US 190 at Neches River bridge replacements

TxDOT's Beaumont District is proposing to replace the existing United States Highway (US) 190 Neches River Relief Bridge and US 190 at Neches River Bridge at B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir in Jasper and Tyler Counties, Texas. 

The project area would be approximately 1.11 miles in length along US 190 between the cities of Woodville and Jasper and would replace the two existing US 190 bridges described above. The project would construct one bridge adjacent to the north side of the existing bridges and would remove the two existing bridges and approaches. The approach roadways and new bridge would consist of two 12-foot-wide travel lanes (one in each direction) with 10-foot-wide outside shoulders.

The project would be constructed entirely inside of the existing 200 to 300-foot-wide permanent transportation easement (which is used as right of way [ROW] and referred to as such for the purposes of the project), and no new ROW would be required. Approximately 8.90 acres of temporary construction easements are proposed outside of the existing ROW, and a 0.25-acre temporary construction easement is proposed inside the existing ROW.

The proposed project is anticipated to impact (or “use”) the following properties protected under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code: the US 190 at the Neches River Bridge (NBI No. 201220021308074) and Martin Dies Jr. State Park. The US 190 at Neches River Bridge, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is classified as a historic site under Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, would be replaced as described above. Two temporary construction easements would be required within Martin Dies Jr. State Park. It is anticipated the impacts to the park would meet the threshold for exceptions to the Section 4(f) requirements because the duration of occupancy would be temporary, there would be no change in ownership of the land, there would be no anticipated permanent adverse physical impacts, there would be no interference with the protected activities, features, or attributes of the property, and the land would be fully restored to conditions at least as good as those which existed prior to the project. Furthermore, it is anticipated the officials with jurisdiction, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, will document agreement that the proposed temporary construction easements meet the thresholds of the exemptions for the Section 4(f) property. Public comment on the effects of the proposed project on the activities, features, or attributes of the US 190 at Neches River Bridge and/or Martin Dies Jr. State Park may be submitted as described below.

The proposed project would involve construction in wetlands and would involve an action in a floodplain.

Environmental documentation, studies, maps/drawings showing the project location and design, tentative construction schedules, and other information regarding the proposed project are on file and available for inspection Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the TxDOT Beaumont District Office, 8350 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, Texas, 77708. An appointment can be made by calling 409-898-5732. Project materials are also available online on this webpage.

Instructions for Viewing Presentation:

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• Instructions for Viewing a Pre-Recorded Presentation

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• Notice
• Notice (Español)
• Project location map
  
• Schematic
• Presentation and script

• Online: Comment form
• Email: bmtprojects@txdot.gov
• Verbal Testimony: 409-203-2579 (beginning at noon on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2023)
• Mail: TxDOT Beaumont District Office, Re: US 190 Neches River, 8350 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, TX 77708