Central Texas commuters faced significant disruptions as a police incident temporarily closed all lanes of I-35 and SH 71 near the interchange in Austin. The road closure which began around 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, caused traffic delays and congestions stretching to several key points within the area. According to MySanAntonio.com, Texas Department of Transportation confirmed a large police presence at the interchange, advising travelers to seek alternate routes to avoid delays which were estimated to last up to an hour.
The police activity, as reported by FOX 7 Austin, involved a woman who was present on the top of the overpass since the late morning hours. Police negotiators were dispatched to the scene to carefully negotiate and ensure her safety. The Austin Police Department later informed that they were able to securely get the woman down and began slowly reopening the lanes.
The incident has ended. All roads are back open. https://t.co/0sBaEkMQKM
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) November 23, 2024
By late afternoon, the interlude of traffic and tension had come to an end. The Austin Police Department confirmed that by 5:13 p.m., the situation had been resolved and the roads were once again opened to the public. Despite the delays, no further incidents were reported as a result of the closure.
During the time of the incident, Eastbound Ben White had been closed, which led to additional traffic woes. The Austin Police Department alerted via social media that the0 E Ben White to I-35 northbound ramp was part of the investigation area causing further delays. Traffic was observed to have stopped from SH 71 E between 1st Street and I-35/US-81, extending through Brodie Lane, as indicated by MySanAntonio.com.
While the roads are now back to normal flow, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the unexpected events that can quickly transform a usual day's travel into a moment of crisis needing both patience and compassion. Additional details were not immediately released, but updates are to be provided concerning the reasons behind the initial police activity as they become available.
