West Sam Houston Tollway crash at US-290; major delays Wednesday af...

A major crash on West Sam Houston Tollway southbound at US-290 Northwest brought traffic to a standstill Wednesday afternoon. The collision happened at 2:27 PM, creating significant backups across the area.

Responding officers worked to clear the roadway, but the incident caused major delays for southbound drivers on the tollway. If you're heading through that corridor, expect extended travel times. The good news: authorities had the road cleared within a couple of hours.

This stretch of the Sam Houston Tollway has seen repeated incidents in recent months. According to LTA data, the location recorded 16 crashes over the past 90 days—12 of them major. In just the last 30 days, six incidents have occurred at this same intersection, four classified as major. Wednesdays have been particularly active here, with five incidents recorded on that day alone over the past three months.

According to TxDOT CRIS public crash records, the broader corridor—roughly a quarter-mile stretch—has logged 1,006 crashes since January 2020, including six fatalities. Contributing factors as recorded by the investigating officer, per TxDOT CRIS, show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 406 crashes at this location.

Weather wasn't a factor this time. Scattered clouds and 96-degree heat marked the afternoon, with clear visibility.

If you need to avoid the area, FM 1960 or Cypress-Rosehill Road work well for northwest segments, while Hempstead Road offers an option for inner segments. Both are solid alternates if southbound Sam Houston becomes too congested.

The tollway is back to normal flow now, but keep an eye on this stretch—it's a consistently active corridor.

Update (4:05 PM CT): The major crash at West Sam Houston Tollway Southbound at US-290 Northwest, first reported at 2:27 PM, has cleared after approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes. All lanes have reopened and normal traffic flow has resumed in the area.