Expect Heavy Traffic Everywhere This Weekend
The Austin City Limits festival brings traffic to town. Photo courtesy flickr.com/mjeckerAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The state Department of Public Safety expects traffic to be busy on the highways this weekend as people head out of the city to take in the football game between UT and Oklahoma and others head in to enjoy the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
The department says all available troopers will out on the roads this weekend.
“We’re out there for voluntary compliance,” said trooper Robbie Barera. “We’re not there to write any tickets unless we absolutely have to.”
Barera says drivers can avoid tickets by following posted speed limits, wearing their seat belts and eliminating distractions.
“We want everyone to plan ahead,” she said. “With the additional traffic, it is going to take you longer to get into Austin and to the game, so give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, and just be patient. Everyone is trying to get to the same place, and the goal is to get there safely.”
It’s not just the highways that will be clogged. You can expect delays around Zilker Park as about 70,000 people each day make their way to and from the ACL Festival.
The city is closing or reducing lanes around the park, including Barton Springs Road from MoPac to Robert E. Lee.
Roads will also be closed around Republic Square Park at Fifth and Guadalupe to make room for Cap Metro’s free ACL shuttle.
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