ATX PULSE 4/15/25 (free) (sponsored by No Scrubs): I-35 Project Leads to Nightly MLK Bridge Closures // NW ATX House Explosion Prompts Clean Up, Probe // Density Coming for West Campus // UT Baseball Rises to #1

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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TODAY’S WEATHER

H: 93° / L: 65°. Warm week ahead, per Fox 7 Austin. Heat continues for the next week, per KVUE. Dry cold front moves in overnight, per KXAN.

TOP NEWS

“I-35 expansion project: MLK Bridge nightly closures,” Fox 7 Austin’s Tan Radford — “The MLK Bridge on I-35 will be closed nightly starting at 9 p.m. for the next three days.

TxDOT crews are preparing to demolish the bridge in the first part of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project that's underway.

The multi-billion-dollar project will expand I-35 and reconstruct the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge in the process.

"This is a really important intersection, and that's why we chose to start the I-35 Capital Express Central Project with this bridge reconstruction," says TxDOT spokesman Brad Wheelis.

The preparation for the demolition of the MLK bridge started last October.

This week, the bridge will close nightly for three days, from April 14-17. Access to the bridge will stop at 9 p.m. and it will reopen to traffic at 5 a.m.

"We will be closing the MLK Bridge and some lane closures on the frontage roads and the approaches to the MLK Bridge as well. So, the crews can restripe and move barrier. This is to shift traffic to the south side of the bridge," says Wheelis.

TxDOT says the crews will work on the bridge in sections, demolishing and reconstructing the north side first.

"Once that's complete, we'll move traffic to the new section of the bridge, and we'll get to work on this south side of the bridge. The reason we're doing that is to keep traffic low east and west. We want to keep that access on the MLK bridge. That's very important," he said.

More closures are expected in the coming weeks when construction starts.

"While we are demoing the bridge, we will not allow vehicular traffic across that bridge for safety reasons," says Wheelis.

The Capital Express Central Project will:

• Add two non-tolled HOV lanes in each direction along I-35 from U.S. 290 East to State Highway 71 at Ben White Boulevard

• Lower the main lanes from Airport Boulevard to Lady Bird Lake

• Remove the upper decks on I-35

• Improve transit connections

• Add boulevard-style segments through downtown

"So I-35 is going to look completely different whenever the project is complete," says Wheelis.

Timeline:

The north side of the reconstruction is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

The entire MLK reconstruction will be complete by mid-2026.” Fox 7 Austin

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TOP NEWS

“House explosion damages houses and schools-prompts quick assessments and clean up” CBS Austin

“Austin house explosion: Investigation continues into cause” Fox 7 Austin

“A new requirement for all airline passengers could lead to major delays at Austin's airport” KVUE

“$25M Longhorn Dam Wishbone Bridge nears completion in Austin” KVUE

“New affordable senior housing opens in northwest Austin” KVUE

THE BLOTTER

“3 hospitalized after head-on crash between 2 vehicles on Mount Bonnell Road” Fox 7 Austin

“Brush fire near Austin airport contained by firefighters” CBS Austin

“Crews extinguish E Austin garage fire” CBS Austin

“Hays County residents concerned about gang-related graffiti near neighborhood” Fox 7 Austin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“West Campus zoning program set for changes as city plans density-focused upgrade” Austin Monitor

BUSINESS NEWS

“Community outrage grows over new Gillespie County battery storage project” KVUE

TEXAS SPORTS

TEXAS BASEBALL: “Texas baseball rankings: Longhorns are nation's new No. 1 under Jim Schlossnagle” AAS ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: “How the Longhorns are progressing without a spring football game” KXAN

TEXAS FOOTBALL: “After Texas receiver says he’ll enter transfer portal, Longhorns pick up Stanford pass catcher” KXAN

TEXAS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: “Longhorns women’s basketball signs 6-foot-6 Swedish center from Florida Atlantic” KXAN

QUICK LINKS

Industrial and defense tech leaders, VCs and policy makers launch new institute in Texas - ABJ

Multifamily developer to build affordable apartments in North Austin - ABJ

Monkey See Monkey Do relocating from South Congress after 20 years - ABJ

Austin-area manufacturers navigate on-again-off-again tariff landscape - ABJ

Airlines bullish on Austin airport as it undergoes multibillion-dollar expansion - ABJ

Landsea Homes announces new Texas leadership team - ABJ

Will people do business with Nate Paul after all this? - ABJ

Music Commission, staff weigh final criteria for next Live Music Fund grants - Austin Monitor

West Campus zoning program set for changes as city plans density-focused upgrade - Austin Monitor

Austin Rôtisserie now serving French comfort food in Bastrop - Community Impact

Thom’s Market to close after 18 years in Austin - Community Impact

Austin council pushes for continued monitoring of Sixth Street safety, business trends downtown - Community Impact

Scaled-down Violet Crown development near Bee Cave under consideration again - Austin Monitor

Base Power raises $200 million to fund expansion and build first Texas factory - Community Impact

Eanes ISD to apply for program that could increase some teacher compensations - Community Impact

Austin hosts community workshops for housing development under HOME policies - Community Impact

Heritage Crossing opens in Round Rock's Old Settlers Park - Community Impact

A new requirement for all airline passengers could lead to major delays at Austin's airport - KVUE

Drive-thru-focused Chick-fil-A on Dessau Road and Parmer Lane to open soon - Community Impact

Storm chances expected this weekend in Central Texas after another day in the 90s - KVUE

Neighbors begin rebuilding following tragic house explosion in northwest Austin - KVUE

Georgetown FD identifies firefighter killed in crash on SH 29, announces celebration of life - KVUE

'I just really hope my husband is okay': man found in the rubble after house explodes - KEYE

First responders, neighbors assess damage after home explosion in northwest Austin - KXAN

Appraisal notices are in the mail — will it impact your property tax bill? - KXAN

At least 24 homes damaged, 6 injured after Austin house explosion - CBS News

KXAN wins multiple accolades at the Texas Broadcast News Awards - KXAN

Texas Longhorns rise to top of D1Baseball.com Top 25 - KXAN

Austin house explosion leaves several injured - FOX 7 Austin

An Austin drag queen is teaching people about the Texas Legislature — in the club - KUT

'Completely leveled': Homeowners ID'd in Texas house explosion - MySA

Videos show moments before Northwest Austin home explosion, heard as far as Georgetown - Austin American-Statesman

HSEM Hosts Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up Event April 16 - AustinTexas.gov

What could have caused the Northwest Austin home explosion? Here's what we know so far. - Austin American-Statesman

Texas has a long history of destructive explosions; one in 1947 killed almost 600 people - Austin American-Statesman

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ DINING: “The Saddest Austin Restaurant Closings to Know This April” Eater Austin

~ DINING: “Lauded Austin restaurant Birdie's switches to fixed multi-course menus” Culture Map Austin

~ ALL DAY BREAKFAST: “Australian breakfast café from NYC opens first all-day concept in Austin” Culture Map Austin

~ TOY SHOP: “A Toy shop moving off South Congress after 20 years KVUE

~ LET’S BE FRIENDS: “Friend-making app for women makes U.S. debut in Austin” Culture Map Austin

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ TEXAS BASEBALL: UT-RGV at #1 Texas. 6:30pm. Disch-Falk Field. Tix $5 and up here. Airs on SEC Network+.

COOL JOB ALERT

~ Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist. University of Texas at Austin. Salary: $75,000+ depending on qualifications. Info / apply here.