm on a Monday.

Lufkin: no construction in progress

South of Lufkin at FM 819: there is a traffic signal, and I'm not aware of an imminent project to eliminate it. There was a long backup in the northbound direction. I had the mistaken belief that the Diboll bypass eliminated all signals south of Lufkin.

Diboll bypass: It appears to be 100% complete. The corridor is very wide and nearly 100% clear-cut of trees. The only trees preserved are at a stream crossing (see photo), which is a disappointment. The median is wide, which I like.

Corrigan bypass: work is progressing well, with long sections of piers in place in the middle (see photo) and at the north end, and the connection nearing completion at the south end. The existing signal at US 287 was on a long cycle, causing a long wait.

Between Shepherd and Cleveland: Work is proceeding quickly, as is expected for the contractor Webber, which typically delivers well ahead of schedule. Southbound traffic is on the new frontage road. There is substantial work in progress everywhere on the main lanes. It looked like the main lanes will be 3x3, but due to imminent darkness I can't say for certain.

As I've said before, driving this section is always a sobering reality check about the large amount of work which needs to be done, especially between Livingston and Corrigan.

My main camera had a depleted battery so these photos were taken with my backup. Combined with the setting sun, the photo quality is low.

Nacogdoches


North of Lufkin  (full size)


Traffic signal south of Lufkin at FM 819 (full size)


Diboll bypass (full size)


Diboll bypass. This is the only preserved foliage (full size)


Corrigan bypass at US 287 (full size)


South end of Corrigan bypass (full size)

[Thegeet]

I'm assuming no I-69 shields in Cleveland yet, right?

[CoreySamson]

I'm assuming no I-69 shields in Cleveland yet, right?

When I was last through there, they weren't up yet. Maybe that's changed in the past two months?