Traffic tips: Texas Longhorns football game day
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns football home opener against San Jose State University is Saturday at 11 a.m. It’s not just the journey getting to the game that will be busy, but also the journey home.
Traffic on a regular day is busy as drivers have to navigate construction zones near the campus and stadium. It will be very busy Saturday once you add in 100,000 Longhorn fans going to the game and the fans headed to campus to tailgate and enjoy game day festivities.
What’s happening at I-35 and MLK Jr. Boulevard?
The Texas Department of Transportation is replacing the bridge over Interstate 35 at MLK Jr. Boulevard and there are lane reductions. Some of the entrance and exit ramps to and from I-35 are currently closed as part of the construction project.
The northbound I-35 15th Street entrance ramp is permanently closed. The southbound I-35 upper deck exit to MLK Jr Boulevard is also permanently closed, but the lower deck exit to MLK Jr. Boulevard is still open.
What’s open on the MLK Bridge over I-35?
Two eastbound lanes are open, one westbound lane and a pedestrian sidewalk remains open.
That portion of the project is actually part of the bigger I-35 Capital Express Central Project.
Other Austin events this weekend
The home game isn’t the only event in Austin this weekend. The Zilker Relays are happening at Zilker Park on Friday evening. There’s also The Pixies concert at Moody Amphitheater by the UT Campus. The University of Texas is throwing the Hollister Feel Good Fest, a free music festival for students Friday evening on the LBJ Lawn.
On Saturday, the annual Bat Fest on the Congress Ave Bridge is also happening
By the way, Longhorn fans will have to get used to the traffic patterns being different because of construction for a while. The project at MLK Jr Blvd and I-35 is expected to take another 10-15 months. The entire project between U.S. Highway 290 in north Austin to State Highway 71 in south Austin is expected to take 10 more years.
