Road Crew Battles Chest-Deep Floodwaters to Clear Clogged Drain on U.S. 80 in Forney

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A stretch of U.S. Highway 80 in Forney, Texas was flooded overnight due to a clogged drain, forcing road crews to wade through chest-deep water to clear the obstruction. Video footage captured two workers in orange safety vests and hard hats laboring for over an hour to unblock the drain as the sun came up. Reinforcements eventually arrived with heavy machinery to quickly clear the drain, allowing the floodwaters to recede.

Why it matters

The flooding on U.S. 80 in Forney highlights the challenges road crews face in responding to severe weather events and the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure like drainage systems to prevent major disruptions during heavy rain. The willingness of the workers to brave the deep floodwaters also demonstrates their dedication to keeping roads clear and safe for the public.

The details

The flooding on U.S. Highway 80 in Forney was caused by a clogged drain just off the highway. Two road workers responded to the scene and spent over an hour wading through chest-deep water trying to clear the obstruction. It's unclear which agency the workers were from, but they were wearing orange safety vests and hard hats as they worked to unblock the drain. Eventually, a large excavator arrived to quickly clear the drain, allowing the floodwaters to recede. Additional crews then arrived to clear any remaining debris from the scene.

• The flooding occurred overnight on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.
• The road crew arrived on the scene and began working to clear the drain around 7 a.m. on March 5, 2026.
• The excavator arrived and cleared the drain just after 7 a.m. on March 5, 2026.
• By 8 a.m. on March 5, 2026, the floodwaters had mostly receded and a construction crew was able to set up in the area.