On Friday, March 21, Southern Road and Bridge, LLC will close the Rainbow Bridge to begin extensive maintenance work. Weather permitting, this project is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.
Traffic will be detoured to the Veterans Memorial Bridge, which will have two lanes open for traffic in both directions.
In preparation for this work, a temporary detour transition was constructed on the west side of the Veterans Memorial Bridge for westbound traffic heading into Port Arthur.
Safety is a top priority for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). To enhance safety, TxDOT has reduced the speed limit on the Veterans Memorial Bridge from 65 mph to 55 mph.
In addition to the speed limit reduction, the Houston TranStar App will be available to provide travelers with information about travel times and speeds. It will also feature live traffic camera images near the project area. The app is available for download from the app store.
TxDOT encourages drivers to adhere to the “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” campaign, which provides five tips for safely navigating through work zones.
- Slow down. Follow the posted speed limit and never drive faster than what is safe for road conditions. Excessive speed is a leading cause of work zone crashes.
- Pay attention. Avoid distractions, keep your mind on the road and put your phone away.
- Watch out for road crews. Roadside workers want to get home safely too. Always follow instructions and be mindful of construction area road signs.
- Don’t tailgate. Traffic in work zones can slow suddenly so give yourself room to stop in a hurry. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of work zone crashes.
- Allow extra time. Road construction can slow things down. Count on it, and plan for it.
TxDOT wants to encourage everyone to embody the true Texan spirit when driving. Drive like a Texan — kind, courteous and safe.
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