National Boards > General Highway Talk
TxDOT's Failure to Keep Steep Inclines Passable During Winter Storms
Brian556:
Many years ago, TxDOT failed to keep Ranger Hill on I-20 passable, resulting in a huge backup with drivers stranded for hours. Fast forward to 2023, and TxDOT is still failing to keep hills passable. I-30 eastbound was blocked at the hill at the east end of the Lake Ray Hubbard Bridge because trucks could not climb the hill and were blocking traffic. Also, multiple passenger cars were stuck on the hills on the I-35E frontage roads at Post Oak Dr in Corinth.
Looks like TxDOT needs to prioritize treating and plowing hills in order to keep roads passable. They weren't doing any plowing at the time of these issues.
So, do other states do any better? Do they prioritize keeping hills passable?
74/171FAN:
I think the January 2016 snowstorm basically told PA and the rest of the northeast, "Trucks should be off the roads entirely", in response to the truck that basically stopped PA Turnpike traffic for days.
Bitmapped:
--- Quote from: Brian556 on February 01, 2023, 12:44:39 PM ---Many years ago, TxDOT failed to keep Ranger Hill on I-20 passable, resulting in a huge backup with drivers stranded for hours. Fast forward to 2023, and TxDOT is still failing to keep hills passable. I-30 eastbound was blocked at the hill at the east end of the Lake Ray Hubbard Bridge because trucks could not climb the hill and were blocking traffic. Also, multiple passenger cars were stuck on the hills on the I-35E frontage roads at Post Oak Dr in Corinth.
Looks like TxDOT needs to prioritize treating and plowing hills in order to keep roads passable. They weren't doing any plowing at the time of these issues.
So, do other states do any better? Do they prioritize keeping hills passable?
--- End quote ---
For like a 130-foot difference in elevation averaging a 2.7% grade over a mile? LOL, no. A minor grade like that would not be prioritized and treated any different than adjacent sections of roadway in the north.
J N Winkler:
To me it sounds like there is much less TxDOT can do than its peer agencies to the north, simply because it is dealing with freezing rain and ice rather than snow. No-one deals well with ice.
hbelkins:
--- Quote from: Bitmapped on February 01, 2023, 01:09:23 PM ---
--- Quote from: Brian556 on February 01, 2023, 12:44:39 PM ---Many years ago, TxDOT failed to keep Ranger Hill on I-20 passable, resulting in a huge backup with drivers stranded for hours. Fast forward to 2023, and TxDOT is still failing to keep hills passable. I-30 eastbound was blocked at the hill at the east end of the Lake Ray Hubbard Bridge because trucks could not climb the hill and were blocking traffic. Also, multiple passenger cars were stuck on the hills on the I-35E frontage roads at Post Oak Dr in Corinth.
Looks like TxDOT needs to prioritize treating and plowing hills in order to keep roads passable. They weren't doing any plowing at the time of these issues.
So, do other states do any better? Do they prioritize keeping hills passable?
--- End quote ---
For like a 130-foot difference in elevation averaging a 2.7% grade over a mile? LOL, no. A minor grade like that would not be prioritized and treated any different than adjacent sections of roadway in the north.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: J N Winkler on February 01, 2023, 01:19:02 PM ---To me it sounds like there is much less TxDOT can do than its peer agencies to the north, simply because it is dealing with freezing rain and ice rather than snow. No-one deals well with ice.
--- End quote ---
The impression I get is that outside of the northern panhandle, most of Texas doesn't get enough winter weather to have crews ready to deal with the elements.
My wife was in the DFW area in early February 2011, when they had some ice and snow. It was right before the Super Bowl, and the state highway crews were not ready to deal with the problems. Roads were shut down all over the area and she had to end up spending an extra night in the area. They had to bring crews and equipment from the panhandle down to the DFW area to clear the roads.
In my area of Kentucky, there's a steep mountain with a sharp curve near the top on the Mountain Parkway, locally known as Slade Hill. It becomes a priority in bad weather.
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