Crash near IH-35 and East 8th snarls downtown Austin traffic

Several southbound lanes on the frontage road are blocked, officials say.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A crash at East 8th Street and the southbound I-35 frontage road is causing major traffic delays in downtown Austin on Sunday afternoon. The incident has blocked several southbound lanes on the frontage road, according to Austin Transportation and Public Works.

Why it matters

This stretch of I-35 is one of the busiest and most congested areas in the Austin region, carrying nearly 200,000 vehicle trips per day. Ongoing construction work as part of the Capital Express program has also contributed to frequent backups in the area.

The details

The crash occurred around 4:28 p.m. at 715 E. 8th St. near the I-35 southbound service road, a location that is prone to heavy traffic even without incidents. The city's traffic incident log listed the crash as 'Crash Urgent', indicating it is causing significant delays.

  • The crash was reported around 4:28 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Austin Transportation and Public Works

The city department responsible for managing traffic and transportation infrastructure in Austin.

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What’s next

Drivers should expect delays and congestion in the area and consider alternate routes if possible until the crash is cleared and lanes are reopened.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing traffic challenges in downtown Austin, particularly along the I-35 corridor, which continues to be a major choke point despite ongoing construction and infrastructure improvements.