Major Crash Snarls US-290 Northwest HOV Eastbound at FM 1960 During...

A major crash brought traffic to a crawl on US-290 Northwest's HOV lanes Wednesday evening, February 11, 2026, around 5:34 PM near the FM 1960 and Highway 6 interchange in northwest Harris County. The incident created immediate backup as thousands of commuters headed home during peak rush hour.

The collision hit during one of the busiest travel windows of the day, when the HOV lanes typically see heavy volume from regional commuters. Drivers heading eastbound should consider diverting to parallel routes like Champion Forest Drive or taking surface streets through the Greenspoint and Willowbrook areas to bypass the backup. Those with flexibility might also use the northbound lanes of US-290 to reach Interstate 45 North or shift their route toward the Westfield area before rejoining eastbound travel further down the corridor.

This stretch of US-290 Northwest between the outer loop and FM 1960 has long been a critical chokepoint during evening commutes. The interchange itself serves as a major junction, funneling traffic from northwest Houston neighborhoods toward downtown and the Medical Center. The road typically handles substantial volume as it connects suburban communities like Spring Branch, Hockley, and surrounding areas to central Houston employment centers. Crashes here tend to create cascading delays that ripple across the regional network.

The eastbound HOV lanes bore the brunt of the impact, though congestion likely spilled into general-purpose lanes as drivers shifted routes. At the time of reporting, the status of the incident remained under investigation by TranStar and local authorities. Commuters should expect residual delays even after the roadway clears, as traffic gradually normalizes across US-290 and connecting routes throughout the evening.

HEADLINE: Major Crash Snarls US-290 Northwest HOV Eastbound at FM 1960 During Evening Commute