U.S. Route 59 in Texas

US Highway 59
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length:	612.169 mi[1] (985.191 km)
Existed:	1935 – present
Major junctions
West end:	United States-Mexico border in Laredo
	I-35 / US 83 in Laredo US 77 / US 87 in Victoria US 90 in Sugar Land I-45 in Houston I-10 in Houston US 69 in Lufkin US 84 in Timpson US 96 in Tenaha US 79 in Carthage I-20 / US 80 in Marshall I-30 / US 67 / US 71 in Texarkana
East end:	US 59 / US 71 in Texarkana, AR
Location
Counties:	Webb, Duval, McMullan, Live Oak, Bee, Goliad, Victoria, Jackson, Wharton, Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, San Jacinto, Polk, Angelina, Nacogdoches, Rusk, Shelby, Panola, Harrison, Marion, Cass, Bowie
Highway system
United States Numbered Highways List Bannered Divided Replaced Highways in Texas Interstate US State Toll Loops Spurs Park Rec FM ← SH 58 SH 59 →

US 59 in Houston looking east

US 59, connects Texarkana to Laredo. It is also known as the Lloyd M. Bentsen Highway in honor of the late Democratic U.S. senator from Texas, who served from 1971–1992. This sign is located near Freer, the seat of Duval County east of Laredo.

U.S. Highway 59 (US 59) in the U.S. state of Texas is named the Lloyd Bentsen Highway, after Lloyd Bentsen, former U.S. senator from Texas. In northern Houston, US 59, co-signed with Interstate 69 (I-69), is the Eastex Freeway (from Downtown Houston to the Liberty County/Montgomery County line). To the south, which is also co-signed with I-69, 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, of over 330,000 vehicles per day just outside the Loop.^[2]

US 59 (overlapped by US 71) actually straddles the border between Texas and Arkansas north of I-30 near Texarkana, with the east side of the highway on the Arkansas side 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 percent of this route is designated to become part of I-69 in the future. Currently 75-mile-per-hour (121 km/h) speed limits are allowed on US 59 in Duval County and portions of northern Polk County.

The total length of the southernmost segment of US 59 that passes through Texas and terminates at the Mexican border is 615 miles (990 km).

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 at the Mexican border with Loop 20 on the World Trade International Bridge over the Rio Grande in Laredo. At under 2 miles, the two highways run together concurrent with I-69W until I-35 in Laredo. US 59 and Loop 20 continue to run together until just south of Lake Casa Blanca, where Loop 20 heads south to Mangana-Hein Road and US 59 heads towards Freer; traveling in a mostly northeast direction. 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 Rosenberg and resumes the designation of I-69. Between Houston and Victoria, US 59 passes through Edna, Ganado, 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).

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 but the I-69 designation ends at the Montgomery-Liberty county line. 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 its 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 west 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, I-369 designation with US 59 when the freeway intersects Spur 151, where US 59 becomes a freeway on the westside of the city. Before US 59 intersects I-30, and overlaps I-30 until exit 223B, at the state line, I-369 designation ends. 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.

Future

Interstate 69
Location:	Victoria–Tenaha

Interstate 69W
Location:	Laredo–Victoria

Interstate 369
Location:	Tenaha–Texarkana

US 59 is in the process of being upgraded between Laredo & Victoria, to become I-69W, Between Victoria & Tenaha, as I-69, and Tenaha & Texarkana, I-369.

