US 96 widening timeline points to fall 2026 design work and spring 2032 construction

JASPER, TX — The latest Texas Department of Transportation planning materials place anticipated construction of a proposed US 96 widening project near Jasper in spring 2032, while environmental review and schematic work are expected to finish in fall 2026.

The project is not an immediate roadwork project or a final construction decision. It covers approximately seven miles from Recreational Road 255 to Loop 149 in Jasper and Sabine counties, serving the Jasper area while extending beyond the city itself.

What TxDOT is proposing

TxDOT is proposing to reconstruct the existing two-lane, undivided US 96 as a four-lane divided highway with a grassy median. The proposal also includes sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities where needed.

The agency says the project would improve roadway safety, strengthen a hurricane evacuation route, improve access to Southeast Texas ports and accommodate projected freight growth. TxDOT project materials cite a projected 52.78% increase in freight traffic by 2053 from its January 2026 Statewide Planning Map. That is a planning projection, not a guaranteed increase or a Jasper-specific traffic count.

Schedule remains preliminary

TxDOT’s project page, updated in March 2026, still lists construction as estimated to begin in 2031. Newer materials for the Lufkin District’s 2027-2030 Rural Transportation Improvement Program identify a different sequence: environmental and schematic work expected to finish in fall 2026, right-of-way acquisition anticipated from fall 2027 through fall 2030, and construction anticipated to begin in spring 2032.

Both dates are estimates and remain subject to change. The spring 2032 date should be understood as the newer planning expectation, not a guaranteed start date or proof that construction has been fully approved and funded for immediate work.

Potential property effects

The proposed roadway would require additional right of way. TxDOT says the typical existing right-of-way width is approximately 120 feet, while the proposal could require a width of up to 450 feet, depending on the final design.

TxDOT has identified the potential displacement of two residences and five nonresidential structures. Those figures are preliminary and subject to final design and right-of-way decisions. Relocation assistance is available for displaced people and businesses under TxDOT’s relocation program.

What it could mean locally

For Jasper-area commuters, the project could eventually change access points, travel patterns and traffic conditions along the corridor. Freight operators could see a wider route intended to accommodate projected volumes, while businesses near the roadway could face construction impacts, access changes or right-of-way acquisition if their properties fall within the final alignment.

Property owners should not assume that all land along US 96, or all Jasper residents, will be affected. The project spans parts of Jasper and Sabine counties, and the exact properties involved will depend on final engineering and right-of-way decisions.

Next steps

TxDOT held a public hearing on April 23, 2026, with an in-person option at Brookeland High School and a virtual presentation available through May 8. The hearing was intended to present the proposal, explain the draft environmental assessment and gather public comments; it was not an approval hearing.

The next major planning milestone is the expected fall 2026 completion of environmental and schematic work. If the project advances, right-of-way activity is anticipated to begin in fall 2027 and continue through fall 2030, followed by continued design, funding and approval steps before any construction could begin.

Sources

• TxDOT US 96 project page: Recreational Road 255 to Loop 149
• TxDOT Lufkin District 2027-2030 Rural TIP presentation and script