Downtown I-35 Lower Level Closure and Northside Frontage Road Shutdowns Headline Sunday Commute

Sunday Morning Traffic Overview

Good morning, San Antonio. While Sunday traffic is typically lighter than the weekday rush, today, February 8, 2026, brings several significant construction-related hurdles. Major projects on the Northside and in the downtown core have triggered full closures and lane reductions that will persist through the evening. Commuters are advised to plan for extra travel time and consider alternate routes where possible.

Major Closure: Northbound I-35 Downtown

The most critical update for those navigating the city center is the full closure of the northbound lower level of I-35 between I-10 and I-37. This shutdown, which began earlier this weekend, is necessary for bridge joint repairs and is expected to last until late February. While the upper-level lanes remain open to through traffic, expect bottlenecking at the merge points. Drivers heading toward the Pearl or the near East Side should exit early or use surface streets like Broadway to avoid congestion.

Loop 1604 and I-10 Northside Expansion

The massive $1.4 billion Loop 1604 North Expansion project is in a high-activity phase this weekend. Motorists should be aware of the following conditions:

• Frontage Road Shutdowns: Both the eastbound and westbound frontage roads of Loop 1604 at the I-10 interchange are closed until 5:00 a.m. Monday.
• I-10 Impacts: The westbound I-10 frontage road at the interchange is also closed. Additionally, nightly closures at the La Cantera Parkway intersection remain in effect, impacting access to The Rim and the Shops at La Cantera.
• New Infrastructure: In positive news, the eighth and final flyover ramp connecting westbound Loop 1604 to westbound I-10 is now officially open, which should provide some relief for long-distance commuters traveling toward Boerne.

I-35 Northeast Expansion (NEX) Reductions

Travelers on the city's northeast side will encounter lane reductions between Walzem Road and Petroleum Drive. As part of the ongoing I-35 NEX project, one to two mainlanes in both directions are closed for median reconstruction. These closures are scheduled to remain in place until early Monday morning. At least one mainlane will stay open at all times, but heavy delays are expected during the afternoon hours.

VIA Metropolitan Transit Alerts

Public transit riders should check their schedules as several routes are affected by construction and downtown activity:

• Downtown Detours: Routes 2 (Blanco), 4 (San Pedro), and 5 (McCullough) are currently on detour in the downtown area due to special events and ongoing road repairs.
• Southside Impacts: Route 7 (US 281 Stone Oak / Brooks Express) is seeing detours near the Brooks Transit Center.
• Service Adjustments: Recent frequency changes for Routes 96 and 97 near the UTSA Main Campus and Vance Jackson Road remain in effect to help riders navigate the Northside construction zones.