Major intersections

County	Location	mi	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Webb	Laredo			World Trade Bridge over Rio Grande west end of I-69W / Loop 20 overlap
					FM 1472 (Mines Road) – Laredo Colombia Solidarity Bridge	interchange
					I-35 (US 83) – San Antonio, Laredo	east end of I-69W overlap; I-35 exit 8
					Bus. US 59 west (Saunders Street) / Loop 20 south (Bob Bullock Loop) to I-35	interchange; east end of Loop 20 overlap
					FM 2895 south – Aguilares
					FM 2050 south – Bruni
Duval					SH 44 west – Encinal	south end of SH 44 overlap
	Freer				SH 16 – Tilden, Hebbronville, Falfurrias
					SH 44 east – San Diego	north end of SH 44 overlap
					FM 2359 west to SH 16
McMullen	No major junctions
Live Oak					FM 624 to SH 16 – Orange Grove
					FM 1359 south
					FM 3336 west
	George West				US 281 / Bus. US 59 north
					Bus. US 59 south – George West	Future I-69C South
					FM 799 east	south end of FM 799 overlap
					FM 799 west	north end of FM 799 overlap
	Goynes Junction				I-37 – San Antonio, Corpus Christi	I-37 exit 56
					FM 1596 north
Bee					FM 796 south – Tynan
					FM 1349 south
	Beeville				FM 351 (truck route)
					FM 673 north (Minnesota Street)
					Bus. US 181 / SH 202 east (Washington Street)
					US 181 (truck route) – San Antonio, Corpus Christi	interchange
Goliad	Berclair				FM 883 west – Goliad County Airport
	San Antonio River Valley Historic District				FM 1351 west – Goliad County Airport
					SH 239 west – Charco, Kenedy	south end of SH 239 overlap
					FM 1726 north
	Goliad				Alt. US 77 / US 183 / SH 239 east – Cuero, Refugio, Goliad State Historical Park, Presidio Labahia, General Zaragoza Birthplace	north end of SH 239 overlap
	Fannin				FM 2987 – Fannin	interchange
Victoria					US 77 north / Bus. US 59 north – Victoria	interchange; south end of US 77 overlap
					FM 446
					US 77 south / Bus. US 77 north – Refugio, Corpus Christi	interchange; north end of US 77 overlap
					US 77 south (via Spur 91) – Refugio, Corpus Christi	interchange (future I-69E south); southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Victoria				SH 185 – Victoria, Bloomington	interchange
					US 87 – Victoria, Port Lavaca	interchange
					Loop 463 / Burroughsville Road	interchange
	Telferner				Bus. US 59 south / FM 1686 – Victoria, Telferner	interchange
	Inez				FM 444 – Inez	interchange; south end of freeway
Jackson					FM 234 north	interchange
	El Toro				FM 234 – El Toro, Vanderbilt	interchange
	Edna				Loop 521 – Edna	interchange
					SH 111 / FM 822 – Edna, Yoakum	interchange
					Loop 521 – Edna	interchange
					FM 530 – Cordele	interchange; north end of freeway
					Loop 522 – Ganado	interchange
	Ganado				SH 172 / FM 710 – Ganado	interchange
					Loop 522 – Ganado	interchange
Wharton	Louise				Loop 523 / FM 647 – Louise	interchange; no northbound entrance
					County Road 319	interchange
					Loop 523 / FM 1160 – Louise	interchange
	Hillje				Loop 524 / FM 441 – Hillje	interchange
					Bus. US 59 north – El Campo	interchange
	El Campo				FM 1163	interchange
					SH 71 – El Campo, Palacios	interchange
					FM 1162	interchange
					Bus. US 59 south / FM 960 – El Campo	interchange
	Pierce				Loop 526 – Pierce
	Wharton				Bus. US 59 north / FM 961 to SH 60 – Wharton, Bay City	interchange
					FM 102 – Wharton, Eagle Lake	interchange
					Bus. US 59 / SH 60 – Hungerford, Wharton, Bay City	interchange
	Hungerford				FM 1161 – Spanish Camp	interchange
					Bus. US 59 south – Hungerford	southbound access only
Fort Bend	Kendleton				FM 2919 – Kendleton	interchange
					Loop 541 – Kendleton	southbound exit only
					FM 360 / Loop 540 – Needville	interchange
	Beasley				Isleib Road	interchange
	Rosenberg				Loop 540 – Beasley	southbound access only
					Spur 10 (Slade Road) / Hartledge Road	interchange
					Spur 529 north	at-grade intersection; south end of freeway; no northbound entrance; south end of I-69 overlap
see I-69
