I-39 (U.S. 59 Interstate) (Houston, Austin: homes, dangerous, design)

[KerrTown]

With today's news of the Trans-Texas Corridor being scrapped, isn't it time for Greater Houston constituents and legislators to push for an upgrade of U.S. 59 to an interstate? I-39 would connect to Rockford, near Chicago, with most of the route making up the north-south transcontinental route and strengthen Houston ties with the largest city/metro in the middle of the country.

[oceangaia]

I think you mean I-69. U.S. 59 has been designated as the future I-69 for years now but the demand doesn't justify the money. Have you ever driven it from Houston to Texarkana? It won't be much cheaper to upgrade 59 than to build a new one from scratch.

[Poltracker]

They are already upgrading it to some extent. The area through Shepherd is an example. I miss the old Dairy Queen that was there on the east side of 59. Nowhere to easily stop and get a soda now.

[oceangaia]

I just drove by there last weekend. There are a few stretches that will be easy to convert but there are thousands of homes and businesses with direct driveway access to 59. Not only will that have to go but you'll have to build new access roads for them. And then there's all the bridges, interchanges, and bypasses needed around all the little towns.

[Poltracker]

Yep, but they are sure doing it. I'm sure you noted the improvements between Jefferson and Atlanta too? I think they are planning to reroute slightly away around Marshall from the proposed maps I've seen, also around Jefferson a little (route I saw was slightly west of current location). It will be interesting how it ends up.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by DiverTodd62

I think you mean I-69.

Technically incorrect. This is the wrong part of the country to call it I-69. I don't think that number would play in this (sexually conservative) state considering how that vaccine was rejected.

Originally Posted by Poltracker

The area through Shepherd is an example.

That railroad underpass is so dangerous. It seems that it's from the 1920's. I saw a picture of a railroad overpass on Allen Pkwy and I thought I was in Houston again at that crossing in Shepherd.

[chris_ut]

Also it seems like its going to get confusing considering there is already a Hwy 69 that runs North from Beaumont and meets up with 59 at Lufkin then continues N. Plus it doesnt match the numbering scheme of the rest of the highways. Starts with 5 on the west coast then you have 35 going through Austin, 45 North outta Houston and then 49 through LA. To match the numbering scheme it should be like I-47.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

Also it seems like its going to get confusing considering there is already a Hwy 69 that runs North from Beaumont and meets up with 59 at Lufkin then continues N.

Oh yeah, you're right! Texas didn't adopt the California numbering system.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by DiverTodd62

It won't be much cheaper to upgrade 59 than to build a new one from scratch.

You mean a totally different route? I'm sure the people who stood to have their property taken by the state through eminent domain, who opposed the TTC for that reason, would be equally thrilled with this idea.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

Technically incorrect. This is the wrong part of the country to call it I-69. I don't think that number would play in this (sexually conservative) state considering how that vaccine was rejected.

Only the closet-pervert conservatives would oppose that number on something so trivial. But now that I think about it, there are plenty of those types.

It doesn't seem to be the right number though. Chris-ut mentioned I-47, but was this supposed to run east or west of 45? I thought it was supposed to stay west; if so I-39 sounds about right. I-47 would work if it ran close to the Sabine River.