35th Street repaving happening nightly until end of October
35th Street may be a "nightly nightmare" for the next couple of weeks. It's getting re-paved and the work is happening right after the evening commute.
The City of Austin Public Works Department started the project Sunday night and it continues tonight. The City calls the existing pavement "failing and in poor condition."
Public Works says the repaving is happening on 35th between Jefferson and MoPac. There will be nightly road closures from 6 PM to 6 AM. The weekends too but it's the same time frame. One lane will remain open in each direction.
Be careful, the surfaces may be uneven in the construction zone. The City says they have to grind up the existing asphalt, remove it and then put down new pavement. Obviously the closures are going to effect some businesses along the street.
Several of the shops stay open beyond 6 but they told FOX 7 they'll manage. We spoke with Lanora Davidson, the owner of "Things Celtic" on 35th.
She said they just got the notice about the road closures last week which doesn't give them a lot of time to tell customers. But since they open at 10 AM and close at 6 PM, Davidson doesn't think the repaving will be a problem for her business.
"The traffic here is still pretty intense around 6:00 with people getting off work and heading towards MoPac so I don't think they're going to actually start at 6 so I don't think that's going to be big for us," Davidson said. "I'm pretty cool with it. The road does need some work. Not right in front of my store but further down the lane it does."
The City plans to be finished with this by the end of October.