Worst…traffic…ever
September 22nd, 2005 at 2:57 pm by Administrator
Houstonions are used to bad traffic, but this really takes the cake. Highways are backed up for miles in all directions and people are running out of gas waiting in the lines. Supposedly the Department of Transportation is running around gassing up cars, but it’s hard to say how well that’s going. Most gas stations are completely sold out of gas at this point. Of course, the goodies like plywood and generators were sold out days ago.
It’s pretty clear that this city is hardly equipped to handle all the people leaving, even with all the forewarning. Our director of engineering, Alfonso, just gave me a call a minute ago. He left around 4 AM and just broke out of traffic around 2 PM on his way to San Antonio. The whole drive is normally about 3 hours, so that gives you some idea of the gridlock. And the traffic is even worse now…some people have driven only 15 miles in 5 hours and have simply given up and turned around.
In fact, I’d have to say at this point it looks more dangerous for many people in the Houston area to be stuck out in the middle of the road with no gas, no food or water, and no air conditioning in sweltering heat. It’s probably a better idea for people outside of the storm surge areas to stay in, which additionally frees up more room for the people in the storm surge areas to get out.
If there’s a bright side to this, it’s that the storm appears to be veering east and weakening, which would spare the folks in Houston the brunt of the hurricane. Might not be so good for New Orleans, though.
September 22nd, 2005 at 5:13 pm
I live in Austin, I hear all these stories about people taking 24 hours to make it 75 miles. I also heard that traffic is going north in both the north and south bound lanes. Crazy! Here in Austin, Gas Stations are all running low or empty. I have about 20 miles left inmy tank right now, so I guess I will be riding my bike to work tomorrow. You guys be caerful out there.
September 22nd, 2005 at 5:59 pm
My company had a room at the Embassy Suites for me in Austin, but the traffic is not worth it! Much more risk that way now, in my opintion. I’m in Sugar Land, southwest of Houston, and am resigned to just “Duck and Cover”! Not as worried as I was, with the current forcasts. I feel bad for my coworkers headed for Mobile who are stuck on I-10 directly in the eye’s path!
Anyway, all you guys hang tight and stay safe.
Hi, Rakesh!
- Nat
September 22nd, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Three car loads of us left Houston for Austin last night at a bit past midnight — we got into Austin 8 hours later, about 5 hours more than it usually takes. And compared to other people, who are making the same trip in 15-20 hours, we got here incredibly fast (me and my GPS system take the credit for that one).
Not having slept for 24 hours, I’m *very* ready to hit the sack. Stay safe!
September 28th, 2005 at 1:29 pm
“Houstonions are used to bad traffic,”
We Houstomatoes don’t like it much, either. Seriously, though, one might think that spending 16 hours (now — do any of you drive a STANDARD? I do) and getting /maybe/ 30 miles north of Houston (I made it as far as Cleveland) would make me grateful for — or perhaps more patient with — Houston traffic.
It’s done quite the reverse, and it may take me a couple of days to get over the urge to use the shoulder as a lane…