Highway Designation File

Transportation Planning and Programming Division
Current Description-Effective Date-Authority


Certified Mileage (Open to Traffic)
611.968 2010

U. S. HIGHWAY NO. 59

Original Description per Administrative Circular No. 016-1944

03/01/1935 - Maud 40, Jefferson 18, Marshall 28, Carthage 28, Center 24, San Augustine 51, Jasper 21, Kibbyville 19, Buna 15, Silsbee 20, Beaumont 19, Port Arthur.  (It is understood that the location of US 59 between Page, Oklahoma, and Maud, Texas, as given in this description, is temporary awaiting a more direct route between these points so that it will not be necessary to have US 59 and US 71 traverse the same territory, which will greatly shorten the distance for US 59 between these points.)

01/01/1939 - Maud 40, Jefferson 18, Marshall 28, Carthage 28, Center 24, San Augustine 51, Jasper 21, Kibbyville 19, Buna 15, Silsbee 20, Beaumont 19, Port Arthur.

05/01/1942 - Maud 42, Jefferson 16, Marshall 31, Carthage 17, Tenaha 37, Nacogdoches 20, Lufkin 47, Livingston 73, Houston 29, Richmond 3, Rosenburg 27, Wharton 65, Victoria 55, Beeville 11, Skidmore 14, Mathis 29, Alice 53, Hebbronville 56, Laredo.  (It is understood that the location of US 59 between Page, Oklahoma, and Maud, Texas, as given in this description, is temporary awaiting a more direct route between these points so that it will not be necessary to have US 59 and US 71 traverse the same territory, which will greatly shorten the distance for US 59 between these points.)



Minute No. 016701, dated 09/26/1939

From the Texas-Arkansas State Line via Texarkana, Maud, Linden, Jefferson, Marshall, Carthage, Tenaha, Timpson, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Corrigan, Livingston, and Cleveland to Houston, then follow US 90 from Houston to Rosenberg; then from Rosenberg via Wharton, Victoria, and Goliad to Beeville; then follow US 181 from Beeville to Skidmore; then from Skidmore via Mathis, Alice, and Hebbronville to Laredo.  General re-description of Highway System.



Minute Order 018793, dated 11/24/1941 Letter W.C.Markham dated 12/17/1941

From the Texas-Arkansas State line via Texarkana, Maud, Linden, Jefferson, Marshall, Carthage, Teneha, Timpson, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Corrigan, Livingston, Cleveland, Houston, Rosenberg, Wharton, Victoria and Goliad to Beeville; then follow US 181 from Beeville to Skidmore; then from Skidmore via Mathis, Alice and Hebbronville to Laredo.  Eliminate reference to following US 90 from Houston to Rosenberg.



Minute Orders 023641 and 024459, dated 08/01/1947; AASHTO Letter 09/24/1947

From the Texas/Oklahoma State Line via Texarkana, Atlanta, Linden, Jefferson, Marshall, Carthage, Teneha, Timpson, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Corrigan, Livingston, Cleveland, Houston, Rosenberg, Wharton, Victoria and Goliad to Beeville; then follow US 181 from Beeville to Skidmore; then from Skidmore via Mathis, Alice and Hebbronville to Laredo.  Rerouted from Texarkana via Atlanta to Linden.



Minute Order 036579, dated 08/24/1954; AASHO Letter dated 11/23/1954; Cir. 006-1955, dated 02/01/1955

From the Texas-Arkansas State Line via Texarkana, Atlanta, Linden, Jefferson, Marshall, Carthage, Tenaha, Timpson, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Corrigan, Livingston, Cleveland, Houston, Rosenberg, Wharton, Victoria, Goliad, Beeville, George West and Freer to Laredo. Rerouted from Bee-ville via George West and Freer to Laredo.   (Bowie, Cass, Marion, Harrison, Panola, Shelby, Nacogdoches, Angelina, Polk, San Jacinto, Liberty, Montgomery, Harris, Ft. Bend, Wharton, Jackson, Victoria, Golida, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen, Duval, and Webb Counties)  Effective the date Official Highway Travel Map is released to the Public.



Minute Order 088503, dated 03/28/1989

No change to description.  (Bowie, Cass, Marion, Harrison, Panola, Shelby, Nacogdoches, Angelina, Polk, San Jacinto, Liberty, Montgomery, Harris, Ft. Bend, Wharton, Jackson, Victoria, Golida, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen, Duval, and Webb Counties)  FM 632 cancelled and transferred to US 59 in George West. 




(Forest Hwy 12--Livingston-Houston Rd., San Jacinto County, east forest boundary at railway crossing south of Shepherd to south forest boundary at San Jacinto-Liberty County Line, approx. 5.8 miles.)

[(Blue Star Memorial Highway, from Houston to Texarkana. (Designated by M/O 71214, 5/4/76)]

[Senator Lloyd Bentsen Highway--US 59 from its intersection with IH 45 to its intersection with IH 35.  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 1995]  


Minute Order 113518, dated 3/28/2013; DesLtr 1-2013, dated 5/09/2013

No description change.  Approved concurrent designations with IH 69 from east of SS 529 in Rosenberg northeastward approximately 28.4 miles to IH 610 in Central Houston; then from IH 610 in North Houston northeastward approximately 35 miles to approximately 0.2 mile north of the Liberty County line.