US 59 Corrigan Relief Route (Future I-69)

This project is dedicated to bringing US 59 up to interstate standards, which is located in Corrigan, Polk County, Texas.

Improvement of the existing roadway through Corrigan is restrained by the commercial and community development along the four-lane undivided curb and gutter roadway section and the proximity of the Union Pacific railroad tracks along the western side of US 59.

Project background

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, TxDOT performed alignment and environmental studies as well as public involvement for the US 59 Corrigan Relief Route. Due to budgetary constraints, the studies were stopped.

In 2012, TxDOT was allocated five million for project development services related to the development of I-69 in Polk County. As a top priority of the I-69 Segment Two Committee, TxDOT will begin using the five million that was allocated to Polk County to initiate the project development process, which includes environmental studies, schematic development and right-of-way mapping and to acquire right of way for the US 59 Corrigan Relief Route.

TxDOT held an open house meeting on Aug. 5, 2014, to seek public input on the previously studied alternatives and to determine if the public still supported the W-2 alternative for further development. Results of the meeting found that approximately 70 percent of respondents supported further development of the W2 alternative.

Due to development in the area, TxDOT had to make further refinements to the alignment to avoid the new Roy O. Martin plant. The revised alignment (W-2a) was presented to the public on Dec. 17, 2015. In 2016, TxDOT began schematic development and environmental studies of the preferred alignment.

After making further refinements based on public comments and recommendations from a value engineering, TxDOT held a public hearing on Dec. 14, 2017, to display the proposed improvement and to receive public comments before submitting for approval.

Construction funding has been identified for 2022 in the Commission approved December 2017 revision of the Unified Transportation Plan.

In March 2018, TxDOT received approval of the environmental assessment (Finding of No Significant Impact below) and the schematic.

Next steps

• Approval of the schematic and environmental studies was received in March 2018
• Detailed engineering plans, necessary environmental permits, ROW acquisition and utility relocations are anticipated to be complete by spring 2022
• The project is currently scheduled to go to bid in 2022
• Construction funding was allocated in TxDOT's Unified Transportation Program and subsequently in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program
• Construction is expected to last approximately six and a half years with a proposed construction start in the fall of 2022