Major I-35 Bypass and Downtown Turn Restrictions Tighten Thursday Commute

Morning Commute Overview

Commuters heading into the heart of the city this Thursday, February 19, 2026, should prepare for significant navigation changes. With the I-35 Capital Express Central project reaching a critical phase and several downtown street restrictions in place, travel times are expected to increase by 15-20 minutes during peak morning and evening hours. The demolition of the Austin Convention Center and ongoing bridge work near Lady Bird Lake remain the primary drivers of today's delays.

I-35 and Lady Bird Lake Constraints

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has implemented several high-impact changes along the I-35 corridor. Drivers using the northbound lanes should be aware of the following shifts:

• Northbound Frontage Road: Access to the frontage road just north of Riverside Drive is currently closed. Commuters must use the newly opened Riverside Drive bypass lane to continue north.
• Lady Bird Lake Bridge: Northbound frontage road traffic across the bridge is reduced to a single lane. This bottleneck is causing significant backup for those entering downtown from the south.
• New Exit Patterns: A new exit for Holly Street (234A) is now operational. Additionally, a temporary south-to-north U-turn at Woodland Avenue has been opened to help mitigate traffic flow around the bridge construction.
• Pedestrian Access: The pedestrian boardwalk ramp along the northbound I-35 frontage road at Riverside Drive is closed. Pedestrians should use the west sidewalk on the southbound bridge to cross the river.

Downtown Detours and Lane Closures

Major mobility projects have led to specific restrictions at the intersection of Congress Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street that will affect city center access:

• Congress Avenue: Northbound traffic is reduced to one lane near Cesar Chavez.
• Cesar Chavez Street: Westbound travel is restricted to two lanes.
• Turn Restrictions: Left-hand turns from southbound Congress Avenue onto eastbound Cesar Chavez are strictly prohibited. Commuters should follow detour signs to 2nd Street to complete their turns.

Public Transit and CapMetro Alerts

CapMetro is navigating several construction-related detours today. Riders are encouraged to use the CapMetro app for real-time tracking of the following affected areas:

• South Austin: The detour at Slaughter Lane and the I-35 southbound frontage road remains active.
• East Austin: Route disruptions continue at Airport Boulevard and Bolm Road, and at the intersection of Rosewood Avenue and Hargrave Street.
• Domain Area: Construction detours are in effect near Esperanza Crossing, impacting local bus frequency in the North Burnet/Uptown district.

Note on US 290 Flyover

While social media reports recently highlighted expanding joints on the US 290/I-35 northbound flyover, TxDOT has officially confirmed the structure is sound. The flyover remains open to all traffic, though engineers continue to monitor the expansion joints as part of a scheduled replacement plan. Drivers should maintain steady speeds and avoid sudden braking when transitioning across the flyover joints.