I-69 in TX

[edwaleni]

I'm sure other people may have noticed, but Google Earth has some updated imagery for Laredo, dated 3/16/25. It shows a lot more construction activity along the Bob Bullock Loop. The project runs from International Blvd down to the doorstep of the United ISD Food Production Center building. So far all that has been done is grading work, but it shows a clear foot print of the future freeway's ROW.

The gap between the end of that project down to the intersection with US-59 and Loop 20 is only about 1.75 miles. The public schools food production building will have to be relocated. Some of the park buildings at Lake Casa Blanca State Park will have to be cleared. Outside of those two issues there isn't much of anything else in the way of widening the road. The highway will probably have to do without frontage roads passing by the Casa Blanca Golf Course.

I'll bet they have a priority in the near term to get the freeway completed at least down to the entrance of the Laredo International Airport.

[Henry]

This is somewhat related, but is the current intersection with US 59 where I-69W will turn (north)east to go to Houston going to be the western terminus of I-2?

[Great Lakes Roads]

This is somewhat related, but is the current intersection with US 59 where I-69W will turn (north)east to go to Houston going to be the western terminus of I-2?

Yes.

[Bobby5280]

TX DOT will have to buy and demolish a lot of existing properties if they want to route I-69W Eastward on Saunders Street from the Loop 20/US-59 exit. A new QuikTrip store was recently opened on the SW corner of the intersection. It looks like other new properties (including homes) are getting built at the corner of Puerto Escondido and Saunders Street.

[MaxConcrete]

TX DOT will have to buy and demolish a lot of existing properties if they want to route I-69W Eastward on Saunders Street from the Loop 20/US-59 exit. A new QuikTrip store was recently opened on the SW corner of the intersection. It looks like other new properties (including homes) are getting built at the corner of Puerto Escondido and Saunders Street.

At a public meeting in October 2023 four alternatives were presented for the alignment of US 59 (I-69W) east of Laredo. Three of the four alternatives are north of the lake, avoiding Saunders Street.

See page 5 in the presentation. On page 6 the evaluation matrix shows that the Saunders Street option is the lowest rated, so it is very unlikely to be selected.

[Phudman]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project

[edwaleni]

This is somewhat related, but is the current intersection with US 59 where I-69W will turn (north)east to go to Houston going to be the western terminus of I-2?

Yes.

Here is the study done on that coridoor.

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/statewide/us83-corridor.html

TxDOT is expecting another international bridge over the Rio Grande that will feed I-69W from the south via I-2.

[MaxConcrete]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project

That project seems to be taking a ridiculously long time. So I looked it up, and it is far behind schedule.

From this report

When ground was broken in October 2019, the $86.9 million intersection reconfiguration was expected to take four years, with an original completion date in 2023. Weather delays and supply and labor shortages created by the COVID-19 pandemic pushed that date to 2025, and completion was again reset last year to 2026.

According to this TxDOT document, work began in August 2019. The bid had 523 working days which was extended to 587 days. They are now at 673 days and subject to a penalty of $2590 per day, which has totaled $222,740 as of the 5/8/2025.

[bwana39]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project

That project seems to be taking a ridiculously long time. So I looked it up, and it is far behind schedule.

From this report

When ground was broken in October 2019, the $86.9 million intersection reconfiguration was expected to take four years, with an original completion date in 2023. Weather delays and supply and labor shortages created by the COVID-19 pandemic pushed that date to 2025, and completion was again reset last year to 2026.

According to this TxDOT document, work began in August 2019. The bid had 523 working days which was extended to 587 days. They are now at 673 days and subject to a penalty of $2590 per day, which has totaled $222,740 as of the 5/8/2025.

Do those penalties apply to the covid delays? In Texarkana where the I-30 widening project is just dragging with times before 2024 that there was zero work done anywhere for 4-6 month stretches. Local discussion says the contractor has the ability on these pre-covid lets to get seemingly endless delays as well as increases above the contract amount.

Even if they don't get endless delays, the delay penalties could be paid with the increased funding///

[sprjus4]

7 years for an interchange project? Yeesh.

[MaxConcrete]

Do those penalties apply to the covid delays? In Texarkana where the I-30 widening project is just dragging with times before 2024 that there was zero work done anywhere for 4-6 month stretches. Local discussion says the contractor has the ability on these pre-covid lets to get seemingly endless delays as well as increases above the contract amount.

Even if they don't get endless delays, the delay penalties could be paid with the increased funding///

All three large projects on I-30 in the Texarkana (Atlanta) district are by the same contractor as the Nacogdoches I-69 job: Longview Bridge and Road.

Project 1, $34 million. This job is around 73% complete based on payments. Penalties start in 13 working days as of the report date.

Project 2, $62.3 million. This job is around 38% complete based on payments. They have used 401 days of 516 (which has 75 extra days). Penalties start in 115 working days as of the report date.

Project 3, $91.9 million. This job is around 63% complete based on payments. They have used 838 days of 1022 (which has 298 extra days). Penalties start in 184 working days as of the report date.

[bwana39]

Do those penalties apply to the covid delays? In Texarkana where the I-30 widening project is just dragging with times before 2024 that there was zero work done anywhere for 4-6 month stretches. Local discussion says the contractor has the ability on these pre-covid lets to get seemingly endless delays as well as increases above the contract amount.

Even if they don't get endless delays, the delay penalties could be paid with the increased funding///

All three large projects on I-30 in the Texarkana (Atlanta) district are by the same contractor as the Nacogdoches I-69 job: Longview Bridge and Road.

Project 1, $34 million. This job is around 73% complete based on payments. Penalties start in 13 working days as of the report date.

