I-69 Update: New Lanes And Grade Separations Going In

In Texas, Interstate 69 continues to take shape; albeit, ever too slowly. The temptation is for this writer to tell construction workers and designers: "Hurry up!"

That's likely the way people northeast and southwest of Houston are feeling right now. I-69 is seeing new mainlanes finally going in around Splendora and in El Campo. Basically, it's the eastern segment of what has been the U.S. Highway 59 bypass in the latter community. The western portion looks great, but work is going on as we speak to the east of Texas State Highway 71. For a while, the highway was divided, but at-grade. The transition to interstate freeway will be remedied by building new feeder roads (which has since necessitated a traffic switch to the new lanes) and rebuilding the mainlanes and adding grade separations at selected locations for interchanges. This should be completed in roughly a year to a year and a half. Regarding the Splendora segment, the right-of-way is being taken care of and the mainlanes are slowing forming just north of Fostoria Road and U.S. 59. Many of the same things spoken of for El Campo will also take place here, as well.

In addition, there is some extra work going on in Beasley and Kendleton, as that transitioning continues between Rosenberg and Wharton. Numerous barriers and lane shifts are occurring there. And in Nacogdoches, further north of Houston, a new alignment of U.S. 59 will wind around from its main footprint to form a continuous flyover where the southern portion of State Loop 224 meets it.

So, needless to say, it's a little busy on both sides of H-Town as we get one step closer to I-69 getting its way in with more freeway miles and the eventual designation. Progress is being made, particularly in the south. Still, however, much work will still need to be done.