Massive Protest in Austin Demands Halt to I-35 Expansion

Over 300 people gathered in Austin to protest the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) plans to widen Interstate 35 through Central Austin. The rally, organized by the group Rethink35, aimed to halt the $4.5 billion highway expansion project and garnered support from local elected officials. The project, set to begin in mid-2024 and last a decade, has faced concerns about environmental and air quality effects. Calls for action included pressuring the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and potential litigation against TxDOT. Rethink35 plans to file another lawsuit against TxDOT focusing on the project's environmental impacts.