SL 1853 – Madisonville relief route

SH 21 through downtown Madisonville is a heavily congested primary connection between I-45 and SH 90. The existing SH 21-Main Street roadway through town provides few widening options to accommodate local and through traffic. In 2014, TxDOT conducted a feasibility study to determine the effectiveness of a relief route from SH 21 west of Madisonville to I-45 in an effort to reduce congestion and increasing mobility.

The purpose of the SH 21 relief route, designated as State Loop 1853, is to connect regional traffic in the Madisonville area, and relieve existing SH 21-Main Street and surrounding roadways from through traffic between I-45, SH 75, SH 90, and SH 21.

The proposed relief route is expected to:

Address traffic growth: Traffic through Madisonville is expected to increase from 13,000 to 18,500 vehicles per day by 2035.
Improve regional I-45 connectivity: A relief route would increase regional mobility, moving traffic efficiently to and from I-45.
Improve local circulation: Reducing the amount of through traffic in the downtown Madisonville area would enhance mobility within the surrounding area.
Improve safety: The relief route is expected to reduce crash rates on SH 21, SH 90, and SH 75. There were more than 200 crashes in the past five years along these roadways including one fatality.
Preserve local infrastructure: Traffic reduction (especially trucks) would maintain the integrity of the existing roadway and reduce the long-term cost of maintenance.

Today, project development continues—construction of SL 1853 will progress in key segments as outlined below.

Current project status

Through a series of public meetings and evaluations, a preferred relief route alternative on the south side of Madisonville has been designed. A project layout for SL 1853 is provided below under Downloads – Project Layout, May 2023.

The project limits extend from SH 21 near FM 1452 west of Madisonville to SH 21 east of Madisonville near FM 2346 for a length of approximately 7.5 miles. The proposed project would provide a 4-lane highway, two 12-foot wide travel lanes in each direction separated by a grassy median. The travel lanes would be bounded by 4-foot wide inside and 10-foot wide outside shoulders. Anticipated right of way widths for the relief route vary between 300 and 380 feet. There would be grade separations at the crossings of SH 90, SH 75, I-45, and Pee Dee Lane. Entrance and exit ramps would provide access to SH 90 and SH 75, and new ramps along I-45 would provide access to and from the relief route.

The project is funded and will be constructed in three key segments:

From SH 90 to I-45,
From SH 21 west of Madisonville to SH 90, and
From I-145 to SH 21 east of Madisonville.

The first segment, from SH 90 to IH 45, is anticipated to begin construction in 2027. The remaining two segments are anticipated to begin construction in 2030.

Project history

The 2014 Feasibility Study showed that a relief route connecting SH 21 from the west of I-45 would improve local and regional mobility. It would accomplish this by reducing the amount of non-local traffic through town by providing a more direct and faster route to I-45. This would result in improved traffic flow and safety as local traffic would see a reduction in congestion, delays, accidents, and structural impacts to the roadway network.

On May 27, 2014, preliminary relief route alternatives were presented at a community workgroup. Representatives from Madison County, the City of Madisonville, and the Madison Independent School District identified recommended alternatives.

As outlined below, TxDOT held several public meetings during development of the proposed relief route which provided the public opportunities to review and comment.

July 22, 2014: an open house presented the initial study area for a new location relief route on the west side of Madisonville.
March 7, 2017: an open house presented a revised study area and route alternatives located on the south side Madisonville.
Dec. 4, 2017: a subsequent open house presented the Preferred Relief Route Alternative on the south side of Madisonville.
Nov. 12, 2019: an open house presented the initial schematic design (roadway geometric layout) of the Preferred Relief Route Alternative.
May 23, 2023: a public hearing presented the updated, final schematic design for the Preferred Relief Route Alternative. Detailed construction plan development follows this milestone meeting.