A deadly crash on southbound I-35 near downtown Austin turned the morning commute into a standstill on Tuesday, shutting down key ramps and clogging nearby streets as police launched a full crash investigation.
Austin police have closed the southbound frontage road on-ramp at 6th Street and the southbound lanes in the 700 block of East 7th Street while officers work the scene. Drivers heading through the core are facing significant delays as traffic backs up across the downtown grid.
What APD says and where
According to a post by the Austin Police Department, officers are investigating a traffic fatality in the downtown corridor and are asking drivers to plan alternate routes while the scene is processed. The agency identified the southbound IH-35 service-road on-ramp at 6th Street and the southbound lanes in the 700 block of East 7th Street as closed for investigation.
This stretch has a recent history of deadly crashes
The blocks around East 7th Street and the I-35 frontage roads have seen fatal collisions in recent years. In May 2025, the City of Austin reported a fatal hit-and-run in the 700 block of East 7th Street, and the city also posted a Jan. 26, 2026, fatality on the northbound IH-35 service road. Hoodline later reported on the fatal hit-and-run. Anyone with information about today's crash is asked to contact APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111 or Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.
Construction and safety context
The I-35 corridor through downtown is part of TxDOT's multi-year Capital Express Central rebuild, a project that has required lane shifts, ramp work, and periodic closures that change traffic patterns in the area. TxDOT's project pages describe ongoing downtown and Lady Bird Lake segment impacts. Local Vision Zero tracking has also flagged portions of the I-35 frontage roads as high-risk stretches for serious crashes, underscoring recurring safety concerns.
How to avoid delays
Drivers should avoid the area if possible and expect backups onto downtown cross streets such as Cesar Chavez and Red River. Allow extra time, or use alternate approaches around the core. For official updates and detour information, follow the Austin Police Department on X, and check TxDOT's project page and traffic apps before you travel.
