I-49 in Arkansas

[bwana39]

[quote author=bwana39

I-69 will almost surely be built as far as to the I-369 split. Likely completed in less than 20 years. Once it gets that far, it will likely be built to at least I-49. The part from Shreveport to Memphis is an entirely different issue.

As Memphis to Dyersburg TN is also a completely different issue.

I think 20 years is generous for TxDOT to do another 800 miles of I-69. I think it may drag out to past the middle of the century for every section done.
[/quote]

I was just focusing on the Houston to Texarkana / Shreveport sections. You MAY be right about the sections from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley.

I will give you there are still some small sections of 2-lanes on US-59 between Nacogdoches and Carthage.

[sprjus4]

[quote author=bwana39

I-69 will almost surely be built as far as to the I-369 split. Likely completed in less than 20 years. Once it gets that far, it will likely be built to at least I-49. The part from Shreveport to Memphis is an entirely different issue.

As Memphis to Dyersburg TN is also a completely different issue.

I think 20 years is generous for TxDOT to do another 800 miles of I-69. I think it may drag out to past the middle of the century for every section done.

I was just focusing on the Houston to Texarkana / Shreveport sections. You MAY be right about the sections from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley.

I will give you there are still some small sections of 2-lanes on US-59 between Nacogdoches and Carthage.
[/quote]
All of US-59 is four lanes, a lot of it is undivided, however. You might be thinking of the SH-315 shortcut.

I imagine I-69 / I-69E will be completed between Houston and Brownsville before I-69 is complete between Houston and Texarkana.

They've been making significant progress south compared to north.

[Road Hog]

I don't think that's unjustified as the RGV is the most underserved region in the U.S. But one still needs to connect beyond that. 

[bwana39]

[quote author=bwana39

I-69 will almost surely be built as far as to the I-369 split. Likely completed in less than 20 years. Once it gets that far, it will likely be built to at least I-49. The part from Shreveport to Memphis is an entirely different issue.

As Memphis to Dyersburg TN is also a completely different issue.

I think 20 years is generous for TxDOT to do another 800 miles of I-69. I think it may drag out to past the middle of the century for every section done.

I was just focusing on the Houston to Texarkana / Shreveport sections. You MAY be right about the sections from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley.

I will give you there are still some small sections of 2-lanes on US-59 between Nacogdoches and Carthage.
[/quote]

All of US-59 is four lanes, a lot of it is undivided, however. You might be thinking of the SH-315 shortcut.

I imagine I-69 / I-69E will be completed between Houston and Brownsville before I-69 is complete between Houston and Texarkana.

They've been making significant progress south compared to north.

Using GSV, The stretches outside of Teneha on both sides appear to be 4 lane (not 5) with no shoulders. This exact pavement used to be striped as 2-lanes with shoulders (probably 25 years ago). I rarely go that way. 59 has more vigorous police enforcement. No, I realized SH-315 which is my normal route has lots of 2-lane, but still is usually a better route. The point is that US-59 is still more than 1 upgrade away from Interstate.

I still think the completed Interstate will probably reach Nacogdoches from Houston within the next decade with the current rate of progress. Another decade would seem about right to reach Texarkana.  I have never been past Richmond on 59 south of Houston.

[sprjus4]

Using GSV, The stretches outside of Teneha on both sides appear to be 4 lane (not 5) with no shoulders. This exact pavement used to be striped as 2-lanes with shoulders (probably 25 years ago). I rarely go that way. 59 has more vigorous police enforcement. No, I realized SH-315 which is my normal route has lots of 2-lane, but still is usually a better route. The point is that US-59 is still more than 1 upgrade away from Interstate.

I still think the completed Interstate will probably reach Nacogdoches from Houston within the next decade with the current rate of progress. Another decade would seem about right to reach Texarkana.  I have never been past Richmond on 59 south of Houston.

SH-315 has a 70 mph speed limit and has a lot of 2 lane mixed throughout.

I've done both and found US-59 to be my preferred - it's all 4 lanes and is mostly 75 mph. Slightly longer, but faster and consistently have the ability to pass trucks.

Speed enforcement doesn't really seem to be an issue - if you're looking to go more than 80 mph on a four lane undivided highway, that's not an enforcement issue. It's just not safe.