US 59/State Loop 224 South

This project is dedicated to improving safety and mobility from south of Spradley Street on US 59 to the intersection of SH 7 West and State Loop 224.

Due to increasing traffic, congestion and a high number of traffic accidents, this project was one of three identified near term improvements needed in Nacogdoches County according to the US 59 Corridor Master Plan Study. "Near term” improvements would improve safety under present and projected traffic loads until the long-term solution, proposed I-69, is constructed.

In 2011, TxDOT received a Finding of No Significant Impact from the Federal Highway Administration issuing clearance of the environmental document and final approval of the schematic. Due to budgetary constraints, the project will be constructed in two phases:

Phase I

This phase was completed in Spring 2017, and included the following:

Converting the center two-way, left-turn lane on US 59 from south of Spradley Street to State Loop 224 to a raised median
Constructing U-turns at Spradley Street and near State Loop 224
Pedestrian safety will be accommodated by constructing sidewalks on both sides of US 59 from Spradley Street to State Loop 224.
Reconfiguring the US 59/State Loop 224 intersection would provide safer turning movements and reduce congestion by allowing two lanes of through traffic to make a left turn at the signalized intersection

Phase II

This phase focuses on eliminating traffic conflicts between through traffic and local traffic in this high density commercial area with the following improvements:

Construct new US 59 northbound and southbound main lanes that would directly connect to State Loop 224 just south of SH 7
Construct overpasses at Spradley Street, existing US 59 and Old Lufkin Road
Construct frontage roads for State Loop 224 between SH 7 and BU 59

Phase II next steps

In 2013, the I-69 Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties Committee identified US 59/State Loop 224 South Interchange as a number one priority area for I-69 development in Nacogdoches County.

With support from local officials and the public, TxDOT began revising the schematic to bring it up to interstate standards so that it may one day be designated as I-69.
After receiving public comments at the Sept. 3, 2015, open house, TxDOT made further revisions to the schematic. Some of those changes included adding a U-turn at the SH 7 intersection and leaving Old Lufkin Road open at the south end of the project limits. To address some comments regarding a turnaround for large trucks south of Spradley, TxDOT proposes to develop a separate project that would involve the construction of a turnaround south of the proposed project limits that would accommodate large trucks.
The revisions to the schematic and the environmental reevaluation were approved June 2016.
Detailed engineering plans, necessary environmental permits, ROW acquisitions and utility relocations were completed summer 2019.
On July 25, 2019, the Texas Transportation Commission awarded the $86 million construction project to Longview Bridge and Road Ltd. The project is anticipated to be open to traffic in summer 2024, weather permitting.