A traffic alert was released this afternoon by the Texas Department of Transportation alerting the public about lane closures scheduled to occur overnight on Friday and Saturday while workers reconstruct a 60-year-old overpass bridge

Weather permitting, I-35 will be closed in both directions at the Slaughter Creek overpass and traffic will be redirected to the frontage roads at Exit 226, the alert stated. The closures will take place from 9 p.m.-10 a.m. on both nights but will affect southbound motorists on Friday night and northbound motorists on Saturday night. Drivers will be able to cross the interstate at Onion Creek Parkway or Slaughter Lane.

The work is part of the project to reconstruct the Slaughter Creek overpass bridge, which was demolished last June to allow for a wider bridge that will accommodate southbound-to-northbound U-turns. The project, which aims to improve mobility and safety along the interstate, also includes widening the southbound frontage road to two lanes through the Slaughter Creek intersection as well as installing safety lighting from Slaughter Lane to Onion Creek Parkway.

Motorists are encouraged to plan their travel accordingly during the affected hours, as delays are expected, TxDOT said.