Riverside Frontage Road Closes Today as I-35 Expansion Accelerates

Riverside Frontage Road Closes Today as I-35 Expansion Accelerates

Commuters heading through central Austin today, Monday, February 9, 2026, should prepare for a significant and long-term shift in traffic patterns near Lady Bird Lake. As part of the massive I-35 Capital Express Central project, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is officially closing the northbound I-35 frontage road just north of Riverside Drive starting this morning. This closure is scheduled to remain in place through 2029 to allow crews to construct a new standalone pedestrian bridge over the lake.

Navigation Changes and Detours Near Lady Bird Lake

To mitigate the impact of the frontage road closure, several new traffic measures have been implemented today to keep vehicles moving through the downtown corridor:

• New Riverside Bypass: Drivers traveling on the northbound I-35 frontage road must now utilize the newly opened Riverside Drive bypass lane to continue their route north.
• Woodland Avenue U-Turn: A temporary south-to-north U-turn has been opened at Woodland Avenue. Drivers coming from Riverside Drive should use the southbound frontage road to reach this U-turn, which will then feed them into the Riverside Drive bypass lane to access the northbound frontage road.
• Permanent Exit Closures: Commuters are reminded that the northbound Riverside Drive exit (233) and the Holly Street entrance and exit (234A) were permanently shuttered last week. Use the Woodland Avenue (232B) or Cesar Chavez Street (234B) exits as your primary alternatives.

Nightly Construction on US 290 and Oak Hill Parkway

Evening and overnight commuters in Southwest Austin will also face multiple lane closures starting tonight, February 9. These restrictions are scheduled to occur between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. to minimize peak-hour disruptions:

• Eastbound US 290: Expect right-lane closures between South View Road and Scenic Brook Drive, and between Convict Hill Road and Wolfcreek Pass. A left-lane closure will also be in effect between Hill Oaks Drive and William Cannon Drive.
• William Cannon Drive: Northbound traffic will be reduced to a single lane between Escarpment Boulevard and the NXP driveway through Thursday night.

Local Roadworks and Public Transit Updates

In Pflugerville, maintenance work begins today on Walter Avenue. The eastbound lane will be closed just east of the Railroad Avenue intersection for utility pole transformer replacements. This work is scheduled daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through February 23. For those using public transportation, Capital Metro continues to operate its winter service schedule. All buses are now equipped with tap-to-pay technology, though riders on routes 4, 17, and 483 should check for minor stop relocations near the I-35 construction zones.