AUSTIN, Texas — As Central Texans brace for extreme summer heat in just a few months, commuters will also need to prepare for extensive construction that will be taking over eight miles of Interstate 35 through the Downtown Austin area.
The Capital Express Central Project will stretch along I-35 between U.S. 290 East and State Highway 71/Ben White Boulevard from summer 2024 through 2032.
After years of public meetings, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has officially moved past the public input and environmental stage. Now officials are finalizing the design while acquiring the right of way.
As part of this project, 140 properties will be displaced in order to make way for the highway expansion. KVUE has recently interviewed business owners, as well as the group Rethink 35, which has cited a wide range of concerns with the project.
TxDOT gave KVUE an update with how it is working with businesses that will be displaced starting this summer.
"Our right of way department has been working with land owners and those who are leasing as well. There are programs in place to help with re-locations assistance and other forms of help for those folks who need to re-locate," TxDOT Communication Director Brad Wheelis said.
What is this project doing?
Improvements include removing existing I-35 decks, lowering the roadway and adding two non-tolled high occupancy vehicle manages lanes in each direction.
The project will also re-construct bridges, add pedestrian paths and bicycle paths.
When will work begin and how long will it last?
- Summer 2024-2026: Improvements to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge.
- Summer 2024-2027: Drainage tunnel under I-35 and Cesar Chavez Street
- Summer 2024-2031: Lady Bird Lake (Holly Street to U.S. 290 East/SH 71)
- 2025- 2028: Cap Metro/Redline Bridges (Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Fourth Street)
- 2026-2031: University (U.S. 290 East to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard)