While Houston officials didn’t establish a mandatory evacuation for the entire metropolis, some residents fled to neighboring cities like Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio before the rains, tornadoes, and floods came to the city.
Now, many of those residents are wondering if it’s safe for them to head back into the city with reports of major roadways still being closed due to high water and damaged roads.
Chron.com reached out to DriveTexas, an organization run by the Texas Department of Transportation, to report on which routes Houstonians and others can take to get into the city safely.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, there are over 500 roadways flooded in Texas, according to the DriveTexas hotline.
DriveTexas road condition map offers this information on Houston’s major freeways into the city center:
Coming from Dallas
IH-69 North and South at San Jac River in the Humble area – All main lanes are closed due to flooding.
Coming from Lufkin area
US-59 North and South in Goodrich – Roadway is closed due to flooding in Cleveland. Emergency officials passing through only.
SL-393 South in Goodrich – Roadway is closed due to flooding in Cleveland. Emergency officials passing through only.
US-59 North and South in Cleveland – All lanes starting at Fostoria up to SL-573 and also at FM-2025 are closed due to high water.
SH-105 East and West in Cleveland – Roadway is closed due to flooding.
FM-1725 North and South in Cleveland – Roadway is closed due to flooding.
FM-1010 North and South near Cleveland – Roadway is closed due to flooding.
Coming from Austin / San Antonio
BS-71 East and West in La Grange – The frontage roads are closed due to flooding, but the main lanes are open.
BS- and SH-71F North and South in Columbus – the roadway is closed due to flooding at Colorado River. A detour is in place
SH-97 North and South in Waelder – All main lanes are closed due to high water.
IH-10 East and West between Sealy and Brookshire – Frontage roads are closed, but main lanes are open.
Coming from College Station
Clear to come through Hwy 6 and US-290 with minor flooding along the way. No closures reported. Official urge drivers to travel cautiously and turn around if any water is seen on the roadway.
Coming from Beaumont / Port Arthur / East Texas
Officials urge drivers to stay put and not travel on roadways. As of Wednesday morning, all major roadways out of town are severely flooded or closed.
Coming from / going to Galveston
FM-518 East and West off of IH-45 in League City – All main land are closed and travel is discouraged from IH-45 to Calder Road.
SH-275 East and West in Galveston – Roadway is closed due to flooding from 51st Street to 33rd Street. Travel is discouraged.
Within Houston’s loop systems
Beltway 8 between IH-10 and Westheimer – All main lanes are closed due to flooding.
SH-6 North and South in the Energy Corridor – Roadway is closed due to flooding.
FM-1093 East and West in Clodine area – Roadway is closed due to flooding.
Other major roadway closures around Houston
FM-1093 East and West in Eagle Lake, Wallis and Fulshear – Water is over the main lanes at the San Bernard River, the Brazos River and Bessie’s Creek.
SH-60 North and South in East Bernard – Roadway is closed due to flooding.
FM-723 North and South in Rosenburg – The roadway is closed from US-90A to FM-359 due to high water.US-90 North and South – Road is closed due to high water.
FM-2351 East and West in Friendswood – All main lanes from Blackhawk to 518 are flooded. Drivers should take alternative routes.
Chron.com reached out to a representative of the DriveTexas organization for alternative routes, but the service number was busy. We’ll continue to reach out and will update this story when we hear back.
Please note, this information is changing constantly and Chron.com aims to update it with the most recent information. Though, to get the exact conditions of roads for you right now, visit the DriveTexas road condition map here.