A major traffic shake-up in San Antonio hit a snag this weekend due to the threat of severe weather. The Texas Department of Transportation confirmed on Friday that the anticipated fourth-weekend closure of the Loop 1604 and Interstate 10 interchange was canceled, according to Express-News. The closure, part of the Loop 1604 North Expansion Project, was intended to prepare for a traffic pattern change.
Intended to begin tonight and last through Monday morning, the planned shutdown would ease future commutes by speeding up and enhancing safety through one of a series of closures that have beleaguered drivers with detours and traffic shifts. "No date has been set for the rescheduled closure and subsequent construction work," Express-News added. The expansion, which spans a 23-mile stretch, is expected to alleviate congestion once completed, despite causing current short-term inconveniences.
Specifically, this weekend's cancellation affected the westbound main lanes from the Stone Oak exit ramp to the Bitters Road entrance ramp, and the eastbound main lanes from the Blanco Road exit ramp to the Stone Oak entrance ramp. Drivers have been rerouted to the frontage roads in both directions. This part of the project also includes the permanent closure of the eastbound entrance ramp at Blanco, and the opening of a temporary ramp to the east of it.
In a statement obtained by MSN, TxDOT said, "As part of the project, the current entrance ramp for eastbound Loop 1604 at Blanco will be permanently closed." They went on to explain, "A temporary ramp will be opened east of it." Once the weather permits, the construction work will impact traffic even further as vehicles will be redirected from the existing pavement to the new pavement on the inside for the stretch from Huebner Road to Stone Oak.
The Loop 1604 North Expansion Project bears the weight of hundreds of millions, promising in return to transform the throbbing veins of San Antonio's traffic flow into more navigable pathways.
