Interstate 35 Main Lanes In South Austin To Close This Weekend

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — Interstate 35 main lanes will be temporarily closed to northbound and southbound traffic this coming weekend, transportation officials said.

The lane closures are centered at Interstate 35 at Oltorf Street (exit 232A). The main lanes in both directions will be closed Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22-23, from 10 p.m. until 10 a.m. to accommodate partial bridge demolition. During the closure, I-35 main lane traffic will be detoured to the north and southbound frontage roads, officials said.

Drivers headed east or west on Oltorf Street will also be detoured at the I-35 crossing to the Woodward Street and Woodland Avenue crossings, according to transportation officials. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes during the closure as heavy delays are expected, officials added.

As part of the Mobility35 improvements at Oltorf Street, lanes are being closed to allow crews to demolish the south side of the Oltorf Street bridge to prepare for bridge reconstruction and construction of a new U-turn lane, officials explained. Prior to the demolition work, the Oltorf Street bridge will have intermittent closures during the week for pavement leveling and to allow workers to shift traffic to the north side of the newly constructed bridge, transportation officials added.

Road signs have been installed in advance to alert drivers of the closure. Texas Department of Transportationofficials ask the traveling public to be patient and remain aware when traveling through the work zone.

TxDot officials said the I-35 at Oltorf Street project will bring improvements to mobility, safety, and connectivity for all modes of transportation. These include improved entrance/exit ramps, reconstruction of the Oltorf Street bridge, adding U-turn lanes, and bicycle and pedestrian enhancements. Work on the $40 million project is expected to be complete Spring 2019, weather permitting. The contractor is OHL USA, Inc.

To learn more about the Oltorf Street project and recommended detour routes, visit My35Construction.org.

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