Le sigh. Texans are more than familiar with their fair share of highway construction in and around the Lone Star State, and nothing serves as the great unifier more than the infamous Interstate 35.
Here’s what you should know before hitting the road this week, y’all.
TxDOT’s Austin District confirmed both eastbound and westbound SH 71 and Ben White Boulevard to southbound I-35’s flyovers would close nightly beginning on Tuesday, September 8 and running through Thursday, September 10 between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Those closures are linked to bridge column work incorporated into the I-35 Capital Express South Project.
Those traveling eastbound on SH 71 will exit at South Congress Avenue and turn onto the I-35 frontage road to then access highway main lanes, while westbound SH 71 commuters will take the Burleson Road and Woodward Street exit before turning onto the frontage road to later merge onto I-35.
The South Austin east-west bridge crossing the interstate is slated to close overnight on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. During those overnight hours, crews will continue construction work on the elevated managed lanes as part of the I-35 Capital Express South Project.
Those traveling eastbound on Stassney Lane will turn right onto the I-35 frontage road to take southbound I-35, or they can use the U-turn at William Cannon Drive to then travel north. Westbound motorists will turn right onto the I-35 frontage road to take northbound I-35, or they can use the U-turn at SH 71 and Ben White Boulevard to continue south.
Northbound and Southbound I-35 between Oltorf Street and SH 45 Southeast have both been bookmarked for varying lane closures during the overnight hours between Tuesday and Thursday, running from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. During that time, the I-35 main lanes will be reduced to one lane along portions of the interstate as crews continue striping and road work. Several entrance and exit ramps will also be closed as a result.
Cesar Chavez Street will also be home to various nightly road closures from Tuesday through Thursday during the 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. timeframe for utility work.
Both Northbound and Southbound I-35 between Airport Boulevard and 12th Street will undergo lane closures at various points Tuesday night through Thursday night, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Those closures are linked to paving and striping work, with numerous entrance and exit ramps also closed during the flagged time period.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bridge will experience varying lane closures Tuesday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving and striping work.
Both the main lanes and frontage roads along Northbound and Southbound I-35 between Howard Lane and Parmer Lane are earmarked for full, rolling closures Tuesday from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for utility line crossing work. Those closures aren’t expected to exceed 15 minutes each time one rolls around.
Both the main lanes and frontage roads along Northbound and Southbound I-35 between Wells Branch Parkway and Howard Lane hill be tapped for rolling, complete closures on Thursday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Soutbound I-35 will be reduced to one lane during those closures — which are linked to light installation work — and several ramps will also be closed. Rolling closures won’t run longer than 15 minutes each time.