AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced the latest phase of Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts began with Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) contractors removing debris from the side of state roadways in the Coastal Bend.

“The cleanup in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey is a job that will take months for Texans to complete,” said Governor Abbott. “But our state agencies have been poised and ready to begin the work of clearing our roads and public spaces of the often times dangerous debris left by this storm. I am proud of the work TxDOT has done to date, and we will continue to ensure that every state agency is executing on the task of rebuilding Texas as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Following Harvey’s direct hit on the Coastal Bend, TxDOT’s immediate response was to ensure roads and bridges were safe for travel. This included damage assessments, removing debris and reopening roads for first responders, emergency crews and the public, replacing and reactivating traffic signals, reinstalling stop, yield and one-way signs and resuming ferry service in Port Aransas.

While sign and signal work is continuing, TxDOT can now move to the debris removal phase of its ongoing recovery efforts. The initial focus is Aransas, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio counties, some of the hardest hit areas.

Initial debris removal routes are:

SH 361 from Gregory through Ingleside, Aransas Pass, Port Aransas and Mustang Island to Park Road 22;

SH 35 from Gregory through Aransas Pass, Rockport/Fulton and Refugio County to the Calhoun county line;

Business 35 from Rockport/Fulton to Aransas Pass;

FM 1069 from Aransas Pass to FM 2725 in Ingleside;

FM 2165 from FM 1781 to Business 35 in Rockport/Fulton;

Loop 90 in Aransas Pass; and

Loop 70 in Rockport from FM 1069 to Business 35.

Only debris in the state right of way will be eligible for collection. Please be aware that debris removal involves slow-moving heavy equipment and motorists and pedestrians need to give crews plenty of room to work.