The Texas Department of Transportation has announced a series of significant closures on Interstate 35 in San Antonio scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2026. these disruptions are part of the ongoing I-35 Northeast Expansion Program and will impact both daytime and overnight travel on the Northeast Side.
The 16-hour closure of the northbound I-35 frontage road
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has scheduled a major daytime closure for the northbound I-35 frontage road north of Rittiman Road, which includes the northbound I-35 Exit 164B. According to the agency, this closure is expected to last from 8 a.m. until midnight on Saturday, September 12, 2026, pending weather conditions.
Drivers attempting to bypass the northbound I-35 closure can utilize Fratt Road and Eisenhauer Road to reach their destinations.. Specifically, motorists on the northbound frontage road who need to travel beyond Rittiman Road should turn right onto Rittiman Road and then left onto Fratt Road. For those on Center Park Boulevard, Dinn Drive, or Remount Drive, TxDOT recommends heading toward Fratt Road, turning left onto Eisenhauer Road, and following it back to the northbound I-35 frontage road.
Overnight disruptions at the I-410 South interchange
The construction schedule extends into the night, with a planned closure of the southbound I-35 entrance ramp to southbound I-410 South. As reported by TxDOT, this overnight closure is expected to run from 9 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, through 8 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Motorists seeking to enter southbound I-410 South from the southbound I-35 frontage road must navigate a detour via George Beach Avenue. during the closure, drivers will need to follow the southbound I-35 frontage road to the signalized turnaround at George Beach Avenue, enter the northbound I-35 frontage road, and then access the southbound I-410 South frontage road. From there, they may use the entrance ramp south of Winnco Drive to enter the southbound I-410 South mainlanes .
Walzem Road U-turn and southbound frontage road restrictions
A second overnight closure will affect the southbound I-35 frontage road south of the Fratt Road entrance ramp to Exit 164B, as well as the northbound-to-southbound U-turn at Walzem Road. This restriction is also scheduled to occur from 9 p.m. on September 12 through 8 a.m. on September 13, 2026.
TxDOT has provided two detour options for drivers on Walzem Road lookng to access southbound I-35. The first option directs drivers to the northbound I-35 frontage road, through the Northeast I-410 Loop, and then onto the southbound I-35 frontage road north of Walzem Road via the Eisenhauer Road exit. A second detour option involves turning north onto Interchange Parkway, following it to Fratt Road, and turning right to enter the southbound I-35 frontage road.
Questions remain over the I-35 Northeast Expansion completion date
Several questions remain regarding the broader I-35 Northeast Expansion Program and its long-term impact on San Antonio traffic. While the specific detours for the September 12 weekend are clearly outlined, the current report from TxDOT does not specify how many more of these weekend "blitz" closures are planned for the remainder of 2026, nor does it provide a definitive completion date for this segment of the expansion.
The lack of a long-term schedule also leaves the impact on local businesses near Rittiman Road and Fratt Road unaddressed . While the Texas Department of Transportation has urged drivers to follow detour signage, the total cumulative delay for commuters during these specific construction windows remains unquantified in the current announcement.
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