US 69 Woodville-Colmesneil Relief Route

The TxDOT Beaumont District is proposing a US 69 relief route that stretches approximately 25 miles from approximately one mile south of RR 255 to approximately one mile south of Black Creek in Tyler County. US 69 is a south-north highway that runs from Port Arthur to Denison, Texas and is designated as a hurricane evacuation route.

Project purpose and need

The purpose of the US 69 project is to provide a relief route to support safe and efficient south/north movement of people and goods between Colmesneil and Warren. The proposed project aims to do the following:

• Provide an alternate south-north evacuation route for the growing population of Southeast Texas
• Improve safety by providing a relief route to reduce congestion on existing US 69
• Address demand from freight traffic
• Provide an alternate/secondary route from south of Warren to north of Colmesneil

Proposed improvements

The approximate 25-mile proposed project would include a new location roadway. The ultimate roadway would generally include two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a northbound 13-foot outside shoulder to be used as a hurricane evacuation lane, a southbound 10-foot outside shoulder, and two-lane frontage roads in each direction that would require approximately 400 feet of right-of-way (ROW) width. Bicycle and pedestrian accommodations would be considered throughout the project.

Timeline/next steps*

• Virtual public meeting with in-person options – Oct. 2023
• Refine preliminary design and incorporate public input – Fall 2023
  Second round of public meetings – June 2024
• Finalize preliminary design and Draft Environmental Assessment – Summer 2025
• Public hearing – Fall 2025
• Environmental Decision – Fall 2025
• Begin ROW acquisition**
• Finalize design and begin phased construction upon approval**

*This project schedule and dates are tentative and subject to change.

**This project could be constructed in phases depending on funding.

Get involved

• Virtual public meeting with in-person options
  • In-person meetings:
    • Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, from 5 - 7 p.m.
    • Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 from 5 - 7 p.m.
  • Documentation of public meeting - Oct. 24-26, 2023
• Virtual public meeting with in-person options
  • In-person meetings:
    • Tuesday, June 4, 2024, from 5 - 7 p.m.
    • Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 5 - 7 p.m.