» Alliance Annual Meeting: Friday - December 6th

Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 I-69 Alliance Annual Meeting on Friday, December 6th. We will have a day of insightful discussions about the future of transportation in Texas. We are honored to welcome Steven Alvis, member of the Texas Transportation Commission, as our keynote speaker.

Commissioner Alvis is managing partner of NewQuest Properties in Houston and previously served as chairman of the Texas Facilities Commission. Hehas a keen understanding about the close relationship between expanded highway infrastructure and regional economic development.

Location: Partnership Tower, 701 Avenidas de las Americas #900, Houston 77010
Registration and networking starts at 11 a.m. with the luncheon program at Noon.

EVENT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY:

If you are interested in becoming an Annual Meeting sponsor you can get more information HERE or contact Terry Leibowitz at tleibowitz@houston.org.

» Contracts Let for Major I-69 Projects in Houston

The Texas Transportation Commission has awarded two contracts for expansion of I-69 near Downtown Houston. The total cost of the two is $816 million. The first involves a major drainage system needed to adequately drain new freeway segments to be built in the future. The second involves complete reconstruction of a key 1.5-mile section south of the I-69/I-45 interchange. Three more nearby large I-69 projects will be added over the coming decade.

[See more HERE]

» Laredo Direct Connects Open to Traffic

Supporters of I-69 turned out in August for a ribbon-cutting celebrating the completion of two more interstate direct connection fly-overs at I-69 West and I-35 in Laredo.
[See more HERE.]

»
I-69E Kenedy County groundbreaking ceremony

Two Kenedy County Projects Underway

Two I-69 East project covering 19.8 miles of US 77 in southern Kenedy County are now under contract. Local officials and I-69 Alliance members celebrated with groundbreaking event at the current north terminus of the interstate just north of the Willacy County line.
[Full Report with Map and Photos]

» I-69 Project List Grows in UTP

The Texas Transportation Commission has approved TxDOT’s annual Unified Transportation Program document allocating anticipated project funding over the coming decade. It includes more I-69 projects than ever. The Alliance has assembled a list of I-69 System projects from the UTP document and from the department’s Project Tracker. It includes about 80 projects of all sizes that are spread over almost all of the 34 counties on the I-69 corridor. Their total estimated construction cost is about $13 billion with 70% of that outside the Houston District and 30% allocated to projects that will reconstruct I-69 near Downtown Houston. Significant new projects on the list are located in Nacogdoches, Polk, Goliad, Live Oak, Refugio, San Patricio, Kenedy and Brooks Counties. About 30 projects are anticipated to be let for construction in the next four years. Our list includes 29 projects that were not on last year’s list.

» Wharton Relief Route Work Underway

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the I-69 Wharton Relief Route brought out local leaders and friends of I-69 on May 22nd. The $343 million project will convert the existing 4-lane relief route into a full interstate highway standard freeway. It includes 7.8 miles of roadway and full replacement of the bridges over the Colorado River on the south side of Wharton. Construction started with right-of-way clearing and is expected to be complete and open to traffic in 2029. Ceremony speakers included County Judge Phil Spenrath, State Rep. Stan Kitzman, Mayor Pro Tem Russell Machann, TxDOT Yoakum District Engineer Martin Horst and Area Engineer Ryan Simper.

Nearby bridge construction and pouring of concrete main lanes is progressing on a 6.2 mile section of I-69 between Kendleton and the north edge of Wharton. This $169 million project was started in 2020 and is scheduled to be fully open to traffic in mid-2025.

» Productive I-69 DC Fly-In

A multi-state delegation of I-69 supporters returned to Washington in April for face-to-face conversations with Members of Congress, Capitol Hill staffers and Administration officials. The mission was to highlight the national significance of I-69 and the need for federal funding to support the project. Leaders from several of the other seven states along the I-69 Corridor stretching to Michigan participated in the Fly-in to further underscore the national merits and impact of I-69. The Alliance thanks the sponsors that helped make the Fly-in such a productive event in 2024.

Thanks to our I-69 DC Fly-In Sponsors:

» Ceremony Kicks Off Laredo Project

Laredo area community leaders celebrated the start of a $360 million project to upgrade 4.7 miles of US 59 in the city to an urban freeway as part of the Interstate 69 System in Texas. The February 12 ceremony marked the start of the largest freeway project ever in Webb County.
[Full Report With Map]

» Connectivity and Economic Development

The Texas Department of Transportation is the state’s most important economic development entity. That was a key message delivered by Alex Meade, a member of the Texas Transportation Commission since April, speaking to those attending the Alliance for I-69 Texas 2023 Annual Meeting on Nov. 30 in Houston. He stressed the importance of local communities and TxDOT working together to speed up development of connectivity projects. [Full Report]

» A Successful I-69 Day in Austin

More than a dozen Alliance board members and friends of I-69 participated in the 2023 I-69 Day in Austin during the session of the Texas Legislature. They were able to interact with more than two dozen offices of House members and Senators. During the morning orientation session the group heard from Blake Calvert, policy advisor to Gov. Greg Abbott and a former TxDOT legislative liaison. He stressed the importance of protecting the current revenue streams that are allowing Texas to make significant investments in highways. The group was able to meet informally with Sen. Robert Nichols, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Rep. Terry Canales, chairman of the House Transportation Committee. The I-69 Corridor runs through both of their legislative districts.

» I-69 About Preparing for the Future

I-69 development across Texas is in not just about building a new interstate. TxDOT Deputy Executive Director Brandye Hendrickson told those attending an Alliance Annual Meeting that I-69 is really about preparing for the state's future and the demands for mobility that come from an expanding population and expanding commerce and trade. [Full Report]

» Celebrating More Miles of I-69

A 5.6-mile section of US 77 in South Texas has been added to the national Interstate Highway System. In 2022 state and local leaders gathered to celebrate the addition to I-69E and to celebrate the signing of 2.5 miles of I-169 in Cameron County, an event delayed for two years by Covid concerns. [Photos]

[GIWW Report to the 2025 Texas Legislature]

[I-69 System Status Report 2023]

[ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM]

[ACEC HIGHWAY FUNDING GAP REPORT]

[VIDEO OF NACOGDOCHES SOUTH PROJECT]\