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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). 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.[2]

US Highway 59 marker

US Highway 59
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length612.169 mi[1] (985.191 km)
Major junctions
West endMexico–US border in Laredo
North end US 59 / US 71 in Texarkana, AR
CountiesWebb, Duval, McMullen, 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
SH 58SH 59
US 59, co-signed with I-69, 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.

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 Mexico–US border is 615 miles (990 km).



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 descriptionEdit

Laredo to Interstate 37Edit

US 59 begins at the Mexico–US border with Loop 20 on the World Trade International Bridge over the Rio Grande 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 from the Mexico–US border until I-35 in Laredo, where I-69W temporarily ends. 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 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 HoustonEdit

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 MarshallEdit

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 temporarily 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 TexarkanaEdit

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.



Interstate 69


Interstate 69W


Interstate 369

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 ListEdit

WebbLaredoWorld Trade Bridge over Rio Grande
west end of I-69W / Loop 20 overlap
  FM 1472 (Mines Road) – Laredo Colombia Solidarity Bridgeinterchange
   I-35 / US 83 – San Antonio, LaredoCurrent 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 – Encinalsouth end of SH 44 overlap
Freer  SH 16 – Tilden, Hebbronville, Falfurrias
  SH 44 east – San Diegonorth end of SH 44 overlap
   FM 2359 west to SH 16
No major junctions
Live Oak   FM 624 to SH 16 – Orange Grove, Cotulla
  FM 1359 south – Clegg
  FM 3336 west
George West  
   US 281 / Bus. US 59 north – Three Rivers, Alice
  Bus. US 59 south – George West
Future I-69C South
  FM 799 east – Beevillesouth end of FM 799 overlap
  FM 799 westnorth end of FM 799 overlap
  I-37 – San Antonio, Corpus ChristiI-37 exit 56
  FM 1596 north
Bee  FM 796 south – Tynan
  FM 1349 south
Blue Berry Hill  FM 351 (truck route)
Beeville  FM 673 north (Minnesota Street)
   Bus. US 181 / SH 202 east (Washington Street)
  US 181 (truck route) – Kenedy, Karnes City, Skidmoreinterchange
GoliadBerclair  FM 883 west – Goliad County Airport
  FM 1351 west – Goliad County Airport
  SH 239 west – Charco, Kenedysouth end of SH 239 overlap
  FM 1726 north
    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 – Fannininterchange
   US 77 north / Bus. US 59 north – Cuero, Hallettsville
interchange; north end of US 77 overlap
  FM 446
   US 77 south / Bus. US 77 north – Refugio, Corpus Christi
interchange; south end of US 77 overlap
0  US 77 south (via Spur 91) – Refugio, Corpus Christiinterchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance; future I-69E South; future I-69W West; future southern end of I-69
1A  SH 185 – Victoria, Seadriftinterchange
1B  US 87 – Victoria, Port Lavacainterchange
4  Loop 463 / Burroughsville Road – Hallettsville, Cuerointerchange
    BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 south / FM 1686 – Victoria, Telferner
Inez14  FM 444 – Inezinterchange; south end of freeway
Jackson18  FM 234 northinterchange
El Toro20  FM 234 – El Toro, Vanderbiltinterchange
Edna23  Loop 521 – Ednainterchange
25   SH 111 / FM 822 – Edna, Yoakum, Bay Cityinterchange
27  Loop 521 – Ednainterchange
29  FM 530 – Cordele, Hallettsvilleinterchange; north end of freeway
Ganado34  Loop 522 – Ganadointerchange
36   SH 172 / FM 710 – Ganado, La Wardinterchange
37  Loop 522 – Ganadointerchange
WhartonLouise44   Loop 523 / FM 647 – Louiseinterchange; no northbound entrance
46County Road 319interchange
49   Loop 523 / FM 1160 – Louiseinterchange
Hillje54   Loop 524 / FM 441 – Hilljeinterchange
El Campo59  
   BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 north – El Campo
60  FM 1163interchange
62  SH 71 – Columbus, Palaciosinterchange
64  FM 1162interchange
    BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 south / FM 960 – El Campo
