Icy Overpasses and Phased METRO Resumption Create Challenging Monday Commute

Winter Storm Impacts Houston Artery Conditions

Houston commuters are facing a treacherous start to the week this Monday, January 26, 2026, as an arctic blast continues to grip the region. Following a weekend of freezing rain and sub-freezing temperatures, authorities report that at least 14 major roadways remain icy as of early this morning. City officials and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office have urged residents to avoid travel if possible, as overpasses and bridges remain the primary hazard zones.

Major Road Closures and Icy Hotspots

Several critical interchanges and lanes are currently impacted by ice or pre-emptive closures to ensure public safety. Commuters should take note of the following specific conditions:

• SH-288 Managed Lanes: Both northbound and southbound managed lanes are completely closed from the Harris-Brazoria County line to Wheeler.
• IH-610 North Loop: Two main lanes and the left shoulder are blocked westbound between Gellhorn Drive and Wallisville Road due to ice. Additionally, a frontage lane is impacted at McCarty Street.
• IH-10 East: The eastbound exit ramp at Federal Road is currently seeing significant ice accumulation, slowing traffic exiting the freeway.
• IH-45 North: One northbound frontage lane at Airline Drive is impacted and expected to remain restricted until approximately 3:00 p.m.
• US-290: Flyovers from US-290 to the Grand Parkway were shut down earlier this morning. While crews are working to treat these areas with brine, they remain high-risk zones.

METRO Houston Service Alerts

METRO has initiated a phased reopening of services today. However, commuters who rely on public transit should be aware that regular schedules are not yet in effect. The current restoration plan is as follows:

• HOV/HOT Lanes: Scheduled to reopen at 9:00 a.m.
• METROLift and Community Connectors: Service is set to resume at 11:00 a.m.
• Local Bus Service: Regular local bus routes are planned to resume in full at 12:00 p.m. (noon), pending safe road inspections.
• METRORail: Operating on a weekend service schedule throughout the day.
• Park & Ride: All Park & Ride services remain suspended for the duration of Monday.

Ongoing Construction and Long-term Delays

Beyond weather-related issues, major construction projects continue to affect the I-10 corridor. The White Oak Bayou elevation project has two outside lanes of IH-10 Katy Westbound closed from IH-45 to Studemont Street. The exit and entrance ramps at Taylor Street also remain closed until further notice, and motorists are advised to use Studemont as an alternative.

With Houston ISD and many municipal offices closed today, traffic volume is lower than a typical Monday, but the risk of black ice on elevated surfaces remains high. Drivers are encouraged to reduce speeds and maintain significant following distances.