Hurricane contraflow plan in effect

If we have to evacuate from a hurricane again — and, for the record, we really hope we don't — things may be a little easier thanks to a contraflow plan now in place on some area freeways. The contraflow, meaning both sides of the freeway would be used to move traffic out of Houston, would begin at Brookshire along I-10, at FM 1960 on Highway 290, at Conroe along I-45 and near Kingwood on Highway 59. If you were around during the Rita evacuation last September, you probably remember how long it took officials to put contraflow lanes in effect because planning wasn't really done in advance. Not so from now on, apparently:

This new state plan is the result of lessons learned during that disaster, said Carol Rawson with the Texas Department of Transportation.

The contraflow lanes will go into effect farther out so emergency services can still use freeways closer to town to move around, Rawson added.

The Texas Department of Public Safety will make the decision to reverse the freeways only if mandatory evacuations are issued.

TxDOT maintenance crews will be able to drain water from the median dividers to establish the contraflow lanes.

The large, blue contraflow information signs are equipped with lights that will flash when the contraflow lanes are in effect. Rawson told KHOU that exits on the regular outbound lanes won't be closed if contraflow goes into effect; exits were closed last year, and that apparently didn't work out too well. Motorists will be able to exit from the highway and take back roads, but Gloria Roemer, a spokeswoman for Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, warned that back roads won't receive emergency shipments of fuel provided by the state.

For more on the contraflow routes, check out these maps from the county.