U.S. Highway 59 (US 59) in the U.S. state of Texas is named the Lloyd Bentsen Highway, after

Lloyd Bentsen Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006) was an American politician who was a four-term United States Senator (1971–1993) from Texas and the Democratic Party nominee for vice president in 1988 on the Michael Dukakis ti ...

, former

U.S. senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

from Texas. In northern Houston, US 59, co-signed with

Interstate 69 Interstate 69 (I-69) is an Interstate Highway in the United States currently consisting of 10 unconnected segments with an original continuous segment from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, at ...

(I-69), is the Eastex Freeway (from Downtown Houston to the Liberty County/

Montgomery County Montgomery County may refer to: Australia * The former name of Montgomery Land District, Tasmania United Kingdom * The historic county of Montgomeryshire, Wales, also called County of Montgomery United States * Montgomery County, Alabama * Mon ...

line). To the south, which is also co-signed with I-69, it is the Southwest Freeway (from Rosenberg to Downtown Houston). The stretch of the Southwest Freeway just west of The Loop was formerly one of the busiest freeways in North America, with a peak AADT of 371,000 in 1998. 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 State Line Avenue is a north–south arterial road in Texarkana, United States. It follows approximately of the Texas-Arkansas state line, and divides the cities. The street's centerline does not follow the state boundary precisely, but the ...

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 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 Mexico–US border is .

History

The US 96 designation was originally applied in 1926 from Rosenberg, Texas, near Houston, to

Pharr Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 70,400, and in 2019, the estimated population was 79,112. Pharr is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Pharr is p ...

in the

Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The length of the Rio G ...

valley. This diagonal route, south of

U.S. 90 U.S. Route 90 or U.S. Highway 90 (US 90) is an east–west major United States highway in the Southern United States. Despite the "0" in its route number, US 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route. With the exception of a short-lived ...

, 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 Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

to Laredo. US 59 was extended into Texas in 1936.

Route description

Laredo to Interstate 37

US 59 begins at the Mexico–US border with Loop 20 on the World Trade International Bridge over the

in Laredo. The portion of US 59 that is co-signed with Loop 20 is also named the Bob Bullock Loop. At under 2 miles, the two highways run together concurrent with

I-69W Interstate 69W (I-69W) is a relatively short north–south Interstate Highway running through South Texas in the United States. The freeway begins northeast of the middle of World Trade International Bridge in Laredo and ends at I-35. In ...

from the Mexico–US border until

I-35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...

in Laredo, where I-69W temporarily ends. US 59 and Loop 20 continue to run together until just south of

Lake Casa Blanca Lake Casa Blanca is a reservoir on the Chacon Creek, northeast of downtown Laredo, Texas, United States. The reservoir was formed in 1951 by the construction of a dam to provide recreational opportunities for the residents of Webb County. The cu ...

, where Loop 20 heads south to Mangana-Hein Road (and potentially into Mexico) and US 59 heads towards Freer; traveling in a mostly northeast direction. 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. A significant portion of US 59 in Texas has a 75 MPH speed limit.

Interstate 37 to Houston

From I-37, US 59 heads northeast passing through

Beeville Beeville is a city in Bee County, Texas, United States, with a population of 12,863 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bee County and home to the main campus of Coastal Bend College. The area around the city contains three prisons oper ...

. 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 Wharton may refer to: Academic institutions * Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania * Wharton County Junior College * Paul R. Wharton High School * Wharton Center for Performing Arts, at Michigan State University Places * Wharton, Ch ...

. US 59 intersects many major Texas highways in Houston, including

I-10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally pl ...

(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 George Bush Intercontinental Airport is an international airport in Houston, Texas, United States, serving the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Located about north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59 ...

and heads into Humble. Between Houston and Livingston, most of US 59 is a limited-access freeway but the I-69 designation temporarily ends at the Montgomery- Liberty county line. US 59 passes through or bypasses the towns of Cleveland and

Livingston Livingston may refer to: Businesses * Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010) * Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline * Livingston International, a North American custom ...

. 46 miles north of Livingston, US 59 bypasses

Lufkin Lufkin is the largest city in Angelina County, Texas and the county seat. The city is situated in Deep East Texas and about 60 miles west of the Texas-Louisiana border. Its estimated population is 35,021 as of July 1, 2019. Lufkin was founded ...

, where it overlaps US 69. After leaving Lufkin, US 59 crosses the Angelina River. 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 U.S. Highway 96 (US 96) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs for about entirely in the U.S state of Texas. Its number is a violation of the standard numbering convention, as even-numbered two-digit highways are east– ...

and ends its overlap with US 84. US 59 passes through Carthage before intersecting

I-20 Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with I-10 in Scroggins Draw, Texas, and ending at an interchange with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina. Between ...

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 Jefferson may refer to: Names * Jefferson (surname) * Jefferson (given name) People * Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States * Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...

, 15 miles west of Caddo Lake. US 59 passes through the towns of Linden and Atlanta before arriving in

Bowie County Bowie County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. Its legal county seat is Boston, though its courthouse is located in New Boston. As of the 2020 census, the population was 92,893. Bowie County is part of the Texarkana metropolitan s ...

