Major Road Closures for Austin Marathon Today; Expect Significant Delays

Austin Marathon Triggers City-Wide Street Closures

Commuters and residents should prepare for significant travel disruptions today, Sunday, February 15, 2026, as the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K take over major city thoroughfares. With approximately 30,000 runners participating, over two dozen roads across the urban core are currently closed or will face staggered shutdowns throughout the morning and early afternoon.

Key arterial closures include:

• Congress Avenue & Cesar Chavez: Closed since 3:00 a.m.; expected to reopen around 10:00 a.m.
• South Congress Avenue (Gibson to Oltorf): Closed starting at 5:00 a.m. and scheduled to reopen by 9:30 a.m.
• Enfield Road: Significant closures from Pecos Street to Winstead Lane starting at 6:00 a.m., with reopening scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
• 15th Street at Lamar Boulevard: Closed at 6:00 a.m.; expected to reopen by 11:45 a.m.
• 11th Street & San Jacinto: These final segments of the course near the finish line will remain closed until approximately 2:30 p.m.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid the central business district and utilize MoPac (Loop 1) or I-35 main lanes for north-south travel, though heavy congestion is expected at all major intersections feeding into the marathon route.

Public Transit Alerts and CapMetro Detours

Capital Metro has issued extensive service alerts due to the race course intersecting with primary bus corridors. More than 20 routes are currently operating on detours, including high-frequency Rapid lines. Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 801, and 803 are among those affected. Many stops along Duval, San Jacinto, 11th Street, Congress, and Guadalupe are closed until at least 2:30 p.m.

Riders should check the CapMetro App for real-time adjustments. Temporary boarding locations have been established at the South Congress Transit Center and near the intersection of Red River and 12th Street to accommodate those traveling through the downtown area.

Ongoing Construction and Highway Projects

While the marathon is the primary cause of delays today, ongoing work on the I-35 Capital Express Central project continues. The MLK Bridge remains under reconstruction with reduced lane capacity. Additionally, TxDOT has confirmed that the planned long-term closure of the northbound I-35 frontage road near Riverside Drive has been delayed until tomorrow, February 16. While this provides some relief for today's event traffic, the area remains a heavy construction zone with limited bypass lanes in effect.