Texas Department of Transportation

Provided by TxDOT

Beaumont Enterprise

By Megan Zapalac,Staff writer

May 7, 2024

The growing number of people in Hardin and adjacent counties has necessitated the creation of a new south-north evacuation route.

The Texas Department of Transportation's Beaumont District is proposing a 23-mile U.S. 69 evacuation route from Cooks Lake Road, south of Lumberton, to Farm Road 420, north of Kountze in Hardin County, according to the TxDOT website.

In addition to providing a relief evacuation route, the project also is expected to make the roads safer by giving lessening congestion on the existing U.S. 69, according to TxDOT Public Information Officer Tanya Avila. 

The two 12-foot lanes in each direction, in addition to a 13-foot northbound shoulder to act as an evacuation lane and a 10-foot southbound shoulder, will require TxDOT to acquire 345 feet of additional property, Avila said.

The road will also have a two-lane frontage road in each direction with parking for trucks, bicycles and pedestrians, according to the website.

Public hearings about the project were held last year, according to Avila. The Department is then taking that feedback to revise the existing plan.

Meetings earlier this year gave residents another opportunity to give input and talk to engineers, but that feedback has not yet been finalized.

From Spring 2024 to 2025, TxDOT will finalize preliminary the design and draft and conduct an environmental assessment, Avila said.

TxDOT will then have another public hearing and during Winter 2025, the Department will finalize its environmental assessment and targeted environmental clearance and upon approval, they will begin right-of-way acquisition.

The design is expected to be finalized, and phased construction is set to begin in 2032. Avila did not say when the project could be finished.

According to TxDOT, timelines are subject to change and no property has been acquired at this point.