I’m reaching out to you because in the last 5 years you purchased a Southern Tier Section 5 route map or GPX data.

We have been notified about several serious safety issues along the route in eastern Texas beginning in New Waverly and heading eastward to Kountze.

As a result, we highly recommend cyclists use this: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39547493. It is 8.5 miles longer than the existing route with similar service availability.

From New Waverly, eastbound, the reroute avoids 12.8 miles of SR 150 which is busy and has no shoulders. Then from Coldspring, the reroute uses lower-trafficked roads and 4.7 mi. of US 69/287 to reach Kountze, which is on the existing route. Most of the state and farm roads on the reroute have minimal to no shoulders but traffic is generally light to moderate. Services are minimal but there are 2 campgrounds slightly off of the route.

You may have already ridden the Southern Tier, and this alert no longer concerns you. Please feel free to share this information with your cycling community.

For more information on this situation or others that may crop up, visit our Temporary ACA Route Road Closure Forum discussion at: advcy.link/tempclosforum, and be sure to check for other Map Updates and Corrections before you leave at: advcy.link/mapupdates.