Congress Takes First Step Toward Funding for Two I-69 Projects

WASHINGTON – A U.S. House committee has approved a transportation appropriations bill that includes important funding for future Interstate 69 projects in Wharton County and Nacogdoches County.

The legislation provides $3.6 million for upgrades to US 59 in El Campo which was requested by Congressman Troy Nehls of Richmond. The City Development Corporation of El Campo is the local applicant for the funding, a request widely supported by community leaders.

An appropriation of $3 million is included for TxDOT projects to reconstruct the US 59/US 259 interchange to interstate highway standard on the north side of Nacogdoches. It was requested by Congressman Pete Sessions of Waco and the local applicant is the City of Nacogdoches.

The Alliance for I-69 Texas assisted local communities in identifying potential highway projects to put forward for congressional earmarks in the FY 2024 federal appropriations process. Alliance Chairman Sydney Murphy, county judge of Polk County, expressed her appreciation to Congressman Nehls and Congressman Sessions for their willingness to seek the funding which will help in the continuing effort to build out Interstate 69 in the state.

Action by the full House of Representatives and by the Senate is still necessary before this new funding is confirmed.

I-69 is being developed as a series of incremental upgrades to existing highways stretching from Laredo and the Lower Rio Grande Valley north to Corpus Christi, Victoria, Houston, Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Texarkana on US 59, US 77, US 281 and SH 44.