Houston's Morning Traffic

[Kevin]

I drove back to Dallas from the beach today. This intersection in Houston is just about the worst part of the whole trip. In fact, I would bet I encounter more cars in this intersection than the rest of the 300 miles. It's highway 288 North from Lake Jackson into Houston to get onto I-45.

What a mess. I was stopped when I took this picture. To those of you who live in the country, at times like this I do envy you.

And let me tell you the color of the air as you enter Houston. Smog is just disgusting. The other day as I was leaving Dallas, we had a "poor air quality alert day." I could feel it in my eyes and throat.

 

[Kevin]

Oh, and the best part is, the toll road for 11 miles is now up to $16. Either that or sit in stop and go traffic for an extra 30 minutes or so.

 

[Dave P.]

Sure looks like fun to me.....

 

[Mauser9]

Certainly looks like a PIA! Yeah glad I live in the sticks.

 

[hittman]

My brother in law lived in Houston for a few years., Always complained about the traffic. He grew up in San Jose CA which is just as bad. My wife grew up in Chicago. Not “the burbs” …. In Chicago. About 40 blocks from Wrigley Field.
Those folks live like rats and it ain’t for me.

 

[arfmel]

My sister and many of my old friends live in the Houston area. I left in the middle 1980s and have since spent as little time as possible there. Maybe a total of 3 weeks in nearly 40 years, spread out in 2 and 3 day sentences.

 

[turd]

I kind of liked Houston, actually. Never lived there, was there a couple of times for conventions. Stayed downtown and had to drive here and there. Freeways are like that in any big city, but there are other ways to get to where you are going if you have some time. Stayed on the 46th floor of a downtown hotel with window walls (floor to ceiling windows). That I did not care for. I've driven freeways in quite a few large cities that I was in for client meetings. Once nearly got caught up in the Holland Tunnel - made several illegal lane changes to stay out of NYC proper.

 

[DeletedMember275]

I live in the 'burbs, way over on the lower west side. It's 35 miles to Houston proper. And I'm retired, so I seldom have to drive in that mess! And I'm glad. This area (Katy and Fulshear) has exploded with growth in recent years, and it's getting bad around here. They're widening and building new roads, but they're 10-15 years behind, I'd say.

 

[Jeepnik]

Looks like a light day on the San Diego Freeway.

 

[cowboycopus]

I don't know if the traffic is any better, but Corpus has some nice beaches.

 

[Kevin]

That traffic in Houston makes Dallas seem like a little village. At least in my part of Dallas.

I don't know if the traffic is any better, but Corpus has some nice beaches.

Yes they are. Just outside of Corpus Christi is a state park called Mustang Island State Park. It’s just beautiful.

 

[Papalote]

Corpus Christi traffic is a dream compared to Houston. I live 40 miles north of Corpus and it's unusual to see more than 4 cars in ten miles on 181. lol

 

[CR244RD]

BUT, Corpus is much further from Dallas. OP didn't mention which beach he was coming from, but if he went through Lake Jackson, may have been the Freeport area. Instead of taking 288 towards Houston, Hwy 36 N is the best route. Goes a bit west, then you have to swing east later, but that is better for traffic.

Mike Holmes

 

[Papalote]

I drove back and forth to MDA in Houston for a year for cancer treatments. I made sure we hit the HOV lane and zipped right through the traffic. And yes, MDA is the greatest place on earth.

 

[eveled]

There are just too many people.

Sadly what we need is a pandemic that actually does kill half of the population.

 

[Mobuck]

No amount of money(or anything else) would be reason enough for me to endure that with any frequency.
Traffic jam around here is generally due to farm equipment on the road and there MIGHT be 4-5 vehicles 'stacked up' waiting to pass. ;) We currently have 2 major road constructions in my area both resulting in complete closure of primary highways. Sure, drivers can take the marked detour but most locals just take a gravel road going the right direction and bypass the closure.
Both are major transportation routes for grain so one has been working 24/7 to complete the repairs before harvest gets into full swing. That's the big priority.

 

[Colonialgirl]

The area around me here in thee Zephyrhills area of Florida has gone bat guano crazy withe stupidity of the county supervisors allowing the construction of MASSIVE el-cheapo supreme apartment complexes and buildings while doing NOTHING on the roads other than stupid traffic light sequences. State Road 54 has been under construction for over 7 years and maybe finished in another two or three years.
But then last time I was in SoCal (Orange County) I said never again !!

 

[Jeepnik]

There are just too many people.

