A major infrastructure project is on the horizon for South Longview as officials move forward with plans to build an overpass on the Estes Parkway section of Texas 149, addressing years of traffic frustration caused by frequent train blockages.
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The proposed overpass will span the Union Pacific Railroad tracks intersecting with Texas 149 near Kodak Boulevard and Huntsman Way — a key transportation route linking Longview to East Texas Regional Airport, Tatum, and Henderson. The crossing is located close to the Eastman Chemical Co. complex, where rail activity is expected to increase with ongoing industrial growth.
“Trains often block the four-lane road for extended periods of time, and rail traffic there is expected to increase with growth of businesses in the area,” said Brian McBride, executive director of the Longview Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The new structure would eliminate the need for motorists to wait on lengthy freight crossings, improving safety and efficiency for commuters and commercial drivers alike.
“We want to get ahead of the curve,” McBride recently told the News-Journal, emphasizing that the MPO aims to proactively address transportation bottlenecks before they worsen.
While no construction dollars have been allocated yet, the MPO has indicated its willingness to redirect some of its available funds toward early-stage design and schematic development. According to McBride, using existing MPO funds could accelerate the project’s design timeline and position it for state or federal construction funding in future cycles.
If all goes according to plan, construction could begin by 2034, though that date remains tentative based on available funding and engineering progress.
The proposed overpass project will likely reallocate funding from a separate Texas 31/Spur 63 widening project between U.S. 80 and South Street in Longview. Prioritizing the Estes Parkway overpass means the Spur 63 project could be delayed until 2040.
Even so, McBride said the overpass takes precedence given its urgency: “The demand for the overpass has been a lot more pressing than widening Spur 63,” he said.
Texas 149 serves as a vital corridor for freight and commuter traffic in East Texas. When trains stop across the roadway, detours can be time-consuming and inconvenient. “A lot of those roadways do actually terminate or you have to go back over the railroad at some point,” McBride noted, pointing out that the area’s road network offers few alternate crossings.
The overpass will improve connectivity between Longview and neighboring communities while also enhancing access to industrial facilities and the regional airport, supporting economic development in the process.
The Longview MPO has opened a 30-day public comment period for residents to share their input, concerns, or support regarding the proposed overpass. Comments can be submitted in writing, by email, or by phone:
McBride said the project’s estimated cost has not yet been determined, as engineers are still refining the scope and technical details.
Texas currently has 24 metropolitan planning organizations, which coordinate long-term regional transportation strategies. The Longview MPO, headquartered at City Hall, serves the communities of Longview, White Oak, Gladewater, Hallsville, and Lakeport. Though it operates through city communication channels, the MPO is not a city department and receives its funding primarily from state and federal transportation agencies.
As industrial expansion and population growth continue across East Texas, infrastructure improvements like the Estes Parkway overpass are critical to keeping traffic moving and ensuring public safety. Once complete, the project will not only reduce congestion but also strengthen Longview’s position as a regional transportation hub.
“This is about planning ahead,” McBride said. “We’re preparing for the future so drivers, businesses, and communities don’t have to wait.”
Originally reported by Jordan Green in Long View News Journal.
