San Antonio drivers brace yourselves: the next chunk of the $700 million Interstate 35 expansion has commenced, kicking up dust and cones in an effort to streamline your commute—or clog it up further, depending on your take on infrastructure projects. In a strategic move to unclog the vein of I-35, authorities have given the green light to add more lanes, turning a stretch of Texas asphalt into the latest battleground against traffic gridlock.
As revealed to KENS 5, the hefty four-mile improvement known as the I-35 NEX South Project is the new frontier for TxDOT's Texas Clear Lanes initiative. A $75 billion affair, this program is Texas' hammer against the nail of congestion in its bustling metros. It's a multi-year grind with a due date set for 2028, and with the promise of ease on the horizon, Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. punctuated the project's necessity, "Help is on the way," he announced, addressing the state's growth and the increasing challenge of city traffic.
Two years after its initial phase, the I-35 NEX expansion is hardly new work. But with the introduction of three new elevated lanes—including two main lanes and one high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane set in each direction—San Antonio can anticipate a direct connection between the Loop 410 South at the I-35/Loops 410 south interchange. As KSAT reports, the entire I-35 NEX program, with a ripple effect reminiscent of Austin's double-decker highways, promises finality sometime in 2028, once all project phases are complete.
In an expression of weary optimism, Texas state representative for House District 120, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins told KENS 5, "I get it. But the reality is, we’ve gotta hit all arteries to be able to disperse traffic so we don't get congested in one area.” Her words highlight the burden of progress—an intricate dance of growth and pain—as commuters endure present disruptions for a future of smoother travel.
Chairman Bugg, empathizing with those tangled in the traffic woes of Texas highways, remarked on the construction with a hint of personal frustration turned patient perseverance, “And we know that I-35 between San Antonio and Austin’s very congested. But I don’t mind going through the orange cones because I know that’s progress,” he shared with the press. Meanwhile, a TxDOT spokeswoman noted to KSAT the inevitable lane closures forthcoming, without a detailed schedule available yet, adding a sliver of uncertainty to the already muddled mix of cars and construction.
