HOUSTON – If you can’t stay home during the upcoming winter weather, steps are being taken to keep Houston’s roads safe.
Brine, a mixture of salt and water, is one of the first lines of defense against ice on roadways.
Brine isn’t the only tool TxDOT uses, but it’s often the first. Crews focus on areas that freeze first — like bridges, overpasses and connector ramps.
Danny Perez, a TxDOT spokesman, said the department constantly monitors the forecast.
“Today, we wouldn’t treat because the material would just wash away,” Perez said. “We try to do treatments when there’s less traffic to avoid creating dangerous situations for both our crews and motorists.”
TxDOT plans to start treating roads in the northern part of the district first, including North Harris County, West Harris County and Montgomery County.
TxDOT does not close roads but works closely with law enforcement, who make decisions about closures based on weather and road conditions.
It’s hard to believe it was just a year ago today that snow blanketed Houston and surrounding areas. According to TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System, Harris County saw 225 crashes on Jan. 21, 2025 — the day of that storm. In total, there were 631 crashes in the county between Jan. 20 and 22, the days before, during and after the storm.
Perez emphasized the focus on keeping roads clear for first responders and essential personnel.
“We’re treating roadways for first responders, people who have to get to hospitals, and essential workers,” he said. “If your job isn’t essential, like a first responder, stay home and stay put. This is going to be a serious event lasting multiple days.”
TxDOT says crews from other parts of Texas will be on standby to assist, with many already prepared to help.
They expect to begin spraying brine on Houston roads Thursday evening.