I-35 Frontage Road Closure Postponed; Major Lane Restrictions on Congress Avenue This Wednesday

Morning Commute Overview

Austin commuters can breathe a temporary sigh of relief this Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has confirmed that the massive, years-long closure of the northbound I-35 frontage road near Riverside Drive has been postponed. Originally scheduled to begin earlier this week, the closure—which will facilitate the construction of a new stand-alone pedestrian bridge—is now slated to take effect on Monday, February 16. While the delay provides a brief window of normalcy, drivers should remain alert for shifting traffic patterns and increased congestion near Lady Bird Lake.

Major Arteries and Construction Alerts

• I-35 Capital Express Central: While the major frontage road closure is on hold, the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bridge reconstruction remains a primary bottleneck. Travel lanes on the bridge have been reduced from four to three (two eastbound, one westbound). Nightly lane closures on the mainlanes of I-35 through the downtown corridor are ongoing as crews continue excavation for the lowered mainlane system.
• 183 North Project: Significant progress is reported on the 183 North project. Following the opening of the northbound toll lanes between Burnet Road and SH 45 last month, crews are now in the final stages of site restoration and signage installation. Commuters should expect minor shoulder work but generally smoother flow as the project nears its scheduled completion later this month.
• Loop 360 and Oak Hill Parkway: Traffic remains constricted at Loop 360 at Westlake Drive and Cedar Street as work continues to lower the main lanes. Meanwhile, at the Y in Oak Hill, the new flyover connecting US 290 to SH 71 is fully operational, though merging delays are frequent during the morning peak hour.

Downtown and Local Impact

In the city center, commuters are facing fresh obstacles. Lane closures on Congress Avenue began this past Sunday at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street. Outside lanes in both directions are currently restricted to accommodate utility upgrades. Additionally, the ongoing redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center continues to cause consistent partial closures on Trinity, Red River, East 3rd, and East 2nd Streets. Drivers are encouraged to use South 1st Street or South Lamar Boulevard as alternative routes into the downtown core.

Public Transport and Transit Updates

CapMetro reports that all rail and bus services are running on standard weekday schedules. Work is nearly finished on the infrastructure for Rapid Routes 800 and 837, which may cause brief, localized delays at station stops where final equipment is being installed. Construction on the new North Burnet/Uptown Station near the Domain is active, though it is not currently impacting Red Line arrival times. Commuters using the Riverside area should note that while the pedestrian path on the east side of the I-35 bridge is currently open, it will close permanently next week once the frontage road project commences.