Motorists traveling through the Central Texas corridor are being urged to prepare for significant travel delays as the Texas Department of Transportation initiates a series of extensive overnight lane closures along Interstate 35. The state transportation agency has scheduled these maintenance and improvement operations to address vital infrastructure needs across multiple high-traffic stretches of the regional highway network.
The planned roadwork is scheduled to begin on the evening of Sunday, September 13, and will continue across several consecutive nights through Thursday, September 17. Transportation officials have structured the project to take place primarily during overnight hours in an effort to reduce disruptions to daytime traffic, though noticeable impacts to late-night and early-morning travel are still expected.
A major focal point of the construction will affect both northbound and southbound main lanes of Interstate 35 along the southern portion of the metropolitan corridor. Specifically, the maintenance zone spans the roadway between Oltorf Street and State Highway 45 Southeast (SH 45 SE), representing an important thoroughfare for regional commuters and long-distance travel.
For the southern segment between Oltorf Street and SH 45 SE, work crews will begin closing lanes each night at 8 p.m. and will maintain the restrictions until 5 a.m. the following morning. During these active work windows, the interstate will experience major capacity reductions, with standard travel lanes being narrowed down to a single open lane in several designated sections.
According to updates published by TxDOT on social media platform X, the overnight closures along this southern corridor are necessary to accommodate intensive roadway paving operations as well as the placement and adjustment of protective traffic barriers. These tasks require heavy equipment and active work zones directly alongside moving vehicles, necessitating strict safety buffers.
In addition to main-lane narrowing, drivers navigating between Oltorf Street and SH 45 SE will encounter multiple entrance and exit ramp closures. These ramp shutdowns mean that motorists will be unable to access or depart the interstate at standard interchange points, requiring careful attention to posted detour signage and route planning.
Further north along the Interstate 35 corridor, a second significant construction zone will affect both northbound and southbound traffic between Airport Boulevard and 12th Street. This heavily traversed urban segment serves central destinations and connects key cross-town arteries, making the planned restrictions particularly impactful for late-night drivers.
Similar to the southern project area, the nightly closures along the section from Airport Boulevard to 12th Street will run from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. every night from Sunday through Thursday. Drivers moving through this central corridor can expect localized slowdowns and restricted traffic flow as work crews occupy lanes throughout the overnight hours.
The roadwork in this central zone will also extend beyond the main highway lanes. TxDOT has confirmed that the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Boulevard bridge will undergo varying nightly lane closures alongside alternating restrictions on the northbound and southbound frontage roads, which may complicate access to local streets.
Motorists are also advised that roadway operations will not be confined entirely to Interstate 35. TxDOT has scheduled separate construction and maintenance activities along Cesar Chavez Street, focusing on the stretch situated between Springdale Road and Brushy Street.
Unlike the interstate work, the closures on Cesar Chavez Street will operate on a slightly different schedule, taking place from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Monday night and continuing through Thursday morning. State officials noted that this specific municipal road closure is required to facilitate critical utility infrastructure work beneath and along the roadway.
With multiple construction zones active simultaneously across the region, local transportation authorities recommend that drivers allow substantial extra travel time if traveling during the evening and overnight hours. The compounding effect of reduced lanes and closed access ramps is expected to generate bottleneck conditions even during typically lighter traffic periods.
The combination of barrier installations, asphalt paving, and utility upgrades highlights ongoing efforts by transportation authorities to maintain and enhance regional road quality. While these periodic maintenance operations create short-term inconveniences for travelers, they remain essential components in sustaining safe and functional highway infrastructure across Central Texas.
As the construction timeline unfolds from Sunday through Thursday, motorists are strongly encouraged to monitor real-time traffic updates, heed all posted construction signage, and consider alternate local routes to navigate around the planned work zones between Oltorf Street, SH 45 SE, Airport Boulevard, and Cesar Chavez Street.
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