City of Austin seeks community input on I-35 Cap and Stitch program

City leaders are requesting feedback from Austin residents for the Our Future 35 Cap and Stitch program that will implement bridges and green spaces over I-35.

Our Future 35 is just one part of the I-35 Capital Express Central project—a Texas Department of Transportation initiative that began in 2020 to improve an approximately 8-mile stretch of I-35 between US 290 East and SH 71/Ben White Boulevard in downtown Austin. Construction for the project is expected to begin in late 2025 and cost $4.9 billion, according to TxDOT.

So far, TxDOT officials proposed to lower the roadway, remove the decks above I-35, unite the northbound and southbound frontage roads into a boulevard, and add two high-occupancy vehicle lanes in either direction of the interstate.

The sunken roadway will allow for several acres of space to be used for caps and stitches over the highway.

Caps—also known as decks—are large land bridges that go over the highway and can be used in a variety of ways, from an ice rink to a grocery store. Stitches are widened bridges meant to increase roadway and pedestrian access from East to West Austin. The schematics for stitches above I-35 include dedicated lanes for cars, pedestrians and bicycles, according to TxDOT.

Our Future 35 is accepting suggestions from locals as to where the caps and stitches should be located and how they should serve the community once finished via an online survey.

The survey asks residents what their priorities are regarding safety and mobility. It also gives suggestions for features that could be added to each corridor, including pickle ball courts, art galleries, chess areas, community centers and many others.

The deadline to complete the survey is Sunday, Sept. 18.