HOUSTON (KIAH) – Houston is home to some of the tallest freeway overpasses and bridges in Texas, offering impressive views but posing significant safety risks during freezing weather. When we asked what overpasses could freeze first, local TxDOT officials said “it’s very subjective” depending on the weather event.
With Friday’s freezing rain in the forecast, many of our local and much higher overpasses can be dangerous for drivers with wind chills in the 20’s. However, it’s not as predictable as one may think.
“Some areas that flooded during one event didn’t flood for another. Same with ice,” according to TxDOT official Danny Perez. However, freezing rain is not expected on the local level, but is around Texas in areas north of us.
What is Black Ice?
In any case, tall structures like freeway overpasses and bridges freeze more quickly than ground-level roads because they lack the insulation provided by the earth. Cold air circulates above and below these roadways, accelerating the formation of ice, black ice.