Pulice Advances Bridge Work on $223.2 Million US 69 Widening in Tyler County

Bridge demolition and new structural work are progressing on the $223.2 million US 69 Gateway to the Big Thicket project in Tyler County. Pulice Construction is delivering the TxDOT contract, which extends from the Hardin County line to south of Black Creek. The highway will be widened to four divided lanes, with completion anticipated in fall 2028.

The permanent highway configuration includes a median, shoulders and a northbound evacuation lane. Reaching that configuration requires more than adding pavement to the existing roadway. The contract includes new lanes and bridges, changes to drainage and work on pedestrian facilities. Each part has its own sequence, with demolition and foundation work opening the way for new structures while crews advance other portions of the corridor.

Hickory Creek is a focus of TxDOT's November 6 update. Demolition of existing bridge infrastructure is continuing, while crews are building bent caps and placing concrete decks for hike-and-bike trail crossings. The bent caps form part of the bridge support system, carrying loads from the spans into the supports below. The deck work provides a visible milestone on the trail structures, even as other bridge work remains at an earlier stage.

TxDOT also scheduled a drilled-shaft crew to mobilize at Hickory Creek. Its work will establish foundations for upcoming bridge construction. The update distinguishes that planned mobilization from the demolition and deck work already taking place.

Roadway crews elsewhere on the project are milling pavement, removing existing concrete and taking out sections of guardrail. Drainage improvements are continuing alongside those operations. The mix of active work gives the project several simultaneous fronts, from removing older infrastructure to installing the foundations and structural elements needed for the widened corridor. The November update documents progress under Pulice's existing contract, with fall 2028 remaining TxDOT's anticipated completion window.