[Wallace T.]

There is no reason Interstate 69 could not be built from the Rio Grande Valley to Northeast Texas using existing highways like U.S. 59, most of which are four lane divided rural highways. Upgrading the rural portions to Interstate standards and building freeway bypasses of towns like Victoria, Lufkin, and Nacogdoches would be a far less intrusive and cheaper option than the huge swath proposed in the Trans Texas Corridor. Several existing Texas Interstates, such as I-35 and I-20, incorporate older U.S. highways that were upgraded to Interstate status. Portions of the Grand Parkway around Houston could be used to reroute I-69 around that city if they choose not to use the existing U.S. 59, which is at Interstate standards or better through the Houston metro area.

[Ben Ficklin]

Your correct. I 69 can be built over existing roads.

But, because the adjoining land is relatively high price, you get far less capacity for the same amount of dollars.

Plus, in 30 years you have a road that can't be expanded unless you buy more of that relatively expensive adjoining land.