The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has unveiled a plan to allocate more than $800 million to fund expansions of I-10, U.S. 281 and Loop 1604.
Noting San Antonio drivers waste more than 40 million hours annually sitting in traffic on some regional roadways, TxDOT, the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, VIA Metropolitan Transit, city of San Antonio and Bexar County leaders joined in the announcement.
“As the seventh largest city in the United States, San Antonio continues to grow at a pace that is expected to see its population number more than 3 million people by 2040,” said Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ted Houghton. “The collaborative infrastructure projects we’re announcing today will help relieve congestion and keep San Antonio drivers and the region’s economy moving in a way that improves business, enhances the quality of life and decreases the number of hours lost sitting in traffic. We’re pleased to partner with these regional leaders as they continue to create a quality of life in this region that makes it such a desirable place to call home and do business.”
The projects include a variety of nontolled and tolled (managed) lanes, connectors and improvements to existing lanes. Specifically, the projects will entail:
- I-10—addition of two managed lanes in each direction north of Loop 1604 and tolled connector ramps at the interchange at Loop 1604;
- US 281—expansion from Loop 1604 north to Stone Oak Boulevard to a four-lane, nontolled expressway (two main lanes in each direction with frontage roads) with two tolled managed lanes (one in each direction) and nontolled connector ramps at the Loop 1604 interchange; and expansion from Stone Oak Boulevard to Bexar-Comal county line to a four-lane tolled expressway with frontage roads; and
- Loop 1604—expansion to a four-lane, nontolled expressway (two lanes each direction with frontage roads) from SH 151 to U.S. 90.
“This is an important day for all San Antonio and Bexar County residents as these major projects will improve mobility for decades to come,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. “We are happy to partner with TxDOT and others to bring these critical projects to fruition.”
“This agreement represents a major breakthrough in alleviating traffic congestion throughout the region,” said Mayor Julian Castro, city of San Antonio. “With our population expected to grow by more than 1 million people over the next 25 years, we have to work together creatively to manage the growth.”
Construction on all projects is expected to start by early 2015.
