Marathon Closures and Loop 360 Lane Reductions: Austin Commute Update

Marathon Weekend Kickoff: Early Closures on Congress

Good morning, Austin commuters. As we head into the weekend of Friday, February 13, 2026, the primary impact on downtown traffic is the commencement of road closures for the 2026 Austin Marathon. While the main race isn't until Sunday, staging begins today, which will significantly affect the afternoon rush hour near the Capitol and the central business district.

• 9:00 AM: East Ninth Street is now closed between Congress Avenue and Brazos Street.
• 4:00 PM: Expect major disruptions as Congress Avenue closes between Seventh Street and 11th Street. Additionally, Eighth, Ninth, and 10th Streets will be closed between Colorado and Brazos.

Commuters are advised to use MoPac, Lamar Boulevard, or I-35 for north-south travel to avoid the downtown core. East-west travelers should stick to Ben White Boulevard or Koenig Lane, which will remain open through the weekend.

Loop 360 and I-35 Construction Updates

In West Austin, the Loop 360 Improvement Project is reaching a critical milestone. Drivers at the Westlake Drive intersection should be aware of a specific lane restriction ending today. The southbound right-turn lane at Loop 360 and Westlake Drive is closed from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to facilitate bridge work. While this project is slated for completion by mid-2026, excavation work to stabilize the cliffs near Courtyard Drive and RM 2222 continues to generate noise and occasional localized delays.

On I-35, there is a bit of temporary relief for those traveling near Lady Bird Lake. The long-term closure of the northbound I-35 frontage road north of Riverside Drive, originally scheduled to begin this week, has been officially postponed until Monday, February 16. However, heavy construction remains active on the I-35 Capital Express South project, with crews currently installing elevated structures and massive beams at the Stassney Lane and William Cannon Drive intersections. In the central corridor, the reconstruction of the MLK Bridge continues to cause lane narrowing and delays for those heading toward the University of Texas campus.

CapMetro Service and New Transit Features

Public transit riders should plan for marathon-related detours beginning this afternoon. CapMetro has issued service alerts for multiple downtown routes that will be rerouted to accommodate the staging areas on Congress Avenue. Additionally, the transit agency reminds riders that the new "Tap to Pay" feature is now fully operational across all bus routes (except for Routes 214 and 990). Commuters can now use contactless credit cards or mobile wallets for a standard $1.25 fare, with a daily fare cap of $2.50.

Lastly, a specific stop closure is in effect today for Route 392; Stop 3083 at Braker and Joseph Clayton will remain closed until 11:00 p.m. tonight. Stay safe and plan for extra travel time this afternoon.