[BobL]

I doubt it - but I don't know. I've heard that I-69 was to roughly parallel US-59. I would be surprised if they re-designated the part of US-59 through Houston, as one would think the intent is to keep the trucks out of the cities (especially one with such high pollution levels), but I don't know.

[deport]

From their web site:

Since the Alliance was organized, Congress has designated I-69 as a high priority corridor and has dedicated more then $50 million to the development of I-69 in Texas. Federal statute identifies the general location of I-69 in Texas as U.S. 59 from Texarkana to Laredo and two legs into the lower Rio Grande Valley along U.S. 77 from Victoria to Brownsville and U.S. 281 from George West to Progreso.

I hope like hell they would bypass downtown Houston. I think I remember one possibility as being on the NW side but not sure.