By Edmond Ortiz
San Antonio-area motorists have seen their share of major freeway construction projects – mainly on the North Side – over the last several years.
But more North Side road work is on its way before, state road planners say.
What you should know
The Texas Department of Transportation plans to eliminate traffic bottlenecks in the U.S. 281 and Loop 410 area, with work tentatively slated to begin later this year.
Even though TXDOT reconfigured the 410/281 interchange in 2018, traffic congestion frequently occurs around the junction between the two freeways, resulting in bottlenecks.
Those bottlenecks are especially prevalent along westbound 410 between the 281 exit ramp and the San Pedro Avenue/Blanco Road exit. The state’s transportation agency began formulating plans to further tweak congestion hotspots in the 410/281 area just prior to 2020.
According to the latest plans, construction crews will relocate the existing San Pedro/Blanco exit on westbound 410 to the current exit for McCullough Avenue.
Crews will also expand the 410 exit to McCullough to two lanes, a move that will necessitate the construction of new columns for the flyover ramp. Additionally, they will remove the current lane reduction on the 410 westbound exit ramp from 281 in order to improve traffic mobility.
The McCullough overpass at 410 is set for a major overhaul. Under TXDOT’s current plan, motorists emerging from the nearby Crownhill Park neighborhood, Estancia del Norte Hotel or the adjacent shopping center and wanting to go south on McCullough will have to turn right onto the westbound 410 frontage road. Those drivers will no longer go straight south on McCullough into the North Star Mall area.
Northbound motorists on McCullough, coming from North Star Mall or the Shearer Hills/Ridgeview neighborhood, will have to turn right onto the 410 frontage road.
The aforementioned revamped 281 exit overpass at westbound 410 will be configured in such a way to permit traffic to turn left only on McCullough and proceed south.
TXDOT will also remove the traffic signal at the 410 westbound access road at McCullough in order to keep traffic flowing through that intersection towards San Pedro. Pedestrians who want to cross the McCullough/410 frontage road intersection will still get a light to cross safely.
Additionally, the existing westbound 410 exit to San Pedro will only be accessible to traffic coming from 281. Workers will place a short distance barrier between the lanes coming from 281 and the 410 through lanes.
TXDOT’s plans also call for adding a lane to the westbound 410 access road between McCullough and San Pedro, and a right-turn lane into the Chick-fil-A entry on the same stretch of road.
What they are saying
Jonathan Cotto, public information officer for TXDOT’s San Antonio District office, did not reveal any other specifics on the project other than that the state agency anticipates starting construction work later this year.
“We are currently in the process of developing communication materials and project information for public distribution,” Cotto said.
“As additional details become available, including project schedules, anticipated impacts, and other relevant information, those materials will be made available to the public through our regular communication channels.”
Castle Hills city officials recently said they have been alerted by TXDOT about the upcoming project, which will affect traffic flow in and out of town along Loop 410.
Castle Hills officials have asked the state agency to hold a local public meeting, envisioned for August, where residents and merchants can get details on the project, ask questions and make suggestions.
