Another oversized truck struck the Houston Avenue bridge, causing major Katy Freeway delays during the Thursday morning commute.
HOUSTON — Another bridge strike is causing major delays on the Katy Freeway near downtown Houston on Thursday morning after an oversized truck hit the Houston Avenue bridge.
This is already the second bridge strike of the year at this location.
According to Houston TranStar, the crash happened at 2:07 a.m. in the eastbound lanes at Houston Avenue, where a truck lost part of its load. The incident is impacting multiple lanes.
Cleanup and bridge inspection expected to extend into drive time
Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation told KHOU 11 News the closure is expected to remain in place well into the Thursday morning commute. Crews must be called in to remove large crates filled with aluminum that came off the truck, and the bridge is currently being inspected for damage.
Because of the cleanup and inspection process, drivers should expect extended delays heading east through the area.
Alternate routes for eastbound drivers
Drivers looking to avoid the backup on I-10 eastbound may consider these options during the morning commute:
Highway 290 east toward downtown Houston, reconnecting via local streets610 Loop North to reach alternate downtown access pointsMemorial Drive as a surface-street option for shorter trips
Traffic conditions may change as cleanup continues, so drivers are encouraged to watch KHOU 11 traffic expert Jennifer Reyna before heading out.
A familiar problem at the Houston Avenue bridge
This latest crash follows a similar bridge strike on January 14, when eastbound lanes of the Katy Freeway were shut down for hours after the Houston Avenue bridge was hit by an oversized vehicle. That incident happened shortly before noon, with all lanes closed through the afternoon before reopening around 4:45 p.m. Crews at the time needed to clear the scene and inspect the bridge before traffic could resume.
The Houston Avenue bridge has been repeatedly struck during the ongoing I-10 White Oak expansion project, with oversized vehicles frequently colliding with the structure.
TxDOT previously reported that the bridge had been hit 73 times in 2025 alone, with multiple strikes occurring within days of each other.
TxDOT officials have said many of the crashes involve oversized loads operating without required permits or ignoring approved travel routes, despite multiple warning systems designed to alert drivers before reaching the bridge.
What drivers should know this morning
With cleanup ongoing and inspections underway, commuters heading east on I-10 should plan for significant delays and use alternate routes when possible. Traffic impacts are expected to continue through the heart of the morning drive.
KHOU 11 will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as lanes reopen.