A major Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) national interstate project that will extend from Mexico to Michigan is moving ahead.
Interstate 69 is a proposed national interstate authorized by federal legislation in Texas along specified U.S. routes.
The development of I-69 in Texas would relieve traffic congestion caused by a growing population, provide safer travel through the state, improve evacuation routes and support economic development, according to TxDOT.
For the project to begin, U.S. 59, at the intersection of U.S. 259, must be made into a controlled access roadway, or in other words, a freeway.
“It’ll have frontage roads on each side, north bound, south bound,” said Matt Brazil, TxDOT Director of Transportation Planning and Development, in a statement.
Frontage roads run right next to the freeway, helping motorists get on and off, another quality of an interstate.
Northbound U.S. 59 and southbound U.S. 259 will get flyover bridges, too.
Brazil says this project will help decrease traffic congestion and crashes, while it increases mobility, all things the current set up does poorly.
“We’re getting rid of the jug handle and allow just traffic to flow better through that section,” said Brazil.
TxDOT will make a location for 18-wheelers to park between Stallings Drive Loop 224 and FM 343, too.
This project will displace 15 residences and 10 commercial properties, but according to Brazil, it’s a required move to meet interstate standards.
“This project is a vital project to, like I said, increase the safety and the mobility through that area,” said Brazil.
Brazil says the project is still in the design phase, but most of it is done, with construction set to begin in Spring 2029.
Source: KTRE.com, TXDOT.gov
