Motorists, Avoid MoPac This Weekend During Construction: Texas Department Of Transportation

AUSTIN, TX — Given its normal heavy traffic, many motorists typically avoid MoPac in lieu of a less congested route. But this weekend through Monday, drivers should avoid the artery altogether as crews work on asphalt resurfacing.

The freeway will be down to one lane southbound on North MoPac between Ranch to Market 2222 and Enfield Road from Friday, Aug. 11, at 10 p.m. to Monday, Aug. 14, at 5 a.m., Texas Department of Transportation officials said.

Typically ones to put a positive spin on things, even TxDot officials are saying you might want to avoid the area altogether during that time period. The closures are needed to accommodate work crews removing old asphalt and replacing it ahead of construction of new express lanes.

Why? Because of that one-lane thing. The center and left lanes will be closed, leaving only the right lane and right auxiliary exit lanes open. The upshot: Significant traffic delays that might have you muttering curse words if you're predisposed to swearing in stress-inducing situations.

So this weekend, you might want to save yourself a headache and steer clear of the area. In case you fail to heed this advice, please be vigilant of law enforcement officials stationed at the work site directing traffic.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is building one Express Lane in each direction on north MoPac (Loop 1) from Cesar Chavez Street to Parmer Lane. The northbound Express Lane from RM 2222 to Parmer Lane opened in October 2016. The remainder of the Express Lanes are slated to open in 2017.