I-35 Southbound Mainlane Traffic Begins Overnight on Saturday, March 6

WACO, Texas (March 4, 2021) - The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to shift I-35 southbound mainlane traffic to the newly completed mainlanes overnight on Saturday, March 6. This traffic shift will mark the halfway point in the four-year project to widen the interstate and improve safety and access along the I-35 corridor in Waco.

Before the shift, closures will be needed on areas of I-35 by the Baylor campus. We encourage you to use www.waco4bmap.org to keep up with real-time traffic information on I-35 through Waco.

Here is what you can expect beginning tonight and throughout the weekend:

Tonight (Thursday, March 4) from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Crews plan to close alternating lanes on the southbound I-35 mainlanes from Forrest Street to BUS 77 (near McLane Stadium) and from 17th Street to 12th Street to perform striping work.

Crews also plan to close the southbound exits for MLK Blvd (Exit 335C) and for 17th Street (Exit 334) during this time.

Saturday, March 6, from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m.

On Saturday, TxDOT plans to shift only the southbound traffic to the newly completed southbound mainlanes of I-35. This work should be completed by 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 7.

In the coming weeks, TxDOT plans to shift the northbound I-35 mainlane traffic south of BUS 77 to the newly reconstructed lanes.

To begin the shift:

• Crews plan to close alternating lanes on the southbound mainlanes from Forrest Street (by McLane Stadium) to 12th Street (south of Baylor campus) and also close the southbound exits for MLK Blvd (Exit 335C) and for 17th Street (Exit 334) during this time.
• Starting at 10 p.m., crews plan to close all I-35 southbound mainlanes from US 84 to BUS 77.
• Drivers will be directed to exit at US 84 (Exit 338A) and can re-enter the interstate south of BUS 77.
• During this time, westbound BUS 77 and westbound US 84 will be closed where they cross under I-35.
• Eastbound BUS 77 will be closed at US 84. Please follow all detour signage.

Before traffic is fully shifted, crews plan to close all northbound mainlanes in short segments to adjust barriers starting at 12th Street and moving north to BUS 77.

New Southbound Exits for MLK, UParks/4th/5th/Downtown

The permanent southbound exits for MLK Boulevard (Exit 335B) and for University Parks Drive - 4th/5th Streets - Downtown (Exit 335A) will open once southbound traffic is shifted.

Please note that some ramps have been consolidated, resulting in changes to exit numbers and roadways serviced.

Schedules are dependent of weather, field conditions and work progress.

Follow @TxDOTWaco on Twitter for the most current updates on construction activities and lane closures. Plan ahead and visit www.waco4bmap.org for real-time traffic information on I-35 through Waco.

To learn more about the project, visit www.my35.org/Waco.