I-35 Lane Closures in Laredo Near Bridge II This Sunday

What happened

I-35 lane closures are coming to downtown Laredo this Sunday. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT, the state agency that runs the highways) will repair pavement on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. The work runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The closures hit both northbound and southbound lanes. The work zone is at I-35 mile marker 1 and the end of the freeway. That is a four-block stretch between Victoria Street and International Bridge II, also called the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge.

The TxDOT Laredo Maintenance Section will do the job as a mobile operation. That means the crew moves along the road as it works, so the closed lanes can shift. KGNS reported the plan on Saturday morning. No detour was announced.

Which bridges it touches

Bridge II is a passenger bridge. It does not take cargo trucks. The two cargo bridges in Laredo are the World Trade Bridge (Bridge 3) and the Colombia Solidarity Bridge (Bridge 4). The TxDOT notice does not mention either one.

For context, here is what U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP, the agency that runs the ports of entry) showed on Saturday at 11 a.m. At the World Trade Bridge, standard commercial lanes had a 25-minute delay with 11 lanes open. FAST lanes (the fast lanes for pre-approved carriers) had 15 minutes with 4 open. At Colombia, standard lanes showed 5 minutes and FAST lanes showed no wait.

What it means for owner-operators

If you run cargo across the border, your crossing itself should not change. But many drivers live in Laredo, pick up loads in town, or bobtail through downtown. For you, the last stretch of I-35 near Bridge II will be slower on Sunday morning and early afternoon.

Work zones call for extra care: lanes shift, crews are close and traffic bunches up. A ticket in a work zone also ends up on your safety record. That record follows your USDOT number and can bring more inspections later.

What to do next

• If you must go downtown Sunday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., leave early or plan your route around Victoria Street.
• Slow down, watch for crews and merge early. Do not wait until the last second to change lanes with a long rig.
• Check the official CBP wait times before you head to the World Trade or Colombia bridge. They update through the day.
• Keep your truck's paperwork current so a stop in a work zone stays short. Our trucking filing guide lists what your authority needs to stay in order.

Questions about your USDOT, IFTA or UCR? Call TCZ Permits at 956-526-6727.