Close to 200 people attended an event put on by the Texas Department of Transportation Thursday to provide input on US 59 improvements, specifically, a proposed project in Livingston designed as a US 59 upgrade, which will bring US 59 to interstate standards in preparation for its future designation as I-69.
US 59 serves as an evacuation route for the Gulf Coast and has been designated as an I-69 corridor. The project involves reconstruction of existing main lanes and frontage roads and interchanges with FM 1988, US 190 and Business US 59 North.
In addition to the fact that US 59 does not meet current interstate standards, the US 59 interchanges with US 190, BUS 59 N and FM 1988 are inadequate for current and future traffic volumes, resulting in traffic congestion, reduced mobility and an increase in traffic crashes.
The proposed project is approximately six miles and runs from US 190 to 0.39 miles south of FM 1988 and 1.90 miles south of SL 116 on US 59, and 0.10 miles west of FM 350 North to 0.10 miles east of Briar Way on US 190 with an estimated construction cost of $430 million.
The feasibility study is presently underway, with the next step being schematic design and environmental studies. Right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation will commence in Fall 2026 and run through Fall 2029. Construction letting upon approval is expected to occur in Spring 2032.
In addition to the reconstruction of US 59 main lanes, ramps and frontage roads to meet interstate standards, other features of the proposed project involve revising the configuration of the US 190, BUS 59 North, and BUS 59 South/FM 1988 interchanges, in addition to new frontage road connections crossing over the Union Pacific Railroad just north of BUS 59/FM 1988 and just south of BUS 59 North.
An additional feature is the construction of cable barrier-divided main lanes along US 59 that consist of four 12-foot-wide travel lanes, two in each direction, six-foot-wide inside shoulders, and 12-foot-wide outside shoulders. Northbound and southbound US 59 frontage road construction would include two 12-foot-wide travel lanes with a four-foot inside shoulder and a 10-foot outside shoulder. A 10-foot shared-use path would also be constructed along the proposed US 59 frontage roads.
Comments were taken at the meeting and will continue to be taken by phone, mail and email and must be received on or before Oct. 18. Comments may be submitted by mail to the TxDOT Lufkin District Office, 1805 N. Timberland Drive, Lufkin, TX 75901. Written comments may also be submitted by email to Jennifer.Adams@txdot.gov.
