U.S. Route 59 in Texas

U.S. Highway 59
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length: 612.169 mi[1] (985.191 km)
Existed: 1935 – present
Major junctions
South end: I-35 / US 83 in Laredo
  US 281 in George West
US 181 in Beeville
US 183 in Goliad
US 77 / US 87 in Victoria
US 90 in Sugar Land
I-45 in Houston
I-10 in Houston
US 190 in Livingston
US 287 in Corrigan
US 69 in Lufkin
US 259 in Nacogdoches
US 84 in Timpson
US 96 in Tenaha
US 79 in Carthage
I-20 / US 80 in Marshall
US 67 / US 71 / I-30 in Texarkana
North end: U.S. 59 in Texarkana, AR
Highway system

United States Numbered Highways
List • Bannered • Divided • Replaced

Highways in Texas
Interstate • U.S. • TX (LoopsSpursRecFM)

SH 58 SH 59

In the U.S. state of Texas, U.S. 59 is named the Lloyd Bentsen Highway, after Lloyd Bentsen, former U.S. Senator from Texas. In northern Houston, US 59 is the Eastex Freeway (from Downtown to Humble). To the south, it is the Southwest Freeway (from Rosenberg to Downtown Houston), which is one of the busiest sections of freeway in the United States with a vehicle count, as of 2006, over 330,000 vehicles per day just outside the Loop.[2] To make things more confusing, 70 miles to the east, in Beaumont, Texas, U.S. 69, heading north of IH 10, is also officially known as Eastex Freeway, and is an evacuation route, as well.

US 59 (overlapped by US 71) actually straddles the border between Texas and Arkansas north of Interstate 30 near Texarkana, with the east side of the highway in Arkansas and the west side of the highway on the Texas side. In the past, both highways remained on the border past I-30 as State Line Avenue to downtown Texarkana; today, only US 71 does so. Nearly 90% of this route is designated to become part of Interstate 69 in the future. Currently 75 mph is allowed on US 59 in Duval County only.

The total length of the southernmost segment of U.S. Route 59 that passes through Texas and terminates near the Mexican border is some 615 miles.

Contents

History

The US 96 designation was originally applied in 1926 from Rosenberg, Texas, near Houston to Pharr in the Rio Grande valley. This diagonal route, south of U.S. 90, did not violate the convention of even numbers for east–west routes. The highway's east–west nature was boosted in 1934 when US 96 was rerouted from Alice to Laredo.

Route description

Laredo to Interstate 37

US 59 begins in Laredo at an intersection with I-35 about 2 miles north of the Mexican border. Traveling in a mostly northeast direction, US 59 intersects Loop 20 just north of Laredo International Airport heads towards Freer. In Duval County, the speed limit on US 59 is 75 miles per hour, the highest speed limit on the highway. US 59 shares a short congruency with SH 44 in and around Freer. From Freer, US 59 passes through the southeastern part of McMullen County, but does not intersect any highways. The highway continues northeast, intersecting US 281 in George West, before intersecting I-37 about 55 miles north of Corpus Christi. Between Laredo and Interstate 37, US 59 passes through many rural areas and ranching sites.

Interstate 37 to Houston

From I-37, US 59 heads northeast passing through Beeville. US 59 bypasses Victoria to the south, and becomes a divided highway, and has a series of interchanges, until it becomes a freeway south of Houston in Rosenburg. Between Houston and Victoria, US 59 passes through Edna, El Campo, and Wharton. US 59 intersects many major Texas highways in Houston, including I-10 (which goes to San Antonio and Beaumont) and I-45 (which goes to Dallas and Galveston). Future I-69 may not overlap US 59 in Houston, but have its own route around the city, possibly on current SH 99 (Grand Parkway).

Houston to Marshall

Leaving Houston, US 59 intersects Beltway 8 again on the northside of town, passing by Bush Intercontinental Airport and heads into Humble. Between Houston and Livingston, most of US 59 is a limited-access freeway. US 59 passes through or bypasses the towns of Cleveland and Livingston. 46 miles north of Livingston, US 59 bypasses Lufkin, where it overlaps US 69. 10 miles north of Lufkin, US 59 bypasses Nacogdoches and heads in an almost entirely east-west direction. Drivers wishing to stay on US 59, must turn left in Tenaha, where the highway intersects US 96 and ends it's overlap with US 84. US 59 passes through Carthage before intersecting I-20 south of Marshall.

