Southbound lanes of Interstate 35 in north Austin were shut down early Thursday after a pedestrian was struck and killed near the Grand Avenue Parkway exit, officials said. Emergency crews blocked the main lanes while investigators documented the scene and cleared debris, sending the morning commute into gridlock. Drivers were pushed onto frontage roads and nearby surface streets as crews worked to reopen the highway.
According to KVUE, the crash happened on I-35 southbound near the Grand Avenue Parkway interchange and resulted in a single fatality. Officials at the scene confirmed the pedestrian died and urged motorists to steer clear of the area while investigators worked. No additional details, including the victim’s identity or whether any charges might follow, had been released as of the station’s latest update.
Crash site sits inside Capital Express construction zone
The I-35 stretch around Grand Avenue Parkway is part of TxDOT’s multiyear Capital Express North rebuild, a project that has shifted lane patterns and rebuilt ramps across north Austin and Pflugerville. Those changes, combined with heavy commuter and freight traffic, can make crash response and traffic control more complicated. Ongoing work and lane configurations in the corridor are laid out in TxDOT’s construction information sheet, according to TxDOT.
Pedestrian deaths persist on the corridor
Pedestrian fatalities have continued to occur along stretches of I-35 in recent years, including the frontage roads, according to local crash trackers. Fatality logs document multiple deaths on the corridor and nearby service roads, underscoring a stubborn safety problem as traffic volumes rise, Vision Zero ATX data shows. Safety advocates point to better crossings, improved lighting and focused enforcement as tools that could help curb these incidents.
What drivers should know
Drivers headed through north Austin were told to expect delays and follow posted detours while lanes remained closed. KVUE reported sizable backups during the morning commute as traffic crawled past the scene. Authorities are asking anyone with information or dash-cam video to contact investigators as they continue to process the crash. This story will be updated when officials release more details.
