Construction Starts to Improve Sidewalks and Bus Stop Access on Wurzbach Road

Bringing Positive Change to San Antonio’s Wurzbach Road

San Antonio’s Wurzbach Road is set to undergo a significant transformation aimed at improving pedestrian safety and comfort. City officials announced today that construction work has begun on a project expected to bring wider sidewalks, improved Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, and better bus stop access to Wurzbach Road. The construction project extends from Interstate 10 to Fredericksburg Road and has an estimated completion date in early 2025.

A Much Needed Facelift

The $2.35 million renovation project, funded by a city bond allocated in 2017, is designed to upgrade pedestrian facilities for the growing population in the neighborhood. The construction work will be conducted in four phases, the first phase focusing on the area between Interstate 10 and Bluemel Road.

Officials have highlighted that maintaining two-way traffic and keeping the businesses and their parking lots accessible during construction is a priority. Interruptions to foot traffic are expected from time to time with intermittent sidewalk closures.

San Antonio Public Works Director, Razi Hosseini, commented on the significance of this upgrade, saying, “This area of Wurzbach Road has a lot of pedestrians and public transit riders. We want to give them a safer and more comfortable experience.”

Local Businesses Applaud The Initiative

Local business owners have voiced their support for the project, citing the substantial increase in vehicular traffic and the number of pedestrians using the road over the past few years. Asraf Nahil, owner of Ali Baba International Food Market on Wurzbach, stated, “I’ve been in San Antonio for close to 40 years, and I’ve been in this location for 25 years. There’s a big difference in the numbers of cars. I don’t want to say it has tripled, but minimum doubled.”

Nahil added that with many families and other pedestrians often walking to businesses on Wurzbach, enhancing the sidewalks was a much-needed improvement.

Residents Informed and Prepared

To ensure the smooth execution of the construction project and the least disruption possible, city officials have been engaged in a clear communication strategy about the upgrade with the local businesses and residents. Business owners have been informed about the plan and given details about what to expect during the construction period.

“Since Ali Baba is an international food market, they gave me a letter in three or four different languages to post it in my window,” Nahil said, adding that this clear communication is helping locals prepare for the changes.

Improving Pedestrian Safety

David McBeth, Assistant City Engineer at the City of San Antonio, emphasized that the upgrade is designed to prioritize pedestrian safety. “What we’re trying to do is really improve some of the pedestrian safety and experience through this corridor by rebuilding a lot of the sidewalks”, he said.

The completion of the project is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, and residents and business owners along Wurzbach Road are eagerly awaiting these improvements.