Round Rock Closes Road Due to Compromised Power Pole

Round Rock, Texas has temporarily closed both lanes of the 3100 block of E. Old Settlers Boulevard due to a construction incident that has compromised a nearby power pole. The closure spans the roadway between N A.W. Grimes Boulevard and N. Kenney Ford Boulevard, just west of Old Settlers Park, causing a disruption in the area.

The Round Rock Police Department took action to close the road after determining that the compromised power pole presented a potential hazard. As of now, Oncor’s outage map reported no outages in the vicinity of the incident. However, it is important to note that Oncor is currently managing around 230 active outages affecting nearly 5,000 customers, primarily in regions such as Killeen, Temple, and Waco, due to complications from a recent storm.

The weather conditions in Round Rock are likely contributing to the issues affecting power lines and infrastructure. A winter storm warning has been issued for multiple cities in Texas, including San Antonio, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Austin, and Round Rock. This warning is in effect from 6 p.m. on Monday until 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Forecasts are predicting a wintry mix of precipitation—snow, sleet, and freezing rain—which could potentially lead to additional localized outages as downed power lines may become a risk.

In response to the cold snap, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a winter weather watch running from Monday through Thursday. Despite these warnings, ERCOT has reported that grid conditions are expected to remain normal with no rolling outages anticipated at this time. However, ERCOT does project that power demand across Texas may nearly reach a record of 79,000 megawatts early Wednesday morning, indicating that the anticipated cold weather could have a significant impact on energy use.

Looking ahead, the National Weather Service has indicated that temperatures in San Antonio are expected to drop to around 20 degrees or higher throughout the upcoming week, with the coldest temperatures forecasted for early Wednesday morning. The cold weather poses serious challenges, and the Texas Oil & Gas Association has announced that its members are prepared for the frigid conditions. They are working to ensure a reliable natural gas supply during this severe cold snap, critical for heating homes and maintaining energy stability.

As the situation develops, residents in Round Rock and surrounding areas should remain vigilant about conditions on the roadways, especially those impacted by the construction incident and potential weather-related hazards. Updates from local authorities and utility providers will guide residents on safety precautions and information regarding power services.