. 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

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. Segments of I-69 are currently designated: I-69W runs between Mexico and I-35, I-69 runs through the Houston Metro, and a segment of I-369 exists on the west side of Texarkana. The entire I-69 project in Texas does not have a completion date but according to AASHTO rules should be within 25 years of initial signage for each Segment of Independent Utility.

Exit list

Business routes

US 59 has ten signed

business routes A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route connected to a ''parent'' numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or ...

in Texas, between Carthage and its southern terminus in Laredo.

Carthage business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-D (Bus. US 59-D), formerly Loop 455, is a long business loop in Carthage. This is the oldest signed business route of US 59 in Texas, having been originally designated on October 21, 1959 with the hidden designation of Loop 455, after US 59 was re-routed and bypassed Carthage. Loop 455 was retired on June 21, 1990 and redesignated fully as Bus. US 59-D.

Nacogdoches business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-F (Bus. US 59-F), formerly Loop 495, is a long business loop in Nacogdoches. The loop was first commissioned on October 2, 1970 along the new Loop 224 bypass around the western side of Nacogdoches. Although signed as Bus. US 59, the route had the hidden designation of Loop 495. On June 21, 1990, Loop 495 was decommissioned and the loop was fully designated as Bus. US 59-F.

Lufkin business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-G (Bus. US 59-G) is a long business loop in Lufkin, Texas. The loop was commissioned on June 21, 1990 from an old section of US 59, after US 59 bypassed Lufkin, being rerouted onto the eastern section of Loop 227.

Livingston business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-J (Bus. US 59-J), formerly Loop 90, is a long business loop in

. The loop was first designated as Loop 90 on June 23, 1981, when US 59 was re-routed on the western side of town along a new bypass. On June 21, 1990, Loop 90 was redesignated as Bus. US 59-J.

Splendora business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-L (Bus. US 59-L), formerly Loop 512, is a long business loop in

Splendora Splendora was an American all-female alternative rock band from New York City. Formed in 1993 by Janet Wygal (lead vocals, guitar), Tricia Wygal (lead vocals, bass), Delissa Santos (drums), Cindy Brolsma (cello), and Jennifer Richardson (violin ...

. The loop was first designated on November 3, 1972, when US 59 was moved onto a bypass on the northwest side of town. Although the new route was signed as Bus. US 59, it was given the hidden designation of Loop 512. On June 21, 1990, Loop 512 was decommissioned and properly redesignated as Bus. US 59-L.

Wharton–Hungerford business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-R (Bus. US 59-R) is a long business loop between

and Hungerford. The loop was designated on October 29, 1998, after US 59 was re-routed on an expressway along the northwest side of town.

El Campo business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-S (Bus. US 59-S) is a long business loop in El Campo. The loop was formed on April 23, 1997, after US 59 was rerouted on the southeast side of town on a new expressway.

Victoria business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-T (Bus. US 59-T) is a long business loop in Victoria. The route was formed on January 26, 1995 along a former section of US 59 through Victoria after US 59 proper was rerouted onto the southeastern segment of Loop 463. The loop starts at an interchange with US 59 and US 77 at the Zac Lentz Parkway southwest of Victoria, continuing on the route taken by US 59 between George West and Victoria. Approximately east of the parkway, Bus. US 59-T meets Bus. US 77-S at a grade-separated interchange. Both Bus. US 59-T and Bus. US 77-S continue concurrently past both the southern termini of FM 285 and FM 1685 respectively, crossing a divided four-lane bridge over the Guadalupe River, then enter Victoria through the southwest side of town. Both loops take a northeast direction onto Moody Street, then curve sharply right to the east on Rio Grande Street. At Main Street, both loops share a temporary wrong-way concurrency with US 87 for four city blocks to Navarro Street. US 87 diverges and continues south on Navarro Street, while Bus. US 77-S diverges north on the same cross street. Bus. US 59-T continues alone east through Victoria, along Houston Highway. After passing an interchange with Loop 463 at the Zac Lentz Parkway, the loop ends at the US 59 freeway on the eastern end of town.

George West business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-X (Bus. US 59-X), formerly Spur 589, is a long business loop in George West. The loop was originally formed when US 59 was rerouted south of downtown George West on March 28, 1989. The section between US 59 east of town and US 281 became Spur 589, while the remainder was signed and designated as US 281 only. Spur 589 was redesignated as Bus. US 59-X on June 21, 1990. The loop starts at US 281 in town, at the intersection of Nueces Street and Houston Street. The loop continues six blocks east, crossing the railroad tracks, then curves southeast, ending at the US 59 expressway, outside of George West.

Laredo business loop

Business U.S. Highway 59-Z (Bus. US 59-Z) is a long business loop in Laredo. The business loop was formed on February 27, 2014, from the older alignment of US 59 from Loop 20 to I-35, after US 59 proper was rerouted onto Loop 20 westbound to the World Trade International Bridge at the international border. On June 26, 2014, the section of US 59 and Loop 20 between I-35 and the border was designated as a segment of

. Bus. US 59-Z is known as Saunders Street along its entire length, beginning at I-35 exit 2 and ending at the US 59/Loop 20 interchange, at the eastern end of Laredo.

Notes

References

External links