(Note: See the updates to the prior post. I’m putting more general updates there until my next full post. I’m keeping this post focused on traffic management.)
(Note 2: I’ve noticed a spike in traffic thanks to Brendan’s linkage. FYI, if you’re inclined to comment, you must register, and the first comment has to be held until I approve it. Sorry, but there’s a spambot somewhere with my number.

So where are the contraflow lanes? The state and county spent several million dollars setting up the ability to run contraflow lanes out of Houston, and they should have been open today. Why weren’t they? Take a look at these traffic camera pictures, taken only minutes ago:

I picked cameras as far out as possible to take the images from.

Houston Transtar, which monitors regional traffic and is the local Disaster HQ for Harris County and Houston, has scheduled a 10 p.m. news conference. Perhaps they’ll let us know something then?

Freeways out of town that are currently clear: I-10 East, Hwy 249 (northwest); Hwy 290 (northwest) is mostly clear. Hwy 90 isn’t a freeway but for a few miles, but it’s probably good too.

Maybe if more people saw the traffic moving, and weren’t hearing horror stories from their neighbors stuck in traffic, they would be willing to leave.

(edited for clarity at 9:15pm)

Update: Photo by KTRK ABC Ch. 13, taken around 9 PM:

Update 2: Tom Kirkendall explains the traffic jam!

By the way, speaking of poor decisions, what on earth is the University of Houston doing playing Air Force in Dallas on Saturday afternoon (they were scheduled to play on the UH campus)? Not only is it irresponsible for UH officials to suggest that students and other supporters of the program clog one of the main evacuation routes out of Houston to attend the game, the game itself is likely to be played in driving rain and tropical storm-force winds as Ike passes through the Dallas area on Saturday afternoon. I know this is Texas and all, but Is it really that important to play a non-conference football game?

(h/t to Kevin Whited of blogHOUSTON.) Also in that thread, there’s a link to pictures that bH regulars are taking and uploading.