Marshall to Texarkana

US 59 intersects US 80 in Marshall, where US 59 is known as East End Boulevard (due to the fact the highway runs on the east side of town, near the city limits). US 59 passes through Jefferson, 15 miles east of Caddo Lake. US 59 passes through the towns of Linden and Atlanta before arriving in Bowie County. US 59 intersects SH 93 south of Texarkana, the old highway through the city. Shortly after, US 59 intersects Spur 151, where US 59 becomes a freeway on the westside of the city. US 59 intersects I-30, and overlaps I-30 until exit 223B, at the state line. After leaving I-30, US 59 joins US 71, where both highways run on the state line between Texas and Arkansas, where both highways continue north towards DeQueen, Arkansas.

Junction list

County Location #
Mile
Junction Notes
Webb Laredo I-35San Antonio
Loop 20 (Bob Bullock Loop)
FM 2895
FM 2050
Duval SH 44 west – Encinal South end of SH 44 concurrency
Freer SH 16 (Norton Avenue) – Hebbronville, Tilden
SH 44 east – Alice, Corpus Christi North end of SH 44 concurrency
FM 2359
McMullen No major junctions in McMullen County
Live Oak FM 624
FM 1359
George West US 281 (Nueces Street) – Alice, San Antonio

US 59 Bus.
FM 799 north
FM 799 south
I-37San Antonio, Corpus Christi
FM 1596
Bee FM 796
FM 1349
Beeville FM 351
FM 673 (Minnesota Street)

US 181 Bus. / SH 202 (Washington Street)
US 181 – Sinton, Floresville
Goliad Berclair FM 883
FM 1351
SH 239 South end of SH 239 concurrency
FM 1726
Goliad
US 183 / US 77 Alt. / SH 239 (Jefferson Street)
North end of SH 239 concurrency
Fannin FM 2987 / PR 27
Victoria
US 59 Bus. north (Moody Street) / Loop 463 (Zac Lentz Parkway)
Gap in freeway
FM 446
US 77
Spur 91
Victoria SH 185
US 87
Loop 463 (Zac Lentz Parkway)

US 59 Bus. south (Houston Highway)
FM 1686
FM 444
Jackson FM 234
FM 234
Loop 521
Edna SH 111 / FM 882 Interchange
Loop 521
FM 530
Loop 522
SH 172 / FM 710 Interchange
Loop 522
Wharton Loop 523 / FM 647
FM 1160 Interchange
Loop 523
Loop 524 to FM 441
Loop 525
El Campo FM 1163 (Palacios Street) Interchange
SH 71 (Mechanic Street) Interchange
FM 1162 (Blue Creek Road) Interchange
Loop 525 / FM 960 Interchange
Loop 526
Wharton
US 59 Bus. to SH 60 / FM 961 – Wharton, Bay City
Interchange
FM 102 Interchange

US 59 Bus. to SH 60
FM 1161 Interchange

US 59 Bus.
Fort Bend FM 2919
Loop 541 Southbound exit and entrance
FM 360 (Beasley-Needville Road)
Loop 540 Southbound exit and entrance
Rosenberg Spur 10 Interchange
South end of freeway
Spur 529
Frontage Road Southbound exit and northbound entrance
SH 36 – Rosenberg
FM 2218 – Richmond
Reading Road
FM 762 – Richmond
Williams Way Boulevard
Sugar Land SH 99 (Grand Parkway) / FM 2759 (Crabb River Road)
Brazos River Turnaround
University Boulevard
Sweetwater Boulevard, First Colony Boulevard
SH 6
Sugar Lakes Drive, Williams Trace Boulevard
Dairy Ashford Road, Sugar Creek Boulevard

