I-35 expansion project: TxDOT prepares to demolish MLK Bridge

AUSTIN, Texas - Construction is underway for the I-35 Capital Express Central Project as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) prepares to demolish the MLK bridge.

There are road closures and detours in place near downtown Austin.

"Folks have driven the corridor recently. They've noticed that there are crews out at work already. And some of those recent closures, it's mostly due to retaining wall work that they're doing to get things going," says TxDOT spokesperson Jeff Barker.

The I-35 Capital Express Central Project is nearly eight miles long. It starts along I-35 between U.S. 290 East and goes down to State Highway 71 at Ben White Boulevard.

The project will remove the existing I-35 upper decks, lower the roadway, and add two non-tolled lanes in each direction. In the process, the MLK Bridge will be demolished.

"The next steps of this project and when folks see more of the significant work on this project will be early in the new year and that'll be specifically the actual reconstruction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bridge," says Barker.

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This month, TxDOT closed the north I-35 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bypass lane until early 2025.

"Essentially, what's going to happen is they'll begin on the northern side of the bridge and then shift traffic down to the southern side of the bridge, while construction is going on," says Barker.

TxDOT officials say once the work is complete on the northern side of the bridge, traffic will be diverted, and construction will begin on the southern side of the bridge.

"During construction, TxDOT is committed to maintaining East West travel lanes and, in each direction, we know this is a busy part of the corridor as well as pedestrian access right there, too. We know with, nearby, obviously, you know, proximity to downtown right there, that this is a really busy area," says Barker.

The project will be completed in six different phases. The next section to begin construction will be at Lady Bird Lake from Holly Street to State Highway 71 at Ben White Boulevard early next year.

"Just thought it was really important to have one of those major east-west crossings like MLK finished, before we go to construction on other, you know, maybe even larger portions of the corridor," says Barker.

Both sides of the MLK Bridge are expected to be completed by 2026.