AUSTIN, Texas — If you’ve driven through Austin before, you’ve probably encountered traffic on Interstate 35.

While the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has long-term plans to ease some of the congestion along one of Austin’s most important roadways, it will get worse before it gets better.

What You Need To Know

  • TxDOT announced this week the first long-term lane closure for the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project, which broke ground earlier this fall

  • The closure, which began on Monday, will be to the northbound I-35 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bypass lane, and it will last until early 2025

  • Throughout the project, construction will be focused on 8 miles of I-35 between U.S. 290 East and SH 71/Ben White Boulevard

  • TxDOT has also been working with the City of Austin and the University of Texas on plans to build new infrastructure over I-35 to connect east and west Austin

TxDOT announced this week the first long-term lane closure for the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project, which broke ground earlier this fall. 

The closure, which began on Monday, will be to the northbound I-35 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bypass lane, and it will last until early 2025. 

Throughout the project, construction will be focused on eight miles of I-35 between U.S. 290 East and SH 71/Ben White Boulevard. The improvements will include removing the existing I-35 decks, lowering the roadway and adding two non-tolled high-occupancy vehicle managed lanes.

TxDOT has also been working with the City of Austin and the University of Texas on plans to build new infrastructure over I-35 to connect east and west Austin. 

The Austin Transportation Department has crafted a plan–which has been named Our Future 35–to construct “caps” and “stitches” over the soon-to-be lowered I-35 to connect the two sides of the highway.

The proposed connections would create 25 acres of new public space in Austin and hopes to “rectify” a historical barrier that I-35 became when it was constructed.

“While it cannot mend the historic divide created by the original construction of I-35, this once-in-a-generation project forges a new future with community benefits that celebrate and connect all Austinites,” the City of Austin’s website says. “Our Future 35 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-stitch our community and create community benefits for those who have been harmed by past decisions.”

A vision plan for the Our Future 35 project will be presented to the Austin City Council on Dec. 12.