Oversized truck strikes Houston Avenue bridge, snarling I-10 traffic

An oversized vehicle struck the Houston Avenue bridge on eastbound Interstate 10 (the Katy Freeway) on Wednesday, Jan. 14, briefly limiting eastbound lanes and triggering significant traffic delays across Harris County. The Harris County Sheriff's Office reported that TxDOT and responding authorities cleared the scene and fully reopened lanes later that afternoon.

The collision occurred on a vital stretch of the Katy Freeway used by daily commuters and commercial traffic, compounding congestion on an already busy corridor. Drivers faced slowed traffic as crews inspected the bridge for damage and removed the trapped vehicle. No official account of injuries was released by authorities; the primary consequence recorded was the cascading delay to eastbound traffic and the ripple effects into surrounding streets and arterials.

This bridge has a known history of being struck by tall vehicles. Following the incident, officials reiterated the importance of commercial drivers heeding posted clearance signs. Repeated strikes at the Houston Avenue crossing have long been a safety and mobility concern for the county, disrupting freight movements and creating recurring repair costs and short-term closures that affect rush hour commutes.

TxDOT is pursuing a major reconstruction project that would lower the roadway beneath the Houston Avenue bridge as part of broader I-10 upgrades. Lowering the road is intended to reduce the frequency of bridge strikes by increasing vertical clearance for commercial vehicles and improving traffic flow. The project is a structural response to a pattern of incidents that have repeatedly interrupted one of Harris County's busiest east-west corridors.

For local residents, the episode underscores both the fragility of daily commutes and the dependency of regional commerce on uninterrupted I-10 travel. Delays like the Jan. 14 strike reverberate beyond the freeway: deliveries, freight schedules and shift-based employment can all be affected when a key artery stalls. The incident also highlights the role of enforcement and signage in preventing avoidable collisions involving oversized loads.

Motorists should continue to monitor TxDOT alerts and local traffic feeds, allow extra travel time on the Katy Freeway during peak periods, and adhere to posted clearances. For commercial operators, careful route planning and compliance with height limits remain the simplest tools to avoid costly bridge strikes.

As TxDOT advances reconstruction plans, residents can expect periodic construction impacts but also the prospect of fewer sudden closures in the long term. The Jan. 14 collision is a reminder that infrastructure upgrades and everyday driving choices both shape how reliably Harris County moves.