Yield to Man-Sized Tonka Toys

Unless you've been hiding out in the 78704 these past few months, you've probably noticed that the stretch of West 45th Street from Mopac to, well, I-35 has turned into a chaotic disaster zone of upended tar and haphazardly-strewn orange cones. It's all part of a nifty little $15.3 million construction project started last May, that hopes to "provide a greatly improved ride for motorists" and replace some awfully dirty plumbing. And while we're dubious that it'll make much of a difference on the surface -- just look what recently happened (or didn't happen) to South Congress, and they're back at it again? -- we'll reluctantly concede that it's probably important in some way that we'd never understand. Pointless rambling aside, we mean to warn to stay away from there this weekend, as they're doing some major roadwork. Starting tonight! [from the Statesman]

Ongoing construction work on West 45th Street will completely close the road's intersection with Shoal Creek Boulevard this weekend, beginning at 7 p.m. today. The closure, which will allow crews to completely rebuild and repave the intersection in one weekend rather than breaking up the job over several weeks, will last until 6 a.m. Monday.

During the closure, northbound Shoal Creek traffic will be detoured at 38th Street and southbound traffic at Hancock Boulevard. Westbound 45th traffic will detour at Burnet Road and eastbound traffic at Bull Creek Road. Drivers with destinations in between those points and the affected intersection will be allowed passage, according to the City of Austin Public Works Department.