The Tuesday morning rush on the I-45 Gulf Freeway turned into a massive headache in Galveston County after a heavy truck crash near State Highway 96 triggered a hazardous materials response and shut down multiple northbound mainlanes. TxDOT crews moved in to deal with the spill and manage cleanup, and drivers heading toward League City were warned to expect serious slowdowns around the SH-96 interchange while emergency responders worked the scene.
GALVESTON COUNTY: Heavy truck/ hazmat incident has multiple mainlanes of i-45 gulf freeway northbound at sh 96 blocked. TxDOT crews on scene. https://x.com/i/status/2031410622617764127
— TxDOT- HOU District (@TxDOTHouston) March 10, 2026
Official updates
TxDOT's Houston district flagged the crash on X, reporting that the northbound mainlanes at SH-96 were blocked while crews responded to a hazmat-related incident. The midmorning alert confirmed that "TxDOT crews on scene" as cleanup got underway, according to TxDOT- HOU District.
TranStar verifies lanes blocked
Houston TranStar listed the same problem spot, IH-45 northbound at SH-96/Calder/Brittany Bay, as a verified accident affecting the right shoulder, right lane and two center lanes. The entry was updated during the morning commute and is based on local traffic sensors and field reports, per Houston TranStar.
Why cleanup can take hours
Hazmat scenes typically mean a long wait. Crews have to secure the area, remove any spilled cargo or fuel, and run safety checks on the pavement before traffic is allowed back through. Similar trouble spots on I-45 have frozen traffic for hours; in July 2025, a fuel spill near Crosstimbers kept northbound lanes closed for more than three hours while crews cleared and inspected the roadway, according to the Houston Chronicle.
How to get live updates
Drivers are urged to keep an eye on the Houston TranStar map and the TxDOT- HOU District X feed for the latest on lane closures and delays, and to follow all directions from law enforcement at the scene. We will update this story as officials release more information, per TxDOT- HOU District.
