North Side Construction Project to Start; City Awaits Approval to Mitigate Delays

Anticipation is building up in San Antonio as plans for an extension project designed to relieve congestion on the far North Side are set to kickstart in the coming weeks. The venture aims to link Sonterra Boulevard to Loop 1604, a much-needed change anticipated to overhaul the traffic scenario in the region.

New Road Project to Ease Congestion

The construction project, expected to culminate within a year barring any delay, is envisioned to cater to the growing traffic volume that the location witnesses. “There’s been a lot of growth all along Sonterra Boulevard, and it can get pretty congested,” said District 9 Councilman John Courage.

The road offers access to the Community Bible Church campus, which often sees cars lined up for blocks on Sunday mornings. The new construction aims to divert traffic that currently spills onto the 281 route onto Loop 1604 instead.

Facilitating Change through the 2022 Bond

Funded by a 2022 bond, the project seeks to provide a direct access route between Sonterra and Gold Canyon Road. Additionally, the proposed roadmap includes expanding the stretch to four lanes with a raised median, incorporating sidewalks and lights, and undertaking utility adjustments and drainage improvements.

Proactive Measures to Curb Construction Delays

However, this endeavor is just one among the myriad of ongoing construction projects underway in San Antonio. This has led District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur to put forth a Council Consideration Request (CCR) to mitigate construction delays. Kaur’s proactive solution seeks to invest in subsurface utility engineering that would allow contractors to determine the location of underground utilities prior to initiating construction. Moreover, the CCR proposes creating a comprehensive drawing and documentation system for roadways and construction projects.

While the solution shows promise, it must first pass through the governance committee. So far, a date for this meeting remains undecided as the request awaits scheduling on the committee’s agenda. Regardless of the outcome in the committee, the Sonterra extension project promises some significant changes to San Antonio’s traffic dynamics.

About the authors

Avery Everett and Ricardo Moreno are renowned multimedia journalists who have contributed extensively to San Antonio’s local news scene. Everett, a Philadelphia native, is an avid enthusiast of hiking and cycling. Moreno, on the other hand, is a seasoned photojournalist with a knack for capturing the city’s pulse through his lens.

Readers interested in learning more about the pending Sonterra Extension project can click here for detailed information.