Pierce69  Loop 526 – Pierce
     BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 north / FM 961 to SH 60 – Wharton, Bay City
76  FM 102 – Wharton, Eagle Lakeinterchange
    BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 / SH 60 – Wharton, Bay City, Hungerford, Sealy
Hungerford81  FM 1161 – Spanish Campinterchange
   BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 south – Hungerford
southbound access only
Fort BendKendleton87  FM 2919 – Kendletoninterchange; no northbound entrance
88  Loop 541 – Kendletonsouthbound exit only; to be closed
89Doris Roadproposed
Beasley91   FM 360 / Loop 540 – Needvilleinterchange; southbound entrance and northbound exit
92Isleib Roadinterchange
93  Loop 540 – Beasley
Rosenberg95  Spur 10 (Patton Road, Hartledge Road)interchange
96  Spur 529 north / Cottonwood Church Roadat-grade intersection; no northbound entrance nor access to Cottonwood Church southbound; Current south end of freeway; current south end of I-69 overlap
See Interstate 69 for concurrency
Liberty169   I-69 south / US 59 south
Fostoria Road
Montgomery and Liberty County line; southbound exit to Fostoria Road, exit 167; current north end of Freeway; current north end of I-69 overlap
Cleveland171  SH 105 – Conroe, BeaumontUS 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
172A  Loop 573 (Washington Avenue)Interchange; south end of freeway
  Bus. SH 105 – Cleveland, Conroe
173  FM 2025 – Coldspring
174  Loop 573 (Washington Avenue)interchange; north end of freeway
San Jacinto177   FM 2914 east to FM 3460
   Loop 424 / FM 3460 – Shepherdinterchange; signed as exits 453A southbound and 453B northbound
451CFrontage RoadSouthbound exit only
451B   SH 150 / FM 223 – Rye, Shepherd, Coldspringinterchange; signed as exit 451B northbound; not signed southbound
  Loop 424no left turn northbound
  FM 1127 east
PolkGoodrich  Loop 393 north
   FM 1988 to FM 2665interchange
  Loop 393 south – Goodrich
    BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 north / FM 1988 south – Livingston, Woodville, Lake Livingston State Park
interchange; south end of freeway; signed as exits 436A southbound and 436B northbound to US 59 Bus.; no exit number signed for US 59 north to FM 1988
Frontage Roadsigned as exits 434B southbound and 436D northbound
  US 190 – Huntsville, Livingston, Jasper
  Frontage Road - Pedigo Parksigned as exits 432B (on US 59 south) and 434D (on US 59 north), access to Memorial Medical Center
    SH 146 south / BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 south – Downtown Livingston, Liberty
interchange; north end of freeway; no direct northbound exit (signed at exit 434D)
  Loop 116 north
Leggett  Loop 116 south
  FM 942 north – Camden, Corrigansouth end of FM 942 overlap
  FM 942 southnorth end of FM 942 overlap
Moscow  FM 62 east – Camden
  Loop 177
  FM 350 south – Livingston
Corrigan  FM 942 south – Camden, Leggett
  US 287 – Groveton, Woodville
  FM 352 east (Stryker Road)
  FM 1987 north – Damascus
   FM 357 north / FM 1987 south – Wakefield, Damascus
AngelinaDiboll   Loop 210 (Thompson Street) / FM 1818 east (Dennis Street) – Zavalla
  Loop 210 (North Hines Street)
  FM 2497 north
Burke  FM 2108 east
  FM 324 north
Lufkin  FM 819 (College Drive) – Angelina College
391  FM 3482 (Whitehouse Drive)interchange; south end of freeway
     BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 north (South First Street) / Loop 287 east – Groveton, Crockett
south end of Loop 287 overlap; US 59 north follows exit 390; access to FM 1877, access to Woodland Heights Medical Center
Tulane Driveno direct northbound exit
  FM 58 (Chestnut Street)interchange; north end of freeway
  US 69 south (US 69 Bus. north) – Huntington, Woodville, Beaumontinterchange; 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) – Etoile, Milaminterchange
     US 69 north / Loop 287 west / BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 south – Tyler, Dallas, Crockett
interchange; north end of US Bus. 69 / Loop 287 overlap; access to FM 2021 west and FM 3521 east; US 59 north follows exit 386B
  FM 3439
Redland  FM 2021 – Pollok
  FM 843 west
Nacogdoches  FM 2782 north
    BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 north / Loop 224 east – San Augustine, Center
