The Texas Department of Transportation closed four ramps near the State Highway 45N and I-35 interchange the week of Oct. 23 in preparation for the opening of new connector ramps to SH 45.

The evening of Monday, Oct. 23, construction crews closed the northbound entrance Ramp to I-35 from Louis Henna Boulevard/SH 45. The northbound entrance ramp is located near Home Depot and Wal-Mart in Round Rock. Closing the ramps will allow construction crews to finish the Direct Connector ramps that will take eastbound and westbound traffic from SH 45 to northbound I-35.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 25, work crews closed the northbound exit ramp to McNeil Road.

Crews closed the southbound Exit 250 ramp to Louis Henna Boulevard and the SH 45 access road near the La Frontera Shopping Center on Friday, Oct. 27 evening. Following the closure, southbound traffic will use Exit 251 and 250A to reach the access road leading to the Hester’s Crossing traffic signal. The closure of this ramp will allow construction crews to connect the Direct Connector ramps that will take southbound traffic to eastbound and westbound SH 45.

Also on Friday evening, crews closed the southbound McNeil entrance ramp to I-35.

“Permanently closing these exits will make the Interstate 35 and SH 45 interchange much safer for motorists,” Austin District Engineer Bob Daigh said.

City of Round Rock traffic signal technicians and police officers are monitoring traffic at the intersections impacted by the closures to adjust signal timing and direct traffic, if necessary.

The SH 45 direct connectors should be completed in time for State Highway 130 and SH 45 to open just before Nov. 1.