Stretch of I-35 southbound in South Austin to be closed Saturday night

AUSTIN, Texas — A stretch of !-35 in South Austin will be closed Saturday night into Sunday morning due to construction.

Starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, crews with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will shut down all southbound lanes of I-35 between State Highway 71/Ben White Boulevard and Stassney Lane. The closure comes as crews will work to place steel beams as part of the I-35 Capital Express South project.

The lanes will reopen Sunday at 10 a.m.

The aim of the project is to eventually add two high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes in each direction, as well as a number of other mobility improvements, along one of the area's busiest corridors.

Drivers are asked to expect several detours.

Drivers heading westbound on SH 71 are encouraged to take the I-35 northbound exit, then