Permanent Closure of I-35 Exit to MLK Boulevard in Austin

News Summary

Starting Tuesday night, the southbound I-35 upper deck exit to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will permanently close. This closure is part of the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project, impacting traffic patterns for commuters and deliveries in downtown Austin. Drivers will need to adjust their routes as they divert to the lower deck exit. While the project aims to enhance traffic flow and infrastructure, short-term disruptions are anticipated. TxDOT urges motorists to stay informed about detours and navigation updates.

Austin – The southbound I-35 upper deck exit to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Exit 235A) will close permanently on Tuesday night, impacting traffic patterns near Downtown Austin. The closure is set to take effect at 9 p.m., affecting drivers looking to access MLK Boulevard and 15th Street, especially in proximity to the Moody Center.

What Happened

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has announced that the exit will be permanently shut down as part of the ongoing $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project, which commenced in late October. Following the closure, southbound drivers on I-35 will need to divert to the lower deck exit to continue accessing their intended routes.

Who Is Affected

This closure will primarily affect commuters, residents, and visitors traveling southbound on I-35 who typically use Exit 235A to get to MLK Boulevard and adjacent streets. Traffic adjustments will also impact deliveries and services to local businesses in the area.

Official Response

In response to the closure, TxDOT has been actively informing the public through various channels about the changes. While the intent of the project is to improve long-term traffic flow and infrastructure resilience, officials recognize that such closures may cause short-term inconveniences for drivers. TxDOT has previously announced additional temporary traffic reroutes to minimize disruption.

Project Background

The I-35 Capital Express Central project aims to enhance one of Austin’s main thoroughfares. Key improvements include:

• Construction of two carpool lanes between U.S. 290 and State Highway 71.
• Lowering the main lanes from Airport Boulevard to Lady Bird Lake to remove the upper decks at I-35.
• A cap-and-stitch initiative to create plazas above the interstate for increased green space and community access.

Work has been ongoing for the reconstruction and widening of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bridge, which started in October 2024. Similar to this upcoming closure, TxDOT previously closed the northbound I-35 bypass at MLK Boulevard in December of the previous year, redirecting traffic through the northbound frontage road.

Impact on Traffic

As the city prepares for this significant alteration, local traffic flow patterns will experience immediate changes. Drivers will need to adjust their routes, and those unfamiliar with the area may face additional delays. The roadway changes are expected to result in congestion during peak hours as motorists adapt to the new traffic landscape.

Future Developments

In tandem with these changes, construction has recently begun on a $630 million bridge reconstruction project over Lady Bird Lake, extending from Holly Street to State Highway 71. With the extensive work underway, TxDOT has indicated that completion of the entire I-35 corridor construction will not be realized for nearly a decade, underscoring the scale of the infrastructure enhancements being undertaken.

What’s Next

As the closure approaches, TxDOT will continue its efforts to communicate with the public regarding planned construction activity and expected timelines for project milestones. Motorists are encouraged to stay informed about detours and to utilize available navigation tools for real-time updates on traffic conditions.

Overall, this permanent closure of the southbound I-35 exit to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard marks a significant step in a long-term vision for improving Austin’s transportation infrastructure.

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Additional Resources

• KVUE News
• Wikipedia: Interstate 35
• KXAN News
• Google Search: I-35 Capital Express Central project
• Community Impact
• Google Scholar: I-35 traffic infrastructure
• FOX 7 Austin
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas Department of Transportation
• CBS Austin
• Google News: I-35 construction Austin