{"id":123947,"date":"2026-01-15T06:10:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T06:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/123947\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T06:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T06:10:12","slug":"2-central-austin-transportation-projects-to-watch-for-your-daily-commute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/123947\/","title":{"rendered":"2 Central Austin transportation projects to watch for your daily commute"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWondering what\u2019s behind recent lane changes or detours? Several road and pedestrian projects across the Austin are reshaping local traffic and enhancing safety for all road users, Transportation updates from the city of Austin<\/a> and Texas Department of Transportation<\/a> indicate several changes across surrounding downtown Austin.<\/p>\n

Upcoming projects<\/p>\n

Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative<\/p>\n

Project: Redesign Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin to create a more pedestrian-friendly, multimodal configuration. The first construction phase focuses on Cesar Chavez Street to Seventh Street, expanding sidewalks, adding pedestrian amenity zones, upgrading bikeway barriers and adding turn lanes for vehicle traffic.<\/p>\n

Update: Construction expected to begin early 2026.<\/p>\n

Timeline: 2026-27 (Phase 1); 2026-30 (full project)Cost: $13 million (Phase 1); $29 million (full project)Funding source: 2020 mobility bondsOngoing projects<\/p>\n

I-35 Capital Express Central project<\/p>\n

Project: The Texas Department of Transportation\u2019s multibillion I-35 overhaul, which broke ground last October, will add two nontolled HOV lanes along the roughly 8-mile stretch from Hwy. 290 to Hwy. 71. The project also includes removing upper decks, sinking sections of the roadway about 25 feet, and widening the corridor to 17-22 lanes.<\/p>\n

Update: Entrance and exit ramps, along with several frontage roads, remain closed. The northbound I-35 frontage road between 11th Street and 12th Street has its right lane closed through early 2026. The northbound I-35 Cesar Chavez entrance ramp will also remain closed through early 2026, and drivers on the northbound frontage road will instead use the entrance ramp between Eighth and 11th streets. In addition, the east side Levander Loop pedestrian trail\u2014from just north of the Montopolis Bridge to just south of East Cesar Chavez Street\u2014will be closed through 2028. The southbound I-35 frontage road at River Street will be closed through mid-2028, with drivers detouring to East Avenue and River Street to reach the southbound frontage road. Eastbound and westbound River Street will also be reduced to one lane in each direction at I-35.<\/p>\n

Timeline: 2025-29Cost: $4.5 billionFunding source: TxDOT and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization<\/p>\n

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