Stay Alert During Thanksgiving Travel, Houston Officials Urge
Local transportation officials are advising travelers in Houston to remain cautious before and after Thanksgiving Day as travel volumes are expected to reach record levels across Texas.
Record-Breaking Travel Expected in Texas
According to the Automobile Association of America (AAA), an estimated 5.7 million Texans will journey 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving travel period, spanning Nov. 26 to Dec. 2. This marks a 1.3% increase from last year’s record numbers.
Among these travelers:
- 5.3 million will travel by car.
- 315,000 will fly.
- 129,000 will use other modes of transportation.
Parade Brings Temporary Street Closures Downtown
The 75th annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Parade will return to downtown Houston on Thursday, Nov. 30, starting at 9 a.m. Several streets will be temporarily closed for the event:
- 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
- Allen Parkway (between Taft and Bagby)
- Bagby (between Dallas and McKinney; between Walker and Clay)
- Lamar (between Louisiana and Bagby)
- 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.:
- Smith (between Lamar and Walker)
- Walker (between Smith and Milam)
- Milam (between Walker and Pease)
- Pease (between Milam and Louisiana)
- Louisiana (between Pease and Clay)
- Clay (between Louisiana and Smith)
All streets are expected to reopen by 3 p.m. Thursday, according to the City of Houston.
Traffic Hotspots and Expected Congestion
AAA warns of heavy traffic on northbound I-45 between Galveston and Houston on Dec. 2, with volumes predicted to be 30% higher than normal. Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time.
Houston Airports Brace for Over 2.2 Million Travelers
Houston airports are preparing for a surge of more than 2.2 million passengers over the Thanksgiving period:
- 1.7 million passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
- 500,000 passengers at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).
According to Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for the Houston Airport System, efforts to ease congestion at IAH include reopening the North Terminal Road to its original four-lane layout, which eliminates a merge point near Terminal D. This change is expected to reduce travel times on the road from 14 minutes to just 8.5 minutes.
“With the reopened lanes, we’re better equipped to handle the influx of holiday travelers compared to last year,” Szczesniak told Houston Matters.
Safe travels and careful planning are key to navigating the bustling Thanksgiving holiday season in Houston.