interchange; south end of Loop 224 overlap; US 59 south follows exit 59S
   SH 7 – Pollok, Crockett, Airportinterchange
  FM 225 (Durst Street) – Douglass, Cushinginterchange
  SH 21 (Douglass Road) – Alto, Crockett, Elkhartinterchange
  FM 2609 north (Austin Street)northbound access only
   FM 1638 (Old Tyler Road) / FM 3314 (Lone Star Road)interchange
  Loop 224 west (Stallings Drive) / Westward Driveinterchange; north end of Loop 224 overlap
  FM 343 (Industrial Boulevard) – Cushinginterchange
    US 259 north / BL I-69 / Bus. US 59 south – Henderson, Longview, Nacogdoches, SFASU
  FM 2864 north
Appleby  FM 941 south
  FM 2435 north
  FM 2476 south
Garrison  FM 95 south – Chirenosouth end of FM 95 overlap
  FM 138 east – Center
  FM 95 north – Concordnorth end of FM 95 overlap
No major junctions
Shelby  FM 2667 south – Blair
Timpson  US 84 west – Rusk, Palestinesouth end of US 84 overlap
  SH 87 south – Center, Hemphill
  FM 947 east – Tenaha
  Spur 470 south
  FM 1645 south
Tenaha  FM 2141 south
  FM 947 west (West Drive) – Timpsonsouth end of FM 947 overlap
  FM 947 east (Main Street)north end of FM 947 overlap
  Loop 157 (Center Street) – Center, Marshall
    US 84 east / US 96 south / I-69 – Logansport, Mansfield, Center, Jasperinterchange; north end of US 84 overlap; future south end of I-369 overlap; US 84 to the east will be upgraded to I-69 in future
  Loop 157 south (North Center Street) – Center
Panola  FM 999 west – Gary, Lake Murvaul
  FM 2517 – Deadwood
    Bus. US 59 north / Loop 436 north to SH 149 – Mount Enterprise, Henderson, Longview
  FM 699 / Forsythe Street – Paxton, Center
   US 79 north / Bus. US 79 south / Shelby Street – Greenwood, Shreveport
interchange; south end of US 79 overlap
   US 79 south / Bus. US 59 south – Henderson, Tatum, Panola College
interchange; north end of US 79 overlap
  FM 124 west – Beckville
Grand Bluff  FM 2792 north
  FM 1794 – Tatum, De Berry
Harrison  FM 1186 south
  FM 2983 north
  FM 2625 – Darco, Crossroads, Waskom
Marshall  I-20 – Longview, Dallas, ShreveportI-20 exit 617
  SH 43 south (East Pinecrest Drive) – Henderson, Tatum, Wiley Collegesouth end of SH 43 overlap
  FM 31 south (East Travis Street) – Elysian Fields, Starr State Historical Park, De Berry
  US 80 (East Grand Avenue / Victory Drive) – Hallsville, Longview, Waskom
  SH 43 north (Karnack Highway) – Karnack, Caddo Lake, Caddo Lake State Park, Atlantanorth end of SH 43 overlap
   Loop 390 (Ernest F. Smith Parkway) to US 80 – Longview, Gilmer, Shreveport, East Texas Baptist University, Karnack
  FM 1793 north
Woodlawn  FM 1997 south
Marion  FM 2208 – Karnack, Jefferson Historical Riverfront District, Cypress River Airport, Longview
Jefferson   SH 49 / FM 134 south (Broadway) – Daingerfield, Lake O' The Pines, Jefferson Historical Riverfront District, Vivian
  FM 1324 east
Cass  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, Mc Leod
  FM 1841 east – Bivins, Atlanta
  SH 11 west (East Houston Street) – Hughes Springs, Pittsburg
  FM 2328 southsouth end of FM 2328 overlap
  FM 2328 north – Laws Chapelnorth end of FM 2328 overlap
Atlanta  SH 77 west – Naples, Douglassvillesouth end of SH 77 overlap
    SH 77 east (Pinecrest Drive) / FM 249 east (West Main Street) to SH 43 – Downtown Atlanta, Shreveport, Viviannorth end of SH 77 overlap
  SH 43 south (Louise Street) – Downtown Atlanta, Marshall
Queen City   Loop 236 north / FM 2791 west (Hickory Street) – Antioch, Douglassville, Queen City, Bloomburg
  FM 96 west (Lanark Street) – Wright Patman Lake South Shore, Atlanta State Park
  Loop 236 south – Queen City
  FM 2327 north – Springdale
  FM 2327 south – Springdale
  FM 3129 south – Domino, BloomburgInterchange
Bowie  FM 2148 west – Wright Patman Lake North Shore, Redwater
  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, Shreveportinterchange; Current south end of I-369 overlap
See Interstate 369 for concurrency
  I-30 west – Dallasnorth 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, AshdownArkansas 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


  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. ^ "TexasFreeway > Houston > Photo Gallery > US 59 > The Southwest Freeway". Retrieved 2016-09-30.
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