By Edmond Ortiz
The latest edition of Transit Tracker puts pedestrian walkways in the spotlight, as the city of San Antonio works to build new sidewalks in Monte Vista, and install pedestrian bridges in the Northwest Side.
Additionally, Bexar County is backing a sidewalks project on the Far North Side, and San Antonio is advancing road and drainage improvements in the Medical Center area.
Pedestrian upgrades
Work crews will close Babcock Road between Eckhert and Huebner roads to thru traffic from noon Aug. 13 until noon Aug. 14.
The 24-hour closure will allow contractors to install a 150-foot-long greenway trail pedestrian bridge over Babcock, and an 180-foot-long pedestrian bridge over Huebner Creek.
Access to area businesses will remain open. The pedestrian bridges are part of an $11.4 million project that is mostly funded by the city’s voter-approved 2022 bond.
The overall Huebner Creek/Medical Center greenway trail and park project is designed to improve connectivity to Medical Center Park, including ADA-compliant pathways, scenic overlooks, low-water crossings, and roadway and drainage improvements. Work is slated for completion in summer 2027.
In the Monte Vista neighborhood, work crews are building a new sidewalk and crosswalk at Hildebrand Avenue and Howard Street with completion expected in late August.
A second phase of sidewalk work and road surface upgrades will follow through September, involving repaving and striping of Hildebrand from Belknap Place to McCullough Avenue.
Residents near TPC San Antonio can expect new sidewalks along Evans Road from TPC Parkway to Wortham Oaks Boulevard after Bexar County Commissioners voted Aug. 4 to pass a resolution.
With the resolution, county leaders are requesting the Texas Department of Transportation to design, analyze and coordinate the construction of Evans Road sidewalks through TxDOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program.
Roadway, drainage improvements
San Antonio City Council on Aug. 6 awarded a $5.4 million construction contract to Global Contractors LLC for the Gardendale Road street and drainage project, which will take place between Wurzbach Road and Bluemel Road.
Funded by the city’s voter-approved 2022 bond, the Gardendale Road project includes sidewalks, a new underground stormwater drain, a shared-use path, new curbs, driveway approaches, and utility locations.
A portion of city funding will be reimbursed by San Antonio Water System and CPS Energy for necessary adjustments to their existing infrastructure. The project is due for completion in summer 2027.
Meanwhile, near temporary lane closures on West Martin Street just west of Interstates 10/35 are continuing through Aug. 19 to allow contractors to improve the median there.
