Latest news with #JeffBarker
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I-35 expansion: MLK Bridge in downtown to shut down nightly on April 25-26
The Brief Phase one of six of the Capital Express Central Project started in October 2024 There will be nightly closures on the MLK Bridge from April 25-26 TxDOT plans to demolish and reconstruct the north side of the bridge AUSTIN, Texas - The Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge on I-35 in downtown will be shut down to traffic nightly this weekend. The agency plans to demolish and reconstruct the north sideof the bridge. Why you should care On Friday, April 25, the entire MLK bridge closes at 11 p.m. and will reopen at 9 a.m. There will be another closure on Saturday, April 26, from 9 p.m. until 9 a.m. Pedestrian access to the bridge will be available during the nightly closures. Big picture view According to TxDOT, the MLK Bridge is undergoing reconstruction to become wider, and improve connectivity and safety. There will be sidewalks, shade structures, and safety barriers added along the bridge as well. What they're saying "This is a methodical phase demolition, where crews will carefully remove a few pieces at a time," says TxDOT spokesman Jeff Barker. Phase one of six of the Capital Express Central Project started in October 2024. In the first phase, TxDOT will demolish and reconstruct the MLK bridge. Earlier this month, traffic was shifted to the south side of the bridge to prepare for the demolition scheduled to start on April 25. "This is a really busy, important east-west crossing. So that's why it was really important for TxDOT to begin this project in this location," says Barker. "We will have law enforcement on site to safely escort pedestrians across the bridge," says Barker. There are detours in place for eastbound and westbound traffic. "Eastbound MLK traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and then U-turn at 15th Street. Westbound MLK traffic will deter to the northbound I- 35 frontage road, and then you turn at Clyde Littlefield Drive and Maynard Road," Barker said. "Remain alert when driving through or near work zones again, that means slow down and don't tailgate, put those phones and other distractions away, watch out for crews and equipment in the area." The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Tan Radford
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Upper deck of southbound I-35 downtown closing permanently Monday night
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The upper deck of Interstate 35 southbound in downtown Austin will close permanently starting Monday night. As the I-35 Capital Express Central Project is transforming the section of the interstate that runs through downtown, one update that brings big traffic impacts will begin Monday night. The upper deck of I-35 on the southbound side will permanently close Monday at 9 p.m. as part of the current phase of construction, according to TxDOT Austin. That segment of the interstate stretches from exit 235A to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. According to TxDOT's project description online, part of the improvement plan includes removing the existing I-35 decks and lowering the roadway. 'The next big update for drivers at the MLK project will be a permanent closure of the southbound upper deck at Exit 235A that you would take to MLK or to 15th Street,' Jeff Barker with TxDOT explained. 'So now, if you want to exit MLK and you are coming southbound, you'll need to use the lower deck.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
