Austin Traffic Alert: I-35 Between 51st Street, U.S. 183 To Close

AUSTIN, TX — Northbound lanes of Interstate 35 between 51st Street and U.S. 183 will temporarily close Thursday night to accommodate construction work.

Texas Department of Transportation officials said the closure is scheduled Thursday, March 29, at 9 p.m. as crews remove overhead sign bridges as part of a larger construction project. It's best for motorists planning to be in the area tonight to know this ahead of time so they might plot out alternative routes.

This is a rescheduled project after heavy rains prevented the work from being done earlier this week. The closure encompasses I-35 mainlanes and ramps, including the U.S. 183 flyover, according to transportation officials.

The stretch of highway will close again on Monday, April 2, at 10 p.m. to continue the work. The rolling closures are being implemented to protect construction crews at the site to ensure they safely remove an overhead sign bridge, officials explained.

TxDot officials provided details on the planned closures:

• "Beginning at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, northbound lanes of I-35 will be reduced between US 290 and US 183 and the northbound I-35 entrance ramp north of US 290 East will be closed. At approximately 12 a.m. a rolling closure will occur on the northbound I-35 mainlanes and ramps from 51st Street to US 183. Traffic will remain on the mainlanes; however, speed will be greatly reduced as crews work to quickly remove an overhead sign bridge. Police will be controlling traffic during the process. The rolling closure will be short, with ramps and mainlanes being reopened as work is completed."
• "Beginning at 10 p.m. on Monday, April 2, northbound lanes of I-35 will be reduced between US 290 and US 183. At approximately 12 a.m., a second rolling closure will occur on the northbound I-35 mainlanes and ramps from 51st Street to US 183. It will operate the same as Thursday night, with police controlling traffic during the process. The rolling closure will be short, with ramps and mainlanes being reopened as work is completed. The northbound I-35 to northbound US 183 flyover and the northbound I-35 entrance ramp north of US 290 East will also be closed."

TxDot officials said road signs will be placed to alert drivers of the closure, and motorists should allow extra time to travel through this area. TxDOT asks that drivers be patient and remain aware when traveling through the work zone.

Also: Be alert to police directing traffic at the site — a job that, while seemingly mundane, is inherently dangerous. Charles Whites, an 18-year veteran of the Round Rock Police Department continues to recover from serious injuries he sustained after being hit by a car last month while directing traffic.

The rolling closure starting Thursday night is part of improvements along I-35 from Rundberg Lane to US 290 East. The project includes mainlane and frontage road reconstruction and the addition of three new flyovers at US 183. The project also includes reconstruction of the St. Johns Avenue bridge, the addition of U-turns in both directions, north and south intersection bypass lanes under St. Johns Avenue, extended entrance/exit lanes, and ramp and shoulder improvements.

Construction of the $124.2 million project is funded by Texas Clear Lanes and is anticipated to be complete in summer 2021, weather permitting. The contractor is J.D. Abrams L.P. To learn more about the I-35 from Rundberg Lane to US 290 East project, visit My35Construction.org.