Sadly what we need is a pandemic that actually does kill half of the population.

My response to statements like this is simple. You and yours first, any time you like. Me and mine are staying right here.

 

[Kevin]

BUT, Corpus is much further from Dallas. OP didn't mention which beach he was coming from, but if he went through Lake Jackson, may have been the Freeport area. Instead of taking 288 towards Houston, Hwy 36 N is the best route. Goes a bit west, then you have to swing east later, but that is better for traffic.

Mike Holmes

Yes, Corpus Christi is lots further from Dallas.

We are building a house down between Surfside and Galveston. So sometimes I drive down through Galveston and other times through Lake Jackson.

I’ll try highway 36. But honestly I’ve made the drive often enough now that I just want to get in, drive as fast as possible and get either home or to the beach.

The house is almost done. Just a few finishing jobs like cement under the house. And then a lower deck and outdoor shower!

 

[NC FNS]

I grew up with traffic like that. When we got married, I thought, "do I want to spend the next 35 years driving in that?" The answer was "no" and we’ve lived in smaller towns ever since.

 

[Sapo]

The best way to deal with Houston traffic is to avoid it. Any time I have to drive thru Houston, I do so in the off hours. Leave early or late to get thru town.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Houston is the biggest city in Texas but not the largest metro area. The traffic is bad but consider those who deal with Dallas and Ft. Worth daily. Coming from the north I have a choice usually...neither is good. NFW is worse for a shorter distance. N Dallas is not as bad but for a lot longer.

 

[Kevin]

Houston is the biggest city in Texas but not the largest metro area. The traffic is bad but consider those who deal with Dallas and Ft. Worth daily. Coming from the north I have a choice usually...neither is good. NFW is worse for a shorter distance. N Dallas is not as bad but for a lot longer.

Yep, I'm in North Dallas so I rarely have to take 75 or the North Dallas Toll Road unless I'm going downtown, which hardly ever happens. To get to my gun range though I have to take 635 which is a complete nightmare with all that construction East of 75.

When we first moved here, my parents were visiting and wanted us to drive over to Weatherford to visit some relatives. I'd rather be tortured than make that drive again. It's almost 2 hours of continuous heavy urban traffic.

 

[Jeepnik]

I think you all need some perspective. Went to San Diego Friday. 125 miles, 4.5 hours. Coming home after midnight about 1.5 hours.

 

[Rock185]

No tolls thank goodness, but looks a lot like the "Valley"/Phoenix area at rush hour. I sometimes think rush hour in the Valley is from about 4:00 AM till 3:00 AM the next day. The Valley was great place to grow up. But that was many many Moons ago. Now, when we go to the Valley it seems a lot like LA.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I think you all need some perspective. Went to San Diego Friday. 125 miles, 4.5 hours. Coming home after midnight about 1.5 hours.

Well, Yeah, but hasn't San Diego moved NORTH a little ways ?
:unsure: :):);)
Yeah it use to be a good drive BEFORE 1979 when I left the state; Always enjoyed the San Diego Zoo.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Yep, I'm in North Dallas so I rarely have to take 75 or the North Dallas Toll Road unless I'm going downtown, which hardly ever happens. To get to my gun range though I have to take 635 which is a complete nightmare with all that construction East of 75.

When we first moved here, my parents were visiting and wanted us to drive over to Weatherford to visit some relatives. I'd rather be tortured than make that drive again. It's almost 2 hours of continuous heavy urban traffic.

They're working on I35 from the Denton/Cooke line to the Red River up here where it's only two lanes each way (they are adding one though).

 

[Bullthrower338]

The only time in the 14 years I-10 wasn’t a nightmare driving, was during Hurricane Harvey. This picture is I-10 on the east side.

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

I've lived in Texas most of my life - DFW area plus Austin. And travelled to Houston many times. The traffic today is quantums worse than 20 years ago - a product the flight into Texas states. It is NOT possible for highway construction to get ahead of that growth. Just not possible.

That said, during the two years I lived in the LA area in the late 1990s, I experienced the worst traffic I've ever seen. Particularly my mid-afternoon drives from Orange County up to LA (in my case, headed towards Calabasas). SoCal beats the heck out of any of today's Texas traffic on the "misery" index.

 

[Gopher]

They're working on I35 from the Denton/Cooke line to the Red River up here where it's only two lanes each way (they are adding one though).

They are about to start on 75 from the Grayson County line to the Red River. Sherman is a total mess right now because of bridge construction and adding lanes.