US 69 Corridor - Gateway to the Big Thicket Segment

This US 69 Corridor segment is between FM 1003 in Kountze and FM 1943 near Warren and is known as the "US 69 Gateway to the Big Thicket." The public is encouraged to visit the US 69 Corridor project page for more background about other potential segment areas in the Beaumont District area.

Proposed Benefits

The proposed project is anticipated to improve safety and mobility along U.S. 69 during emergency evacuations by reducing the number of conflict points and providing better access.

Proposed Improvements

The proposed project includes the following improvements:

Widen and improve US 69 from FM 1003 (north of Kountze) to FM 1943 (near Warren) in Hardin and Tyler Counties to a four-lane, divided roadway with shoulders, an evacuation lane on the northbound lanes, and a median - the existing roadway includes a two-lane, undivided roadway with shoulders and no median
Design the roadway to add two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction
Design the roadway to include four-foot inside shoulders, a 10-foot outside shoulder on the southbound lanes and a 12-foot outside shoulder on the northbound lanes that serves as a hurricane evacuation lane. Hurricane evacuation lanes are roadway shoulders that may be used as travel lanes during times of significant congestion such as during mandatory evacuations

The project would also extend the existing 10-foot hike-and-bike trail along the entire length of the project limits, in an effort to improve potential connectivity to the existing hike-and-bike trails within the Big Thicket National Preserve. Three new trailheads and one new parking area would also be constructed. The proposed project would incorporate Context Sensitive Solutions improving awareness of the surrounding resources by use of monument signage to identify local amenities such as Big Thicket National Preserve and John Henry Kirby State Forest. Public input from the open house, public hearing and interactive online survey have been considered and incorporated into the project design where appropriate.

The existing right of way width is typically 100 feet wide but varies up to 120 feet wide in limited locations. The project would require the acquisition of up to 200 feet of right of way, resulting in a new typical right-of-way width of 300 feet and the possible displacement of one commercial and five residential displacement structures. Please review the landowner's rights publications, which contains more information about the TxDOT Relocation Assistance Program concerning services and benefits for displaced persons and businesses if needed.

Next Steps