HOUSTON — Thursday's severe storms knocked out power for thousands, including traffic signals across the Houston area.
Since the storm, the Texas Department of Transportation said they've been working to clear out roadways and resume normal operations, with the biggest priority being repairing traffic signals.
TxDOT has a total of 1,100 signals throughout the Houston District. They said about 125 signals are in current need of repair.
Crews from around the state have been mobilized to help with restoration efforts, according to TxDOT.
“Our crews are working diligently to restore our traffic signals and efforts to recover to normal operations across the Houston District, including Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Waller counties. To expedite restoration TxDOT is leveraging our forces to get our system up and operating,” said Eliza Paul, the district engineer for TxDOT Houston.
TxDOT is urging drivers to avoid unnecessary travel as traffic signal outages can pose driving hazards. Drivers should treat intersections with non-functional signals as four-way stops.
They're also asking drivers to be mindful of road crews and first responders working by slowing down or moving over.
