Late-night regulars on the Dallas North Tollway are in for a week of detours starting Monday, Dec. 1. The southbound connector from the tollway onto southbound I‑35E will be shut down overnight through Saturday, Dec. 6. Crews will close the ramp each night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for maintenance work, so drivers heading toward downtown and the Design District should expect electronic message boards, signed detours, and extra travel time.
What’s closing and when
The North Texas Tollway Authority has scheduled the southbound DNT to southbound I‑35E direct-connector ramp to be closed nightly Dec. 1–6 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., covering Monday through Saturday nights. During the shutdown, drivers trying to reach southbound I‑35E will be routed off at Oak Lawn Avenue, then directed to turn right on Oak Lawn and left onto the I‑35E frontage road before entering the freeway from the Oak Lawn entrance ramp. As reported by WFAA, message boards will be posted to guide motorists through the detour.
NTTA says it's routine maintenance
The North Texas Tollway Authority describes the closure as routine maintenance and notes that the schedule may shift if weather conditions interfere. The agency is urging drivers to keep an eye on NTTA alerts and to follow all posted signage during the overnight work. According to the North Texas Tollway Authority, changeable message signs will be in place to warn drivers as they approach the work zone.
How to plan your route
Night-shift commuters, delivery drivers, restaurant and service workers, and anyone rolling into the Design District after dark should tack on a few extra minutes for the detour after 10 p.m. To avoid creeping along frontage roads, drivers might want to leave a little earlier, stick to alternate surface streets, or hop onto I‑35E at an earlier entrance if that fits their route. As noted by WFAA, motorists are being urged to check NTTA alerts and obey any temporary signs in the area.
Why this matters now
This week's overnight shutdowns are part of a broader series of late-night closures that have occurred with ongoing maintenance and widening work on the tollway in recent months. Hoodline has already chronicled similar closures around the corridor this year, along with coverage from The Dallas Morning News. If bad weather forces any postponement, NTTA says it will update its alerts, so late-night drivers may want to check for new notices before heading out.
