I-35, Mopac sections closed on weekend

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Department of Transportation will be replacing outdated rails on several bridges in the downtown area beginning Sunday night. The construction will result in periodic closures to the lower level Interstate 35.

The work will be done on the bridges at Cesar Chavez, 11th, 12th, 32nd, 38th streets and Manor Road.

According to TxDOT, the northbound and southbound lower level, between Airport and MLK boulevards, will be closed alternately or simultaneously, depending on the construction schedule.

While the project is expected to last 54 working days, construction will only take place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights, to minimize the impact on traffic.

Beginning Sunday night, crews will be placing low-profile concrete barriers on the 38th, 32nd Street and Manor Road bridges. On Monday, the work of removing the old railings will begin.

The contractor will be working on one side of the bridge at a time, leaving the opposite sidewalk open to pedestrian traffic. Construction will take place on two to three structures at a time.

Meanwhile, as work continues on two new flyovers at Loop 1 and Ben White Freeway, eastbound Ben White access road will also be closed at Loop 1 Sunday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The traffic will detour south on the Loop 1 access to the William Cannon Drive turnaround and return on the northbound access road to Ben White.

The closures are part of TxDOT's $8.4 million job to add flyovers from westbound Ben White to southbound Loop 1 and northbound Loop 1 to eastbound Ben White. TxDOT has scheduled to complete the project by late spring.