A significant collision at the intersection of US-290 East and Windfern Road brought rush-hour traffic to a crawl Thursday afternoon. The crash occurred at 4:36 PM on February 26, 2026, creating major delays across one of Houston's busiest eastbound corridors during peak commute hours.
The timing couldn't be worse for commuters heading out of the west side during the afternoon rush. Traffic backed up significantly on US-290 East in both directions as emergency crews worked the scene. Drivers looking to bypass the area should consider using Champion Forest Drive or Spring Cypress Road as alternate north-south routes. Those heading east from the Hockley or Waller County areas might find better flow using TX-249 or venturing south toward I-10, though both alternatives will see increased volume as word spreads about the main artery closure. The west side's limited major east-west options means this kind of incident creates a ripple effect across multiple neighborhoods.
This section of US-290 East near Windfern has become increasingly congested over the past decade as the Spring Branch and surrounding areas have experienced significant growth. The corridor serves as a critical link between west Houston and downtown, carrying thousands of vehicles daily through what's become a high-density commercial and residential zone. Nearby landmarks include the Towne Lake development and various commercial parks that feed traffic onto the highway throughout the day.
The crash affected eastbound traffic most heavily, with westbound lanes also experiencing slowdowns from rubber-necking and the general backup. By late afternoon, commute times on US-290 East had stretched to well over 45 minutes longer than normal for this stretch. Drivers should expect residual congestion throughout the evening commute as crews clear the scene and traffic normalizes. Check real-time traffic apps before heading out, as alternate routes may fill up quickly with rerouted vehicles.
20 crashes had been recorded here in the month leading up to this incident.
Since this crash, 90 additional collisions have happened at the same location. Among them, 62 were major crashes. 1 of the crashes since this incident was fatal.
The rate of incidents has risen in the period since this crash.
Several of those incidents clustered within a short window.
Taken together, the counts place this stretch in the upper tier for crashes locally.
Current through May 27, 2026.
This report was produced by LTA's editor-designed production system under the executive editorial direction of Dennis R. Mundy, Executive Editor. The system combines our proprietary data pipeline with AI-assisted drafting to deliver verified incident coverage to LTA's editorial standards.