Christmas came early for San Antonio drivers. New ramps along Interstate 35 are opening just in time for holiday travel.
The northbound I-35 off-ramp at O’Connor Road is scheduled to open Tuesday, December 23, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The ramp is part of the ongoing I-35 NEX project, a long-term effort aimed at improving traffic flow and safety along the busy corridor.
The opening comes just days after another nearby update. On Friday, December 19, a southbound I-35 on-ramp at O’Connor Road also opened to drivers, adding another access point in the area.
The I-35 NEX project stretches about 20 miles from North Walters Street in San Antonio to FM 1103 and runs through Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe counties. When complete, the project will add elevated lanes in both directions of I-35, including lanes designed to help traffic move more efficiently during peak travel times.
While construction continues, drivers should expect periodic changes to ramps and frontage roads as crews work to connect new sections of roadway and update existing infrastructure, according to TxDOT.
The first phase of construction, known as the Central project, has been underway since 2022 and is expected to finish in late 2027. Additional phases are scheduled to follow in the coming years.
TxDOT says the overall goal of the project is to improve safety, reduce congestion, and better handle the region’s growing traffic demands.