San Antonio’s status as a fast growing city has led to some fast growing traffic jams.
According to U.S. Census statistics, most of San Antonio’s growth is now concentrated on the far west side, far northwest side, and far north side and so are the major highway construction projects struggling to keep up.
The Texas Department of Transportation reports one of the biggest projects in the San Antonio area is the construction of five highway overpasses along Loop 1604 at Wiseman Boulevard, Military Drive, Potranco Road, Marbach Road, and Highway 90. TxDOT reports those should be completed by late 2019.
Construction at the U.S. 90-Loop 410/Interchange near Lackland Air Force Base is half way done and the the rest should be completed by 2020.
TxDOT reports work on the connectors at Loop 410 and Highway 151 on the far west side is wrapping up this year.
TxDOT spokeswoman Laura Lopez urges commuters to be patient.
“Construction is like putting carpeting in your house with furniture still in it,” she said. “So that’s why it does take a while for us to finish any project that we do have because we have to remember there is traffic still on those highways,” she said.
On the far north side, she said work on 281, between Loop 1604 and Stone Oak, should be finished in 2021.
Lopez said work is expected to begin by early 2019 on 281, between Stone Oak and the Comal County line, and should take around three years to complete.
Work also continues on various projects on I-10, northwest of San Antonio.
Lopez wants commuters to understand the start of highway projects often have to wait for the outcome of public meetings and hearings, environmental impact studies, and funding.
Lopez said TxDOT works closely with city and county transportation officials and VIA to secure funding and plan future projects a year or two in advance to try ahead of traffic congestion.
Brian Kirkpatrick can be reached at tpr.org
