Significant Downtown Closures Begin Today; Heavy Delays Expected Near Congress Avenue

Overview

Today is Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and Austin commuters should prepare for a significant shift in traffic patterns as preparations for South by Southwest (SXSW) 2026 begin in earnest. While the festival does not officially kick off until Thursday, major road closures in the downtown core are effective as of early this morning. Additionally, ongoing long-term construction projects on I-35 and US-183 continue to impact travel times across the metro area. Local weather forecasts also indicate a potential round of storms arriving tonight, which may further complicate the evening commute.

Downtown Closures and SXSW Impact

The most notable change for Tuesday morning is the full closure of Congress Avenue between West 10th and East 7th streets. This closure went into effect at 6:00 a.m. today and is scheduled to remain in place through March 19. Commuters who typically use Congress to access the Texas State Capitol or the financial district are encouraged to detour via Brazos Street or San Jacinto Boulevard. Expect increased congestion on these parallel routes throughout the day.

While additional festival closures for Red River Street and 6th Street aren't scheduled until later this week, the footprint of the festival is already causing slower-than-usual speeds on most downtown arteries as event crews begin setup across multiple venues. Because the Austin Convention Center is currently under renovation, events are spread across more downtown locations than in previous years, leading to unpredictable pedestrian surges.

Major Arteries: I-35 and US-183

• I-35 Capital Express North: Construction continues between SH 45 North and Grand Avenue Parkway. Be aware of frontage roads reduced to a single lane in several areas as widening work progresses through 2026.
• MLK Bridge (I-35 Central): Reconstruction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bridge remains a primary bottleneck. Lanes are reduced to three (two eastbound, one westbound), and travel in and out of the University of Texas campus is significantly delayed.
• 183 North Mobility Project: While the new toll lanes have recently begun opening, crews are still active between MoPac and SH 45 North. Watch for workers on the shoulder and intermittent lane closures as the final phases of the project are completed.

CapMetro Service Alerts

Public transit riders should be aware of several construction-related detours affecting high-frequency routes today:

• 51st Street: Mill and pave operations are ongoing between Berkman and Mueller, causing detours for routes in the area through March 11.
• Riverside and I-35: Ongoing bridge construction continues to disrupt service, requiring detours for several South Austin routes near the intersection.
• Yager Lane: Maintenance work near Yager Lane is causing active bus detours scheduled to last through late March.

Commuter Tips

With downtown capacity reduced and several major corridors under active construction, we recommend utilizing the MoPac Express lanes for north-south travel to bypass I-35 delays. If your commute takes you through the downtown core, allow at least an extra 20 minutes of travel time or consider utilizing the MetroRail, which is operating on its normal weekday schedule today. For those traveling late tonight, keep an eye on weather alerts as rain could impact visibility and road grip during the overnight hours.