Residents of Marchmont Lane have fought a long battle against potholes and neglect, but it looks like their street might finally see some action from the city's pavement pounders. Neighbor Anthony Gomez, a 20-year denizen of this beleaguered stretch of San Antonio, called attention to the discrepancy. "You're driving down every other street around your block which has been repaved, it's annoying that yours's isn't," Gomez told KENS 5.
After a years-long chorus of complaints, petitions, and dual semi-annual calls to the City of San Antonio since 2020, residents had little to show. The city's maintenance program appeared to have categorically failed to prioritize Marchmont Lane, relegating it to the worst of grades – a damning “F” according to city ratings. In a statement obtained by KENS 5, a neighbor named David Alcantar detailed the damage inflicted by the street on locals' vehicles and addressed the stagnation water that "just hangs around here" after it rains.
This collective frustration reached a new height when Alcantar got an email stating, "The project is in the queue by Public Works, pending scheduling for the second quarter of 2024." However, residents remained skeptical, with Alcantar noting they've been "thought that for many, many years." But following an escalation to the media, with KENS 5 pressing the city, a breakthrough was made public.
In an apparent victory for vocal citizens and investigative journalism, the San Antonio Public Works department has pledged to repave Marchmont Lane in April 2024, "weather permitting". The range of dates set for this overhaul stretches from April 1-30, inclusive of base repairs and a new surface. This information, formally confirmed to KENS 5, represents a significant step forward for those tired of navigating the thoroughfare's treacherous terrain.
The department's spokespeople offered no clarity on the drawn-out delay. Yet, the city has outlined the cost disparities in its street maintenance protocols. "The City’s Street maintenance program uses a two-pronged approach, a Preservation Program for those streets in Good to Excellent condition (A & B) and a rehabilitation Program for those that have begun to deteriorate or in failed state (C – F). Road Preservation can cost up to $178,000 per mile. Whereas, Road Rehabilitation can cost anywhere from $450,000 per mile to more than $2,000,000 per mile for a full reconstruction."