Winter Storm Warning and I-35 Lane Reductions Impact Austin Friday Commute

Friday Commute and Winter Weather Outlook

Austin commuters are facing a complex travel landscape this Friday, January 23, 2026. While road conditions remain dry for the morning rush, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Central Texas region effective from Saturday morning through Sunday. While Friday's after-school activities are currently expected to proceed, the looming storm is already prompting city-wide preparations. Drivers are encouraged to complete essential travel today before freezing rain and sleet potentially impact the area tomorrow.

Major Highway Construction: I-35 and Loop 360

The multi-year I-35 Capital Express project continues to be the primary source of daily congestion across the city. Key updates for today include:

• I-35 South: In the segment between Ben White Boulevard and SH 45 Southeast, crews have successfully completed 61 of the 98 columns required for the new elevated managed lanes. Drivers should remain alert for southbound bypass lane shifts near Stassney Lane and William Cannon Drive.
• I-35 North: Frontage roads between SH 45 North and Grand Avenue Parkway remain reduced to a single lane in several locations as widening work intensifies through early 2026.
• I-35 Central: The reconstruction of the MLK Bridge is ongoing. While the bridge remains open with restricted lanes, the project is not expected to reach completion until the summer of 2026. Commuters traveling to the University of Texas campus should plan for significant delays on MLK Boulevard.
• Loop 360: Work to bury the main lanes at Westlake Drive and Cedar Street is nearing its final phases, with completion targeted for mid-2026. However, current lane configurations continue to cause bottlenecking during peak hours.

CapMetro Service Changes and Transit Updates

CapMetro riders should be aware of the new service changes that went into effect earlier this month. To improve reliability amid ongoing highway construction, the Route 935 Tech Ridge Express has been realigned from I-35 to MoPac. Additionally, schedule adjustments have been implemented for Routes 1, 3, 4, 325, 465, 661, 672, 801, and 803 to better align with real-time traffic speeds. Transit users are encouraged to use the CapMetro app for live tracking, especially as the weekend weather approaches.

Regional Roadwork and Safety

In South Austin, the widening of Slaughter Lane between MoPac and Brodie Lane remains active, with new traffic signals and pedestrian upgrades currently under construction near Bowie High School. For those using US 183, the newly opened toll lanes between Bernardet Road and SH 45 are helping to ease some northbound congestion, though the full project is not scheduled for final wrap-up until February.