AUSTIN - On April 30, in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will stage a mock contraflow traffic exercise along three stretches of highway.

The highways and areas affected include: Interstate 45 from Ennis to Conroe, U.S. 290 from Burton to Muschke Road (near Houston), and Interstate 10 from Loop 1604 in San Antonio to Brookshire.

The purpose of this exercise is to rehearse the steps required to reverse the flow of traffic away from a hurricane during a call for evacuation and to ensure preparedness for such an event.
Traffic flow will not actually be affected, changed or modified during this exercise. Motorists will notice additional TxDOT and DPS vehicles on the affected highways, especially near entrance and exit ramps, most of the day.

If local organizations would like to participate in the mock contraflow exercise by manning duty stations or have questions about this event, they are encouraged to contact their local TxDOT or DPS representatives.

Affected counties include: Leon, Madison, Bexar, Guadalupe, Gonzales, Caldwell, Fayette, Freestone, Dallas, Navarro, Ellis, Washington, Walker, Harris, Montgomery, Waller, Austin and Colorado.