New TxDOT district engineer outlines I‑10/US‑69 projects; council presses for faster fixes on Washington Boulevard signal

TxDOT’s new Beaumont district engineer told council she plans increased communication as the agency advances major interchange and frontage-road work in the city, while council members pressed TxDOT to accelerate a needed traffic-signal repair on Washington Boulevard.

Anna Miyares, recently promoted to district engineer, said she is "here to listen" and described a multi-year construction program around the I‑10/US‑69 interchange. She introduced TxDOT staff who reviewed projects that are already under construction, including frontage-road overlays and direct-connect bridge work, and projects in the planning pipeline such as frontage-road rehabilitation on US‑69, a Spur 380 rehabilitation, bridge replacements on FM 365, and widening or safety work on stretches of US‑69.

Assistant area engineer Richard Bradley and area engineer Dave Collins walked the council through photographs of drilled shafts, poured bridge decks and traffic‑control work. Collins described sections of I‑10 and frontage‑road work with projected completion windows ranging from 2027 for some frontage components to 2030–2031 for the larger interchange work.

In council questions, Turner asked whether a single contractor manages the major interchange work; TxDOT staff said the interchange job is split into sections and multiple contractors are engaged across projects, including Williams Brothers and Johnson Brothers among others. Turner also requested a visible contact method on construction boards so residents can report problems; TxDOT staff said contractor names typically appear on site boards but they do not yet post phone numbers and said they would consider Dallas’s example of a contact number and possibly adopt it.

Council members repeatedly raised the Washington Boulevard signal that has been defaulting to a flashing mode during construction. Miyares said TxDOT and Beaumont staff are coordinating; she said parts and electrical repairs are ordered and that TxDOT’s traffic engineers will study timing. Councilman Turner asked for a joint public statement explaining the status; TxDOT agreed to provide an update and a schedule for the needed part and repair, and staff said they expected to issue a joint update soon.

Why it matters: The I‑10/US‑69 corridor is a primary travel artery through Southeast Texas; the projects are intended to improve mobility and safety but have created local traffic impacts. Council members emphasized citizens’ complaints about delayed repairs, potholes and signal timing and pressed TxDOT to improve on-site communication and responsiveness.

What was directed: Council requested — and TxDOT agreed — to prepare a joint statement clarifying responsibility and the expected timeline for the Washington Boulevard signal repair and to provide an update on the on‑road timing adjustments. TxDOT also said it will continue partnering with the city on aesthetics, maintenance agreements and coordination of construction timing.