Major I-35 Closures Near Lady Bird Lake and Super Bowl Sunday Traffic Delays

Sunday Traffic Overview: Super Bowl Sunday and I-35 Shifts

Austin commuters and residents should prepare for a mix of construction-related detours and event-driven traffic today, Sunday, February 8, 2026. With the city hosting numerous Super Bowl watch parties and the I-35 Capital Express project reaching a critical new phase, travel times are expected to fluctuate significantly throughout the afternoon and evening.

I-35 Capital Express Central: Lady Bird Lake Impacts

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) continues its multi-billion dollar overhaul of the I-35 corridor. Drivers in the downtown and Riverside areas should be aware of the following conditions today:

• Nightly U-Turn Closures: The south-to-north U-turn located beneath the Lady Bird Lake bridge will be closed starting at 8:00 p.m. tonight. This closure is part of an extended work window for bridge reconstruction and is expected to last until 6:00 a.m. Monday morning.
• Northbound Frontage Road Warning: While the frontage road north of Riverside Drive remains open today, a major long-term closure is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning, Monday, February 9. Officials have already opened a new Riverside Drive bypass lane and a temporary U-turn at Woodland Avenue. Drivers are encouraged to use these new routes today to familiarize themselves with the updated traffic pattern before the Monday morning rush.

I-35 North Construction Activity

In North Austin, the I-35 Capital Express North project is resulting in localized delays. Both northbound and southbound I-35 frontage roads between SH 45 North and Grand Avenue Parkway are currently reduced to a single lane in several segments. This reduction is necessary as crews widen the roads to accommodate future managed lanes. Construction equipment and workers will be active in the area throughout the day; motorists should maintain reduced speeds and follow all posted directional signage.

Super Bowl Sunday and Public Transit

Because today is Super Bowl Sunday, traffic patterns will follow a non-traditional weekend curve. Expect heavy congestion starting around 3:00 p.m. in high-density entertainment districts, specifically near The Domain, Rainey Street, and the Warehouse District. Traffic is expected to thin out during the game but will surge again immediately following the final whistle, roughly between 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

CapMetro is operating on its standard Sunday schedule today. Note that there is no MetroRail service on Sundays, and several Express and Flyer routes are also non-operational. Riders should check for localized bus detours if traveling through downtown construction zones.