US 90 Alt.
Stafford Kirkwood Road, West Airport Boulevard
Harris Houston FM 1092 (Wilcrest Drive, Murphy Road) / West Bellfort Avenue
Sam Houston Tollway
Beltway 8 (Frontage Road) Northbound exit is via the FM 1092 exit
Bissonnet Street
South Gessner Road, Beechnut Street
Fondren Road, Bellaire Boulevard
Hillcroft Avenue
Westpark Tollway east Northbound exit only
Westpark Tollway west Southbound exit and northbound entrance
Westpark Drive Northbound exit is via the Hillcroft Avenue exit
Fountainview Drive Southbound exit and northbound entrance
Chimney Rock Road
I-610 (West Loop Freeway)
Newcastle Drive, Weslayan Road
Edloe Street, Weslayan Road
Buffalo Speedway Northbound exit is via the Edloe Street exit
Kirby Drive
Greenbriar Drive, South Shepherd Drive
Spur 527 north Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Main Street Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Fannin Street Southbound exit and northbound entrance
SH 288 south (South Freeway) – Lake Jackson, Freeport
McGowen Avenue, Tuam Avenue Southbound exit and northbound entrance
I-45 (Gulf Freeway) – Dallas, Galveston
Gray Avenue, Pierce Avenue Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Polk Street – Downtown Houston Northbound exit only
Jackson Street – Downtown Houston, George R. Brown Convention Center Southbound exit and northbound entrance
I-10 (East Freeway) – San Antonio, Beaumont
Lyons Avenue, Quitman Street
Collingsworth Street, Cavalcade Street, Kelley Street
Cavalcade Street Southbound exit and northbound entrance
I-610 (North Loop Freeway)
Crosstimbers Road, Kelley Street
Laura Koppe Road Southbound exit is via the Tidwell Road exit
Tidwell Road
Parker Road, Saunders Road, Jensen Drive
Little York Road
Hopper Road Northbound exit is via the Little York Road exit
East Mount Houston Road
Aldine Mail Route
Lauder Road Northbound exit is via the Aldine Mail Route exit
Old Humble Road, Lee Road Northbound exit and southbound entrance
FM 525 (Aldine Bender Road)
Houston Beltway 8 west (Sam Houston Parkway)
Beltway 8 (Frontage Road) Northbound exit is via FM 525 exit
Greens Road
Rankin Road
Will Clayton Parkway – Bush Intercontinental Airport
Humble Frontage Road Northbound exit and southbound entrance
FM 1960 / FM 1960 Bus. – Humble
Townsen Boulevard Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Loop 494 / Hamblen Road / Sorters-McClellan Road Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Montgomery Kingwood Drive
Northpark Drive
FM 1314 – Porter, Conroe
Community Drive
FM 1485 – New Caney
Loop 494 Southbound exit and northbound entrance
Roman Forest Boulevard
Woodbranch SH 242
Local traffic only Southbound exit only
Creekwood Lane
Splendora FM 2090 – Splendora
East River Drive
Fostoria Road
North end of freeway
Liberty Loop 573 (Washington Avenue) – Cleveland Two exits northbound
Cleveland SH 105 – Cleveland, Conroe
FM 2025 – Coldspring
Loop 573 (Washington Avenue) – Cleveland
San Jacinto FM 2914
Shepherd Loop 424 (Byrd Avenue) / FM 3460
SH 150 / FM 223 – Coldspring Interchange
Loop 424
FM 1127
Loop 393
Polk Goodrich FM 2665
FM 1988
Loop 393
Livingston
US 59 Bus. north (Pan American Drive) – Livingston, Woodville
Southbound exit is part of exit 436A
436A FM 1988 south – Lake Livingston State Park
436D Frontage Road Northbound exit and southbound entrance
434B Frontage Road Southbound exit and northbound entrance
US 190 – Huntsville, Livingston
432B Frontage Road – Pedigo Park Southbound exit and northbound entrance
434D
US 59 Bus. south (Washington Avenue) to SH 146 south – Downtown Livingston, Pedigo Park
Loop 116
Leggett Loop 116
FM 942 Short concurrency with FM 942 in Leggett
FM 62
Loop 177
FM 350
Loop 177
Corrigan FM 942
US 287 (2nd Street)
FM 352
FM 1987
Angelina FM 357 / FM 1987
Diboll Loop 210 (Thompson Street) / FM 1818 (Dennis Street)
Loop 210
FM 2497 (Ryan Chapel Road)
FM 2108
FM 324
Lufkin FM 819 (College Drive)
FM 1877

