More than 100 crossings were closed as heavy rains flooded roads and caused damage across the region.
AUSTIN, Texas — Several roads and parks are closed across Central Texas on Saturday due to flash flooding as rain continues to move through the area.
As of around 11:45 a.m., more than 100 road crossings were closed, according to ATXFloods.com, with a large number of those in western Travis and Williamson counties.
In Georgetown, officials have closed the Austin Avenue bridges to through traffic and pedestrian traffic until further notice. The closure is due to concerns about the number of people stopping on the bridges and the possibility of debris hitting the bridges, police said.
San Gabriel and Blue Hole parks are closed due to flooding of the San Gabriel River.
Due to flooding and the threat of additional flooding, all city of Leander parks and trails including Crystal Falls Golf Course are closed until further notice.
This includes all park amenities and pavilion rentals, the city said. Those with a reservation will be provided a refund.
The bridge before CR 282 at RR 1869 in Liberty Hill has been destroyed by flash flooding, according to local media reports.
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office also reported flooding on CR 279.
The road connecting Lago Vista and Marble Falls, FM 1431 near Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, is closed after major flood damage, Travis County ESD District 1 said.
As of 2:40 p.m., FM 1431 East at the U.S. 281 intersection is closed. The creek located at the intersection has overflowed, creating dangerous road conditions and high water in the roadway.
Officials said powerful floodwaters tore entire chunks of asphalt from the road, "hurling debris and pavement into a nearby creek."
"Guardrails were twisted and shoved over the edge, now resting on the shoulder below," Travis County ESD 1 said.
Inks Lake State Park is closed to day-use visitors on Saturday, and the boat ramp is closed to all guests.
Texas Parks and Wildlife said the lake now has a large amount of floating debris, making boating unsafe. Officials are hoping to open the park for all visitors on Sunday, but access to the lake and boat ramp may be impacted "for some time."
It's easy to check road conditions before you even get in your car. For the most up-to-date status of low-water crossings in the Austin area, check ATXFloods.com.
If you get caught in the rain while driving, remember: turn around, don't drown. Water flowing in roadways might be a lot deeper than it appears, so it's always best to err on the side of caution and find a different route. A car can get swept away in as much as 12 inches of water.
The Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT)'s map of highway conditions also includes information on roadways. Here's how to filter out the flooded roadways:
Once the menu is hidden, you will see "Show Menu" in the bottom right corner, which you can click to adjust the view.
Note: The TxDOT map may reset its settings if you have the page open for an extended period of time, which means you may have to set up the filters again.
One final place you can check for Central Texas closures is on KVUE.com/Traffic, where we have an interactive map.
If you must drive when it's raining hard, remember to take it slow. If a signal is dark, treat it as a four-way stop.