Portions of Texas Interstate Highways to see Speed Limit Increase

Miles and miles of Texas highway will soon see speed limit increases following Thursday’s Texas Transportation Commission action approving 75 mph designations for close to 1,500 miles of interstate.

“Texas’ economic strength depends on the efficient and safe movement of people and goods,” Carol Rawson (TxDOT) explained. “These new speed limits increase highway efficiency while maintaining the safety of the transportation system.”

TxDOT recommended to the Commission that speed limits be raised on segments of I-10, I-20, I-27, I-30, I-35, I-37, I-40, I-44 and I-45 after engineering studies showed that higher speeds could be posted safely. However, motorists must continue to travel at the posted speed until new signs are installed.

New 75 mph speed limits approved Thursday are located on:

• I-10-289 miles across El Paso, Gillespie, Kerr, Kendall, Bexar, Guadalupe, Caldwell, Gonzales, Fayette, Colorado, Austin, Jefferson and Orange counties
• I-20-423 miles across Crane, Ector, Midland, Martin, Howard, Mitchell, Nolan, Taylor, Callahan, Eastland, Erath, Palo Pinto, Van Zandt, Smith, Gregg and Harrison counties
• I-27-109 miles across Lubbock, Hale, Swisher and Randall counties
• I-30-139 miles across Hunt, Hopkins, Franklin, Titus, Morris and Bowie counties
• I-35-106 miles across Webb, Medina, Atascosa, Bexar, Hill and Cooke counties
• I-37-130 miles across Nueces, San Patricio, Live Oak, Atascosa and Bexar counties
• I-40-166 miles across Deaf Smith, Oldham, Potter, Carson, Gray, Donley and Wheeler counties
• I-44-11 miles across Wichita County
• I-45-143 miles across Walker, Madison, Leon, Freestone and Navarro counties

Go to  http://www.txdot.gov/safety/speed_limit/75mph.htm for more information on the locations of the new speed limits.

During the heavy rains on January 9, 2012, the Houston Fire Department responded to more than 140 water rescues, including four major rescues. With heavy rains expected later this afternoon through tomorrow, the Houston Fire Department would like to remind citizens of the National Weather Service’s safety message “Turn Around Don’t Drown®”

Flooding is the most common hazard in the City of Houston and many times, individuals aren’t able to judge the depths of water along roadways and find themselves in perilous conditions.

Water at heights of as little as six inches can sweep you off your feet and downstream.  Water as little as two feet can wash you and your vehicle downstream as well.  Be especially cautious at night, when it’s even more difficult to gauge the amount of water in a roadway.  The safest option is to simply avoid driving over water and find an alternate, safer route, or wait until the danger has passed.  

http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/construction/construction_report.aspx

https://www.hctra.org/about_construction/

http://www.downtownstreets.com/index.htm

Whoops, this truck carrying a load of logs tipped over. Drivers are using a nearby parking lot to get around the mess.

Ribbon Cutting: Thursday, Jan. 19th at 2:30pm

Crews expanded the two-lane asphalt open ditch roadway to a four-lane divided roadway with a raised median in the center. The addition of a lane in each direction will significantly improve the mobility of traffic traveling through the Stafford area. The US 90A project in the area was completed a few years ago and Staffordshire/ Stafford Road expansion will offer a smoother tie-in to US 90A.It took crews about 18 months to complete the project that stretches about three miles from Beltway 8 to Fifth Street.

MLK BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. on Texas at Crawford, proceeds west on Texas, south on Caroline, east on McKinney,  north on Austin, and concludes on Austin at Capitol.  Beginning no earlier than 9:00 a.m., staging on Texas between  Crawford and Hamilton, Hamilton between Texas and Capitol, Chenevert between Texas and Capitol, and Avenida de las Americas between Texas and Capitol.  Disbanding on Capitol between Austin and Hamilton.

18TH ANNUAL MLK GRANDE PARADE

Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. on San Jacinto Street at Elgin Street, proceeds north on San Jacinto Street and concludes on San Jacinto Street at Webster Street.  Beginning no earlier than 9:00 a.m., staging on San Jacinto Street between Elgin Street and Holman Street and on Stuart Street, Francis Street and Holman Street between Fannin Street and Caroline Street.  Disbanding on San Jacinto Street between Webster Street and W. Gray Street, on Webster Street between Fannin Street and La Branch Street and on Caroline Street (east and west curb lanes) and Austin Street (east and west curb lanes) between Webster Street and McGowen Street.

7:30AM: freeway has re-opened

I-10 West closed in Waller Co. with ongoing police investigation.

La Porte Ladies: Playoff Party

Chef Joey and Sharon from Kroger

Father and Son,Texan Spirit!

Tailgating in the Yellow Lot: Texans Playoffs

"BEAT the Bengals!!"

288 at Holly Hall (near 610)

288 Freeway at Holly Hall (near 610)

610 at Kirby

Link to check current traffic conditions and flood areas:

http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/

Flooding: 90 before H6

610 at Scott