Rising water forces lane closure for Highway 6
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Road officials have closed a lane of Highway 6 due to high water, just days after the roadway reopened.
One lane is closed of Highway 6 southbound at Patterson, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
Following the devastating 'tax day' flood from last month, Highway 6 was closed to traffic for weeks, causing traffic nightmares for commuters, residents and business owners in the area.
At RNR Tire Express on Highway 6 near Pine Forest, the business offers rent-to-own plans to get drivers moving. But the last month it's as if someone hit the brakes.
"They all want to be riding on wheels for the summertime and go to the beach," said manager Dustin Gisclair. "We had nothing, for almost four weeks we had basically nothing at all."
The water inched closer and closer after the April rains, causing a complete closure of Highway 6. Last Thursday it finally reopened, and business was coming back. But now there's more rain in the forecast.
"It's not looking good again," Gisclair said.
The Harris County Flood Control District says the areas near Addicks and Barker Reservoirs are especially vulnerable.
"Usually before a typical rain like this we would say no problem, they've got plenty of capacity, but just because the reservoirs are high and that's where they are going into this is an area of town, we are watching very closely and a little bit of concern," Kim Jackson with the Harris County Flood Control District said.
Residents say their commute time tripled during the closure.
One driver said, "I hope we don't have the same problem in this area."
For the businesses just starting to roll again, all they can do is wait.
"The waiting game, I think, is what kills you the most," Gisclair said.
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