Lindale relief route open, Toll 49 extended from I-20 to US Highway 69, north of Lindale
Published 3:54 pm Wednesday, November 7, 2018
- Signs mark the entrance to Toll 49 road on Friday near Tyler. Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
The drive from Whitehouse to Lindale just got a little bit faster.
The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority announced Wednesday the opening of the Lindale relief route, a new segment of Toll 49 extending from Interstate 20 to U.S. Highway 69, north of Lindale, according to a news release.
The segment adds 6.7 miles to the 26 miles of Toll 49 roadway already available to motorists and means drivers can get on Toll 49 at Texas Highway 110 near Whitehouse and stay on it until they pass Lindale if they want to.
The two-lane undivided road has the safety features added to other segments of Toll 49. This includes a 4-foot median with rumble strips and reflectors, and passing lanes.
“This is an exciting time for the agency,” said Chris Miller, executive director of the NET RMA, according to the news release. “Our board has worked very hard to continue to develop segments of Toll 49. Segment 4, the Lindale Relief Route, was a great next step.”
Construction on the Lindale Relief Route began in July 2016. The project had been on the books for about 10 years at that point in time.
The project was projected to cost $126 million, including purchasing right of way, design costs, environmental permitting, construction and wetland mitigation.
The board is now working to develop Segment 6, which would extend from Texas Highway 110 to U.S. Highway 271, east of Tyler.