Update on April 16 at 9:10 a.m.: TxDOT told MySA via email that one lane of southbound I-35 near Grand Avenue Parkway has now reopened after a deadly crash that occurred around 5 a.m. forced the closure of all lanes of I-35 south near Pflugerville. There are still heavy traffic delays in the area, and alternate routes are recommended.
Update on April 16 at 8:58 a.m.: The Travis County Sheriff’s Office said online it was on scene investigating the crash in the 16100 block of North I-35’s southbound lanes, confirming it was a deadly crash. Officials advised travelers to anticipate “significant” delays and to try to find alternative routes.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) confirmed just before 6 a.m. on Thursday that all lanes of southbound I-35 were closed just before Grand Avenue Parkway near the Austin suburb of Pflugerville due to a crash. Grand Avenue Parkway is a key thoroughfare connecting North Austin and Pflugerville.
TxDOT officials did not give an estimated restoration time for the lane closures on social media, and TxDOT’s intersection cameras near the crash site have been temporarily disabled. MySA has reached out to the agency, as well as the Austin Police Department and Austin-Travis County EMS, for additional details on the crash. We will update this story once we receive a response.
SigAlert flagged the incident as a major crash that has resulted in stopped traffic, with delays upwards of an hour anticipated. SigAlert added that the crash had first been reported around 5:19 a.m. on Thursday between Grand Avenue Parkway and FM 1825, another popular roadway in Pflugerville. The traffic notice also added that traffic is backed up to RM 1431, Chandler Road and Exit 256 on I-35 as a result.
SigAlert read that a police investigation is underway at the crash site, and drivers are encouraged to use State Highway 130 or A.W. Grimes Boulevard as alternative routes.
We will update this article as more information becomes available. For more transportation news, head to MySA’s traffic page.