By Edmond Ortiz
While San Antonio rolls out a key street improvement measure at Brooks, the city is also authorizing other infrastructure projects on the Northwest Side and just north of Terrell Hills.
Also, San Antonians are invited to two public forums to offer ideas to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Elsewhere, New Braunfels officials are seeking feedback from residents on creating a plan to enhance connectivity for local bicyclists and pedestrians.
SAN ANTONIO
Road work underway at Brooks
E-Z Bel Contractors started work March 23 on a major initiative designed to improve a vital street at Brooks.
Work crews have begun rebuilding Sidney Brooks Drive from City Base Landing to South New Braunfels Avenue.
City representatives said the project will turn Sidney Brooks into the main street for Brooks, where the former Brooks Air Force Base has become a live/work/play destination in southeast San Antonio.
Work will include a four-lane concrete roadway, turn lanes, a shared-use path, 6-foot sidewalk, curbs, driveway approaches, drainage and traffic signal improvements, mid-block crossing, street and pedestrian lighting, landscaping, irrigation, and utility upgrades.
Representatives with Brooks and the city urged residents, workers and visitors to prepare for detours during road construction. The Greenline public park will remain open during the project.
Funded by the city’s voter-approved 2022 bond, the Sidney Brooks project is scheduled for completion in summer 2027.
2 chances to address Cesar Chavez street name change
The city is holding two meetings where community members may suggest a new name for Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
Local officials plan to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard, formerly Durango Boulevard, an east-west corridor from Southwest 36th Street to South Hackberry Street.
Efforts to revoke public memorials and tributes to Chavez are underway nationwide after recent revelations that the late, famed Mexican-American civil rights leader groomed and sexually abused several young girls. Dolores Huerta, who had co-founded United Farm Workers with Chavez, also disclosed that he had raped her.
Street name change meetings will be held 6-8 p.m. April 8 at Jaime’s Place, 1514 W. Commerce St., and 3-5 p.m. April 11 at Tony G’s Soul Food, 915 S. Hackberry St.
The city on April 2 closed an online survey where community members had an opportunity to recommend a new name for Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
Oak Park/Northwood drainage project approved
City Council by consent agenda voted April 2 to award a $10.1 million contract to E-Z Bel Contractors to begin a drainage improvement project in the Oak Park/Northwood neighborhood.
The voter-approved 2022 city bond contains funds to upgrade drainage along Pike Road between Albin Drive and Brookside. Work here will include the installation of an underground storm drain system, and channel improvements featuring roadway reconstruction, curbs, sidewalks, and driveway approaches.
Local officials said the project will include a maximum 10-day driveway closure allowed for three residential driveways. Construction is slated to continue through next summer.
Braun Road sidewalk project ordered
City Council via consent agenda voted April 2 to award a $1.7 million contract to J3 Co. to build a shared-use path along the northern side of Braun Road from Tezel Road to the entrance to the Finesilver Ranch neighborhood.
This is part of a larger project, funded mostly by the city’s 2022 voter-approved bond, to develop sidewalks along this segment of Braun Road to Loop 1604.
The project will include new curbs, drainage culvert adjustments, and mill and overlay. A portion of this project will be reimbursed by the San Antonio Water System. Construction is slated to wrap up in spring 2027.
NEW BRAUNFELS
Community feedback wanted on bike/walking network plan
The city of New Braunfels will host two public meetings to get input on its push to develop a bicycle and pedestrian network plan.
Local officials said the plan will examine the state of current sidewalks, trails, and bikeways, and identify future projects to expand and enhance cycling and walking access citywide.
The meetings will take place 6-8 p.m. April 7 at the New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center, 375 S. Castell Ave., and 6-7:30 p.m. April 21 at Voss Farms Elementary School, 2510 Pahmeyer Road.