Liberty					I-69 south / US 59 south Fostoria Road	Montgomery County / Liberty County line; Southbound exit to Fostoria Road; North end of Freeway; North end of I-69 overlap
					SH 105 – Conroe, Beaumont	US 59 northbound exit is a left handed u-turn just north of the southbound exit; Drivers must enter onto and cross over US 59 southbound lanes in order to take the southbound exit
	Cleveland				Loop 573 (Washington Avenue)	interchange; south end of freeway
					Bus. SH 105 – Cleveland, Conroe
					FM 2025 – Coldspring
					Loop 573 (Washington Avenue)	interchange; north end of freeway
San Jacinto					FM 2914 east to FM 3460	interchange under construction
	Shepherd			453	Loop 424 / FM 3460 – Shepherd	interchange; signed as exits 453A (on US 59 south) and 453B (on US 59 north)
				451	SH 150 / FM 223 – Shepherd	interchange; signed as exit 451B (on US 59 north); no exit number southbound
					Loop 424	no left turn northbound
					FM 1127 east
Polk	Goodrich				Loop 393 north
					FM 1988 to FM 2665	interchange
					Loop 393 south – Goodrich
	Livingston			436A-B	Bus. US 59 north / FM 1988 south – Livingston, Woodville, Lake Livingston State Park	interchange; south end of freeway; signed as exits 436A (on US 59 south) and 436B (on US 59 north to US 59 Bus.); no exit number for US 59 north to FM 1988
				436D 434B	Frontage Road	signed as exits 434B (on US 59 south) and 436D (on US 59 north)
					US 190 – Huntsville, Livingston
				434D 432B	Frontage Road - Pedigo Park	signed as exits 432B (on US 59 south) and 434D (on US 59 north), access to Memorial Medical Center
					SH 146 south / Bus. US 59 south – Downtown Livingston	interchange; north end of freeway; no direct northbound exit (signed at exit 434D)
					Loop 116 north
	Leggett				Loop 116 south
					FM 942 north – Camden	south end of FM 942 overlap
					FM 942 south	north end of FM 942 overlap
					FM 62 east – Camden
	Moscow				Loop 117
					FM 350
	Corrigan				FM 942 south
					US 287 – Groveton, Woodville
					FM 352 east (Stryker Road)
					FM 1987 north – Damascus
					FM 357 north / FM 1987 south – Wakefield, Damascus
Angelina	Diboll				Loop 210 (Thompson Street) / FM 1818 east (Dennis Street) – Zavalla
					Loop 210 (North Hines Street)
					FM 2497 north
					FM 2108 east
					FM 324 north
	Lufkin				FM 819 (College Drive) – Angelina College
				391	FM 3482 (Whitehouse Drive)	interchange; south end of freeway
					Bus. US 59 north (South First Street) / Loop 287 west – Lufkin	south end of Loop 287 overlap; US 59 north follows exit 390; access to FM 1877, access to Woodland Heights Medical Center
					Tulane Drive	no direct northbound exit
					FM 58 (Chestnut Street)	interchange; north end of freeway
					US 69 south (US 69 Bus. north) – Huntington, Woodville, Beaumont	interchange; south end of US 69 overlap
					FM 841 (Ford Chapel Road)	interchange
					FM 325 (Lufkin Avenue)	interchange; no direct northbound exit (signed at FM 841)
					SH 103 (Atkinson Drive)	interchange
					US 69 north / Loop 287 west / Bus. US 59 south – Lufkin	interchange; north end of US 69 / Loop 287 overlap; access to FM 2021 west and FM 3521 east
					FM 3439
	Redland				FM 2021
					FM 843 west
Nacogdoches					FM 2782 north
	Nacogdoches				Bus. US 59 north / Loop 224 east – Downtown Nacogdoches	interchange; south end of Loop 224 overlap; US 59 south follows exit 59S
					SH 7 – Crockett, Airport	interchange
					FM 225 (Durst Street)	interchange
					SH 21 (Douglass Road)	interchange
					FM 2609 north (Austin Street)	northbound access only
					FM 1638 (Old Tyler Road) / FM 3314 (Lone Star Road)	interchange
					Loop 224 east (Stallings Drive) / Westward Drive	interchange; north end of Loop 224 overlap
					FM 343 (Industrial Boulevard)	interchange
	Redfield				US 259 north / Bus. US 59 south – Henderson, Nacogdoches, SFASU	interchange
					FM 2864 north
	Appleby				FM 941 south
					FM 2435 north
	Fitze				FM 2476 south
	Garrison				FM 95 south	south end of FM 95 overlap
					FM 138 east – Center
					FM 95 north – Concord	north end of FM 95 overlap
