COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN LEADS TO MASSIVE BACKUP ON I-10
Hundreds of commuters in Austin County are extremely upset with TxDOT, after what they say was the worst back up on I-10 they’ve ever seen.
This past weekend, many drivers spent up to five hours on a bridge between Sealy and Brookshire, after they say they didn't get a warning that a construction delay was coming up.
Some desperate people resorted to illegal detours on the freeway near the Brazos River, resulting in DPS pulling people over and issuing tickets.
The Texas Department of Transportation is apologizing for the lack of public warnings concerning the construction.
TxDOT spokesperson Deidrea George said the department can “certainly can do better.” George stopped short of admitting there was a a breakdown in communication.
TxDOT engineers found problems with asphalt in the outer eastbound lane of I-10 near the river, which required one of the highway’s two lanes to close while crews work every weekend for the next month.
George says TxDOT received one week’s notice about the project.
The department plans to get better signage up to warn.
Until then, it is on drivers to use DriveTexas.org map to work out their own legal detours.
I know that the Law Enforcement Officers have a job to do, but under the circumstances, people sitting on the highway for 5 hours seems like an emergency situation. Instead of giving tickets, they should have been directing traffic. Someone could use a little common sense!
Why wasn’t DPS there trying to help the people stuck in this mess isstead of writing tickets. A new low.
TXDOT is not what it was 60 years ago. Personnel are hired due to political donations or favors more than ever. Not because they are qualified. How many of us see 4 people standing and holding down the pavement while one person works? Slowly but surely, good hard working employees become discouraged or just leave. Majority are there for quickly shrinking benefits. Change starts at the top of the woodpile.
TxDOT’s apology doesn’t remove the citations people were issued! The reality is TxDOT does not care about how long or how far traffic is backed up at any given time. Doing the road work on the weekends? One would think that there are even MORE people traveling on I-10 on the weekends!