Relief Route Study Underway for Part of U.S. 69

JACKSONVILLE — TxDOT is conducting a relief route study for a heavily congested area in Jacksonville. According to KETK, Studies show the highway in Jacksonville is operating at an undesirable level. Eight miles of Highway 69 go directly through the city, with intersections that slow down travel time. The highway is a designated hurricane evacuation route. At a public meeting Thursday night, Mayor Dick Stone also said the study is looking at truck traffic coming from Beaumont and the East Coast. Stone says, “I think it will be beneficial to the majority of people…If they do the route it will have to go through someone’s property, so I imagine the people that are directly affected would probably be opposed to it. But I think overall it will make it a little safer to drive through.” He added it would also benefit emergency vehicles traveling in that area.