Rusk	No major junctions
Shelby					FM 2667 south – Blair
	Timpson				US 84 west – Rusk, Palestine	south end of US 84 overlap
					SH 87 south
					FM 947 east
					Spur 470 south
					FM 1645 south
	Tenaha				FM 2141 south
					FM 947 west (West Drive)	south end of FM 947 overlap
					FM 947 east (Main Street)	north end of FM 947 overlap
					Loop 157 (Center Street) – Center
					US 84 east / US 96 south / I-69 north – Joaquin, Mansfield, Memphis	interchange; north end of US 84 overlap. South End of Future I-369 overlap. US 84 to the east will be upgraded to I-69.
					Loop 157 south (North Center Street)
Panola	Shady Grove				FM 999 west – Gary, Lake Murvaul
	Pleasant Ridge				FM 2517 – Deadwood
					Bus. US 59 north (Shelby Street) / SH 149 west (Southwest Loop) to US 79 south – Henderson, Longview	interchange
	Carthage				FM 699 (Forsythe Street)
					US 79 north (US 79 Bus. south) – Shreveport, Carthage	interchange; south end of US 79 overlap
					US 79 south / Bus. US 59 south – Henderson, Carthage, Panola College	interchange; north end of US 79 overlap
					FM 124 west – Beckville
					FM 2792 north
					FM 1794 – Tatum
Harrison					FM 1186 south
					FM 2983 north
					FM 2625 – Rosborough Springs, Crossroads
	Marshall				I-20 – Dallas, Shreveport	I-20 exit 617
					SH 43 south (East Pinecrest Drive) – Henderson, Panola College, Wiley College	south end of SH 43 overlap
					FM 31 south (East Travis Street) – Elysian Fields, Starr State Historical Park
					US 80 (East Grand Avenue / Victory Drive)
					SH 43 north (Karnack Highway) – Karnack, Caddo Lake, Caddo Lake State Park	north end of SH 43 overlap
					Loop 390 (Ernest F. Smith Parkway) to US 80 – Longview, Shreveport, East Texas Baptist University
					FM 1793 north
	Woodlawn				FM 1997 south
Marion					FM 2208 – Karnack, Jefferson Historical Riverfront District, Cypress River Airport
	Jefferson				SH 49 / FM 134 south (Broadway) – Daingerfield, Lake O' The Pines, Jefferson Historical Riverfront District
					FM 1324 west
Cass	Pruitt				FM 2683 east – Lodi
	Linden				SH 155 to SH 8 – New Boston, Gilmer
					FM Spur 125 north (South Main Street)
					FM 125 (Kildare Road) – Business District, Kildare
					FM 1841 east – Bivins
					SH 11 west (East Houston Street)
					FM 2328 south	south end of FM 2328 overlap
					FM 2328 north – Laws Chapel	north end of FM 2328 overlap
	Atlanta				SH 77 west – Naples	south end of SH 77 overlap
					SH 77 east (Pinecrest Drive) / FM 249 east (West Main Street) to SH 43 – Downtown Atlanta, Shreveport	north end of SH 77 overlap
					SH 43 south (Louise Street) – Downtown Atlanta
	Queen City				Loop 236 north / FM 2791 west (Hickory Street) – Antioch, Queen City, Bloomburg
					FM 96 west (Lanark Street) – Wright Patman Lake South Shore, Atlanta State Park
					Loop 236 south – Queen City
	Lanark				FM 2327 north – Springdale
					FM 2327 south – Springdale
					FM 3129 south	interchange under construction
Bowie					FM 2148 west – Wright Patman Lake North Shore
					FM 3244 east
					FM 2516 east (Buchanan Loop Road)
	Eylau				FM 989 (Kings Highway) – Wake Village, Nash
	Texarkana				SH 93 north (Lake Drive) / Loop 151 east (South Bishop Road) to I-30 east / US 71 / FM 3527 (Leopard Drive) – Downtown Texarkana, Little Rock, Shreveport	interchange; south end of I-369 overlap. North End of Future I-369 overlap.
		see I-369
					I-30 west – Dallas	north end of I-369 overlap; south end of I-30 overlap; US 59 south follows exit 220A
				220B	FM 559 (Richmond Road) / Pavilion Parkway
				222	SH 93 / FM 1397 (Summerhill Road)
					I-30 east / US 59 north / US 71 (State Line Avenue) – Little Rock, Ashdown	Arkansas state line; north end of I-30 overlap; south end of US 71 overlap; US 59 north follows exit 223
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "U.S. Highway No. 59". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
2. Texas Department of Transportation, Traffic Counts Last accessed 2007-12-12.