TxDOT Starts FM 835 Bridge Demolition Sunday
Lubbock drivers face detours on FM 40, FM 1729 and Olive Avenue as the bridge project begins.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Construction
The Texas Department of Transportation begins demolition of the FM 835 bridge in Lubbock on Sunday, November 15, 2026. Traffic is being diverted to FM 40 (4th Street) and FM 1729 during demolition and construction.
Why it matters
The project aims to improve drainage, boost traffic flow and raise the bridge's elevation for Lubbock commuters on this east-side corridor. Drivers who regularly use FM 835 near Loop 289 should expect detours until the work is complete.
The planned shoulder widening takes the westbound shoulder from 8 feet to 10 feet and the eastbound shoulder from 8 feet to 16 feet. The stated completion target is late spring 2027, but interim phase timelines were not provided.
The players
Texas Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for planning, building and maintaining Texas highways, including the FM 835 bridge project in Lubbock.
The details
Workers are diverting traffic to FM 40 (4th Street) and FM 1729 during demolition and construction. Olive Avenue is closed and detoured using the Loop 289 frontage roads and 58th Street, and the FM 835 roadway and Olive Avenue will also be modified.
Timeline
November 15, 2026: Demolition of the FM 835 bridge begins.
Late spring 2027: The entire FM 835 bridge project is expected to be complete.
Market Landscape
The FM 835 project extends TxDOT's ongoing roadway work across Lubbock County, where bridge and drainage upgrades are being sequenced along the city's east-side corridors. The shoulder widening and elevation changes place this project within a broader state effort to modernize older farm-to-market bridges.
Drivers who use FM 835 or Olive Avenue should plan for detours beginning November 15, 2026, and allow extra time through the work zones. Residents near Loop 289 may notice daytime construction activity until the project wraps up in late spring 2027.
The takeaway
Plan alternate routes before November 15 and check for updated detour signage as demolition begins. Build in extra travel time for the Olive Avenue and FM 835 corridors until work finishes in late spring 2027.
Further reading
For more on local work zones, see Construction coverage across Lubbock.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 100.7 KOOL FM.
