Emergency Road Closures

ROAD CLOSURES/FLOODING
Some locations on Austin's road network, flood after heavy rains. If the water flow is signficant, it can carry vehicles off of the roadway or washout the road surface. The S&B Division, working with the Austin Police Department, place barricades at these locations to warn drivers of the hazards. These barricades are placed to close the road. Never drive around a barricade.

ROAD CLOSURES/ICE AND SNOW
The City has a priority system for sanding its bridges and streets in the event of ice or snow. Arterial and main street bridges are sanded in the first phase of an ice event. Bridges in residential side streets, cul-de-sacs, alleys and dead ends are sanded later in the second phase if possible.

Note that Public Works is not responsible for sanding some roads in the City. State roads such as IH-35, Ben White, and US-183 are sanded by TxDOT. County bridges are sanded by the respected county.

S&B's goal is to keep main arterial bridges and roads clear for traffic and emergency vehicles. However, during a heavy ice event, it will not be possible to sand all iced over roadways. If emergency services are needed under these conditions, call 911. The operator will inform City crews that emergency access is required. If determined to be safe and necessary, the City will place a sand truck in front of an ambulance, fire truck or police vehicle to reach an emergency.

In any ice event, drivers should remember that ice can occur in isolated patches, and these cannot be forecasted or posted. Any attempt to drive will be extremely hazardous.

Return To Street and Bridge Division Home Page

Need to report a pothole? Vegetation covering a stop sign? Sign down? Call 3-1-1 with the location!