Work is underway on Austin’s $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project, managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. The effort covers a 13-kilometer stretch of the interstate, including a 2.9-kilometer section near Lady Bird Lake led by Balfour Beatty. The project includes additional lanes, a new interchange, and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.1
Congress Avenue Reconstruction
Crews have substantially completed work on the 200 block of Congress Avenue and plan to move to the 300 block later in October, following the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The block-by-block effort is part of the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative, aimed at improving pedestrian and cyclist mobility. Each block takes approximately three months, with the first phase expected to continue through fall 2027.2
Additional activity continues on Burnet Road, where crews are preparing shared-use paths, constructing curb and gutter, and installing storm drains in the north section. Temporary lane closures are scheduled for late October between Brockton Drive and Kramer Lane.3
Project Scope and Timeline
The I-35 upgrade spans downtown and University of Texas sections, with WSP handling traffic-control phasing design. The highway sees about 200,000 vehicle trips daily, and the work proceeds in phases.1