State conducting contraflow checkpoints, exercises

J. HOSKINS
The Ellis County Press
            AUSTIN – State officials will be conducting mock “contraflow” exercises along Interstate Highway 45 this week, real-time evacuation scenarios that will stretch from Ennis to Conroe, north of Houston.

            Motorists will notice numerous Texas Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety vehicles along the service roads and entrance/exit ramps, according to a press release issued by state officials.

            The purpose is to practice hurricane and other natural disaster evacuation routes, just as if the exercises were a real contraflow situation.

            Traffic flow will not actually be affected, changed or modified during this exercise, state officials said.