Major I-35 Downtown Closure Begins Today; New Loop 1604 Flyover Now Open

Friday Morning Traffic and Commute Update

Commuters in San Antonio should prepare for significant changes to the morning drive this Friday, February 6, 2026. While one major bottleneck on the Northwest Side has finally seen relief with a major milestone, a new multi-week construction project is set to disrupt traffic through the heart of downtown starting this morning.

Downtown Alert: Northbound I-35 Lower Level Closure

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has officially initiated a full closure of the lower-level main lanes of northbound Interstate 35 through downtown. This closure, which begins today, Friday, February 6, is expected to remain in place until February 20. The impacted stretch runs between the I-35 crossings with Interstate 10 and Interstate 37 on the north side of the downtown core.

• Impact: All lower-level northbound lanes are closed for bridge joint repairs.
• Alternative: All lanes of the upper level of northbound I-35 will remain open to traffic.
• Advice: Drivers should expect heavy merging delays at the split and may want to use I-37 or I-10 as bypass routes depending on their destination.

Northwest Side Milestone: Final Loop 1604 Flyover Open

In a rare piece of good news for Northwest Side drivers, TxDOT has successfully opened the eighth and final flyover ramp at the Loop 1604 and Interstate 10 interchange. As of yesterday, drivers now have a direct connection from westbound Loop 1604 to westbound I-10, serving those traveling toward the Rim, La Cantera, and UTSA.

While the flyovers are now complete, commuters should still be wary of the following:

• Periodic closures along frontage roads beneath the interchange as crews continue drainage and bridge widening work.
• Ongoing construction on Loop 1604 as part of the broader North Expansion Project, which remains active through the area.

VIA Metropolitan Transit Alerts

Public transport users should be aware of ongoing service adjustments due to the VIA Rapid Green Line construction and other local projects. The following alerts are active for today:

• Route 97 (West Avenue): Currently on detour due to construction. Service is suspended between Military Highway & Windmill Road and De Zavala & Indian Woods.
• VIA Rapid Green Line: Intermittent lane and sidewalk closures continue along San Pedro Avenue (Segments 1 through 8). Some nighttime work may overlap into the early morning commute.
• Upcoming Service Changes: VIA staff will be hosting informational events starting next week to discuss service improvements scheduled for May.

Commuter Recommendations

With the I-35 lower-level closure beginning today, the downtown area is likely to experience higher-than-usual congestion on the upper decks. If you are traveling through the city center, allow at least an extra 15 to 20 minutes for your commute. For those on the Northwest Side, the new 1604 flyover should provide a smoother transition, but stay alert for remaining crews working on the lower frontage roads.