Project 2, $62.3 million. This job is around 38% complete based on payments. They have used 401 days of 516 (which has 75 extra days). Penalties start in 115 working days as of the report date.

Project 3, $91.9 million. This job is around 63% complete based on payments. They have used 838 days of 1022 (which has 298 extra days). Penalties start in 184 working days as of the report date.

The answer is it is complicated. They get big money change orders because on the unavailable equipment which effectively offsets the penalty.

Wow the VMS sign budget is ridicules. As a whole they are confusing. Too much technical jargon: primarily around a description NOBODY knows what is. There was a complete 2-way frontage road on the north side of I-30 from Kings Hwy to FM2148. Part of it belonged to TxDOT. The next part to the City of Texarkana TX. The final stretch belonged to Bowie COunty. They decided to use a jargon term of "access road".

Longview Bridge is being hamstrung because their skilled labor was mostly non-documented and after covid, compliance was much more closely monitored.

[TheBox]

New drone flyover of the Nacogdoches project

And nothing has fundamentally changed, again

[thisdj78]

@TheBox - You're gonna be sleeping along time unfortunately.

Until some prominent politician makes it his pet project, I don't see it moving much along.

[splashflash]

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)

[Henry]

Full transcript of the Kicks 105 article posted above:

Road construction on Highway 59 is a given. Someday, an uninterrupted Interstate 69 will roll from Houston to Texarkana and beyond. Until that day arrives (still a long time away), segments of Highway 59 will be under construction.

The Lufkin District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) oversees operations in Angelina, Nacogdoches, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Houston, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby Counties.

Let's take a look at the latest updates for 6 ongoing construction projects on Highway 59 in the Lufkin District.


US 59 Upgrade - Moffett Road to State Highway 103

Start of Construction: 2021
Estimated Project Completion: Spring 2025
Purpose of This Project:  Improve safety, enhance mobility, and provide system connectivity along US 59, US 69, and State Loop 287 from SH 103 East to just north of FM 3439 (Spence Street). It is also designed to improve vertical clearances at the bridges. The proposed improvements will also be designed to meet interstate standards for potential future designation as I-69.
What's Being Done: Phases I and III were completed in 2017 and includes the new underpass on Timberland Drive at the railroad crossing and new northbound and southbound overpasses over US 59. Phase II includes widening the US 59 overpass at AN&R Railroad, constructing northbound and southbound frontage roads, and reconstructing the main lanes of US 59.

US 59 Upgrade - Redland

Start of Construction: Late 2022
Estimated Project Completion: Fall 2026
Purpose of This Project: Improve mobility and provide system connectivity along US 59 between Loop 287 and FM 2021 in Redland. The proposed improvements will also be designed to meet interstate standards for potential future designation as I-69.
What's Being Done: Add frontage roads between Loop 287 and FM 2021. Add a U-turn at the Union Pacific Railroad.  Reconstruct and widen the US 59 mainlanes

US 59 - Corrigan Relief Route

Start of Construction: Fall 2022
Estimated Project Completion: Summer 2026
Purpose of the Project: Bringing US 59 up to interstate standards.
What's Being Done:  Building a new 6.4-mile roadway west of Corrigan. The roadway will have no frontage roads, but will include four 12-foot travel lanes with shoulders and a median.

US 59 - Diboll Relief Route

Start of Construction: April 2020
Estimated Project Completion: Winter 2025
Purpose of the Project: This project is dedicated to improving safety and mobility due to increasing traffic, congestion, and a high number of traffic crashes. The bypass to the east of Diboll will bring US 59 into interstate compliance.
What's Being Done: Construct 8.2 miles of new northbound and southbound US 59 main lanes, providing overpasses at FM 1818 and several local roadways. In May 2025, northbound lanes of the bypass were opened to traffic.

US 59 Upgrade - Shepherd to Cleveland

Start of Construction: Winter 2023
Estimated Project Completion: Fall 2029
Purpose of the Project: Improve safety and mobility along US 59 (future I-69). Meet interstate standards. Increase efficiency as a hurricane evacuation route.
What's Being Done: Adding frontage roads between FM 2914 and State Loop 573. Reconstructing US 59 mainlanes. Construction of overpasses with turnarounds at Red Road and just south of the San Jacinto County line. Addition of a turnaround at the US 59/FM 2914 overpass.

US 59/Loop 224 Interchange (South Nacogdoches)

Nacogdoches US 59 / Loop 224 Flyover Project - FULL LENGTH (May 23, 2025)
 

Start of Construction (Phase II): August 2019
Estimated Project Completion: December 2026
Purpose of the Project:  Improve safety and mobility from south of Spradley Street on US 59 to the intersection of SH 7 West and State Loop 224. The proposed improvements will also be designed to meet interstate standards for future designation as I-69.
What's Being Done: Construct new US 59 northbound and southbound main lanes that would directly connect to SL 224 just south of SH 7(W). New lanes bypassing the congested traffic light intersection would be constructed several hundred yards east of BU 59.  Construct overpasses at Spradley Street, existing US 59, and Old Lufkin Road. Construct frontage roads for SL 224, between SH 7 and BU 59. (Thanks to Jason Reina with EASTEX Photography for outstanding drone footage)

Other Planned Projects on Highway 59

TxDOT has more US 59 construction projects scheduled to start within the next 10 years. I will be posting a separate story about those projects in the near future.

At least we all be driving on more new sections of I-69 in the next five years. And I-69 is not going to Texarkana at all (that's for I-369); it'll head on towards Shreveport instead, and whether it eventually reaches Memphis is anyone's guess.