SXSW Road Closures and I-35 Bridge Reconstruction Drive Midweek Delays

Austin Traffic and Transit Update: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Good morning, Austin. Commuters should prepare for significant travel adjustments today as the city balances pre-festival preparations for South by Southwest (SXSW) and major milestones in the I-35 Capital Express Central project. Expect heavy congestion throughout the downtown core and along major highway arteries.

Downtown Closures and SXSW Preparation

While the official kickoff for SXSW 2026 is tomorrow, several key road closures are already in effect to accommodate festival setup and brand activations. The most significant impact is on Congress Avenue, which is currently closed to all vehicular traffic between West 10th and East 7th Streets. This closure went into effect yesterday and will remain active through March 19. Drivers should use Brazos Street or Colorado Street as alternatives, though both are expected to see higher-than-normal volumes.

• Congress Avenue: Closed from 7th to 10th Streets for Paramount Theatre premieres and official activations.
• 800 Block of Congress: Specific road closures are active for electric vehicle showcases and custom events.
• Anticipated Closures: Be advised that Red River Street (5th to 10th) and 6th Street (Brazos to I-35) will begin their full festival closures starting early tomorrow morning.

I-35 Capital Express and Major Highway Updates

Construction on the I-35 Capital Express Central project has reached a critical phase this month. Crews are currently focused on the reconstruction of the bridges over Lady Bird Lake. Commuters should note that the existing northbound Riverside Drive exit and the Holly Street entrance and exit ramps are now permanently closed. A new Riverside Drive bypass lane and a temporary Holly Street exit have been opened to help maintain mobility during this reconstruction phase.

• MLK Jr. Boulevard Bridge: Reconstruction continues with travel lanes reduced from four to three. This is causing significant bottlenecks for those traveling to and from the University of Texas campus.
• South Austin: While the major weekend closures between Slaughter Lane and Ben White Boulevard have concluded, intermittent nightly lane shifts continue as part of the Capital Express South project.
• Burnet Road: Following the recent groundbreaking for the Burnet Road Corridor Project, expect localized delays and active work crews near the northern intersections.

CapMetro Service and Transit Alerts

CapMetro riders should be aware of several construction-related detours active today. Specifically, the 51st Street Mill and Pave project is in its final scheduled day, which may cause minor delays for routes serving the area. Additionally, the ongoing Riverside and IH-35 bridge construction continues to divert bus service in the East Riverside corridor.

For those interested in the future of local transit, CapMetro is holding a public hearing today, March 11, at 12:00 PM. The hearing will take place at the Rosa Parks Boardroom on East 5th Street to discuss proposed service changes for June 2026, including the potential realignment of routes near the new Goodnight Ranch Park and Ride.

Commuter Recommendations

To avoid the downtown bottleneck, through-traffic is encouraged to utilize MoPac (Loop 1) or US-183 where possible. If you must travel through the city center, allow at least an extra 20 to 30 minutes for your commute. Public transit remains a viable option, but verify real-time detours via the CapMetro app before heading to your stop.