LUFKIN, TX — Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance and construction crews. The Lufkin District has many work zones throughout the nine-county district. Major construction is underway in many areas. As motorists drive through these work zones, they are urged to reduce speed, stay alert to moving equipment and workers close to the lanes of traffic. TxDOT advises drivers to obey all traffic control in place and allow extra time in case of delays.

Three major projects currently underway in Angelina and Nacogdoches counties include:

Crews continue to clear property for the bypass located on the east side of Diboll. The $140.9-million relief route began earlier this year and is expected to be completed in 2025.

Sacyr Construction USA LLC, of Miami, Florida, is serving as contractor for the project that will extend from FM 2108 to 1.15 miles south of White Oak Creek. The relief route will meet interstate design standards and will serve as the hurricane evacuation route and will move vehicular traffic along the US 59 corridor.

Current work includes clearing and removing stumps and dirt work on the north and south ends of the project. Crews continue to build header embankments at Mockingbird Lane. Crews have also begun installing bridge foundations. Utilities continue to be moved, and concrete columns will be set at Mockingbird Lane. Loggers also continue logging operations moving south to Conner Road and will continue hauling through Lumberjack Drive.

The work on US 69 South at SH 63 in Zavalla is a $71.6-million project designed to widen US 69 from two lanes to a divided rural four-lane highway from FM 844 to FM 1270. The project began in July 2018 and is on schedule to be completed in 2022. Johnson Brothers, of Roanoke, Texas, is serving as contractor.

Work continues in newly constructed southbound lanes of US 69 between FM 844 and BW Horton Road. Concrete is being set for a new bridge in southbound lanes just north of Zavalla near First Street. Northbound lanes between FM 1270 and Zavalla also has crews working with the application of prime, chip seal, and hot mix. Detours are being placed near FM 1270 and BW Horton Road with lane closures anticipated in coming days.

Work is also continuing from FM 1270 to the Jasper County line that will continue construction of a four-lane divided highway. Drewery Construction Co., of Nacogdoches, Texas, is serving as contractor for the $37.5-million project. It is scheduled to be completed in early 2023, weather permitting. Current work includes clearing south of Earnest Smith Road and includes dirt and structure work for new northbound lanes between FM 1270 and Chambers Road.

The US 59/SL 224 construction project began in 2019 and is progressing well with the construction of new main lanes to the east of US 59. Longview Bridge and Road, of Longview, Texas, is serving as contractor for the $86.1-million project that is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

The work will include the construction of overpasses at Spradley Street, existing US 59, and Old Lufkin Road and the construction of frontage roads for SL 224 between SH 7 and BU 59. The project was designed to meet interstate standards and will extend from SH 7 West on SL 224 to 1.2 miles south of Spradley Street on US 59.

Upcoming work includes placing embankment and topsoil near the south end of the project. Preparing right of way and cement stabilization near US 59 is continuing. Bridge work also continues with placing southbound deck panels and overhangs. Crews are tying steel and placing bridge railing in northbound lanes.