Major Crash Snarls West Sam Houston Tollway at Hammerly During Sund...

A significant crash brought traffic to a crawl on the West Sam Houston Tollway southbound near Hammerly Boulevard at 6:28 p.m. Sunday, February 15, 2026, according to TranStar traffic data. The incident created major backups during peak evening commute hours, affecting drivers heading toward the Westchase and Energy Corridor areas.

Commuters faced substantial delays across multiple routes as traffic from the tollway began spilling onto nearby surface streets. Drivers heading south on the Sam Houston should consider taking Interstate 10 westbound toward Katy or rerouting via Westheimer Road as an alternative. The Beltway 8 system offers another option for those trying to bypass the affected stretch, though early evening congestion on those corridors was expected to worsen as diverted traffic accumulated. Local roads like Gessner Drive and Hillcroft Avenue would likely see increased volume as drivers sought workarounds.

This stretch of the West Sam Houston Tollway regularly handles heavy traffic, particularly during weekend evenings when families return from dining and entertainment venues in the Uptown and Midtown areas. The Hammerly intersection serves as a critical connection point between the tollway and the surrounding commercial districts, making incidents here particularly disruptive to regional traffic flow. The proximity to major shopping centers and restaurants in the area means this corridor typically carries a mix of commuters and leisure travelers throughout the week.

The southbound lanes bore the brunt of the impact from the collision. As of the initial TranStar report, authorities were working to clear the scene, though specific timeline estimates for full clearance were unavailable. Drivers navigating this area should anticipate extended delays and congestion extending well into the evening hours as recovery efforts continued.