Bexar County and North East ISD have completed a new bridge in far north San Antonio to address flood control and cut time out of a route to school.
Wilderness Oak Road was split by a ditch, which caused flooding problems and a longer route to hwy. 281 and Tuscany Heights Elementary School from Canyon Golf Road.
Without the bridge, students were crossing the ditch to get to school.
"The closest point for many people to the schools actually couldn’t be reached so they had to go around five to seven miles out of the way in order to go to the schools that they attend," said NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor.
The students were being bussed to school due to the distance of the detour and will continue to do so for the first few months of the school year. But Chancellor said that may change after a bus route review in October.
The road and bridge construction cost nearly $2 million, which was paid for by adding it to Bexar County's 10 year, $500 million flood control plan. NEISD and several nearby developers chipped in as well.
"Counties don’t really build roads, we maintain roads," said County Commissioner Kevin Wolff. "So it was difficult for us to figure out how we can help do something we know needs to be done."
