Relief for I-35 Commuters as Major Frontage Road Closure Postponed

Morning Commute Overview

Commuters heading through the downtown I-35 corridor can breathe a temporary sigh of relief today, Thursday, February 12, 2026. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has confirmed that the previously announced long-term closure of the northbound I-35 frontage road near Riverside Drive has been postponed. Originally scheduled to begin earlier this week, the closure is now slated to start on Monday, February 16. While this provides a reprieve for the morning rush, major construction activity continues across several other key Austin arteries.

I-35 Capital Express North and Central Updates

Despite the postponement at Riverside, the I-35 Capital Express North project remains in a high-intensity phase. Drivers traveling between SH 45 North and Grand Avenue Parkway should expect intermittent lane reductions. The frontage roads in this segment are being narrowed to a single lane in various work zones to accommodate widening efforts. In South Austin, pedestrian and cyclist detours remain in effect near Lady Bird Lake, with the east pedestrian path and north sidewalk on Riverside Drive closed. Users are being rerouted to the west sidewalk along the southbound I-35 frontage road.

Major Highway Project Milestones

Several long-term projects are reaching critical completion phases this month. The 183 North project, which has introduced new variable toll lanes between MoPac (Loop 1) and SH 45, is currently in the final cleanup stage. While the northbound toll lanes are operational, commuters should watch for minor off-peak lane shifts as crews finalize the southbound direct connectors. Meanwhile, at the Oak Hill Parkway project in Southwest Austin, significant progress is visible on the flyovers connecting US 290 and Highway 71. Watch for shifting traffic patterns near Circle Drive and Scenic Brook Drive as this massive interchange prepares for its mid-year wrap-up.

CapMetro Service and Tech Updates

Public transit riders have a new way to pay as of this month. CapMetro has officially rolled out its "Tap to Pay" feature on nearly all bus routes, allowing the use of contactless credit cards and mobile wallets. A daily fare cap of $2.50 is automatically applied to these payments, though riders should note the feature is not yet available on MetroRail. Several active construction detours are in effect today, including:

• Routes serving the Domain and Esperanza area remain on detour through February 16.
• The Wickersham and Riverside area is seeing ongoing service disruptions due to utility work.
• Slaughter Lane at the IH-35 southbound frontage road continues to operate under a long-term construction detour.

Pedestrian Alert: Wishbone Bridge

Final preparations are underway at the eastern end of Lady Bird Lake for the opening of the "Wishbone" pedestrian bridge. While the bridge remains fenced off today, the official ribbon-cutting and grand opening are scheduled for this Saturday, February 14. Trail users on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail should expect heavy equipment and finishing crews near the Longhorn Shores area throughout the day.