US 59 Bus. (1st Street) / Loop 287 (John Redditt Drive)
Interchange, south end of Loop 287 concurrency
FM 58 (Chestnut Street) Interchange

US 69 (Woodville) / US 69 Bus.
FM 841 (Lufkin Avenue) to FM 325 Northbound exit, southbound entrance
FM 841 (Ford Chapel Road) Southbound exit, northbound entrance
FM 325 (Lufkin Avenue) Southbound exit, northbound entrance
SH 103 (Atkinson Drive) Interchange

US 69 / US 59 Bus. (Timberland Drive) / Loop 287 (Ellen Trout Drive)
North end of US 69 / Loop 287 concurrency
FM 3521
FM 3439
FM 2021
FM 843
Nacogdoches Nacogdoches
US 59 Bus. (South Street) / Loop 224 (Stallings Drive)
Interchange, south end of Loop 224 concurrency
SH 7 (Fredonia Street) Interchange
FM 225 (Durst Street) Interchange
SH 21 (Douglass Road) Interchange
FM 2609 (Austin Street)
FM 1638 (Old Tyler Road) to FM 3314 (Lone Star Road) Interchange
Loop 224 (Stallings Drive) / Westward Drive Interchange, north end of Loop 224 concurrency
FM 342 (Industrial Drive)

US 259 north / US 59 Bus. south – Henderson, Nacogdoches
Interchange
FM 2864
Appleby FM 941 (Appleby Sand Road)
FM 2476 (Fitze Road)
Garrison FM 95
FM 138 (Greenwood Street)
FM 95 (Main Street)
Rusk No major junctions in Rusk County
Shelby FM 2667
Timpson US 84 South end of US 84 concurrency
SH 87
FM 947 (Tennessee Road)
Spur 470 (Bear Drive)
FM 1645
Tenaha FM 2141
FM 947 (Main Street)
Loop 157 (Center Street)
US 84 east (George Bowers Drive) / US 96 south – Center Interchange, north end of US 84 concurrency
Loop 157 (Center Street)
Panola FM 999
FM 2517

US 59 Bus. (Shelby Street) / SH 149 (LaSalle Parkway)
Interchange
Carthage FM 699 (Forsythe Street)

US 79 / US 79 Bus. (Sabine Street)
Interchange, south end of US 79 concurrency

US 79 (LaSalle Parkway) / US 59 Bus.
Interchange, north end of US 79 concurrency
FM 124
FM 2792
FM 1794
Harrison FM 1186
FM 2983
FM 2625
Marshall I-20Dallas, Shreveport
SH 43 (Pinecrest Drive) South end of SH 43 concurrency
FM 31 (Travis Street)
US 80 (Grand Avenue / Victory Drive)
SH 43 (Karnack Highway) North end of SH 43 concurrency
Loop 390 (Ernest F. Smith Parkway)
FM 1793
Woodlawn FM 1997
Marion FM 2208
Jefferson SH 49 (Broadway Street)
FM 1324
Cass FM 2683
Linden SH 8 / SH 155 / FM 125 (Main Street)
FM 125 (Kildare Road)
FM 1841
FM 1913
SH 11 (Houston Street)
FM 1913
FM 2328
FM 2328
Atlanta SH 77 South end of SH 77 concurrency
SH 77 (Pine Crest Drive) / FM 249 (Main Street) North end of SH 77 concurrency
SH 43 (Louise Street)
Loop 236 / FM 2791 (Hickory Street)
FM 96 (Lanark Street)
FM 2914
Loop 236
FM 2327
FM 2327
FM 3129
Bowie FM 2148
FM 3244
FM 2516 (Buchanan Loop Road)
FM 989 (Kings Highway)
Texarkana SH 93 (Lake Drive) / Loop 151 (Wallace Parkway)
South end of freeway
US 67 (7th Street)
Westlawn Drive – Wake Village
US 82 (New Boston Road)
I-30 west – Dallas South end of I-30 concurrency
220B FM 559 (Richmond Road)
222 SH 93 / FM 1397 (Summerhill Road)
223A I-30 east / US 71 south (State Line Avenue) – Little Rock Northbound exit ramp enters Arkansas, north end of I-30 concurrency, south end of US 71 concurrency
North end of freeway. Continues into Arkansas

References