FM 471, also called Culebra Road, on San Antonio’s Far Westside will undergo a major rebuild. TxDOT will change lanes and traffic patterns along the commercial area with grocery stores, medical offices, and entertainment spots. Drivers can expect detours and shifting signals during construction.
Project timeline and scope
According to a registration on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation site, construction is scheduled to start on September 11. The filing describes a project that will widen FM 471 from two lanes to four and add a raised median or center turn lane, bike lanes, sidewalks, ADA curb ramps and traffic signals. The document lists the work area at about 183,449 square feet and shows a registration date of last Wednesday.
What TxDOT will build
TxDOT’s project page lays out a roughly three‑mile upgrade that includes an overpass at SH 211, drainage improvements, four 11‑ to 12‑foot travel lanes, a 16‑foot median, 5‑foot bike lanes and 6‑foot sidewalks within a 120‑foot right‑of‑way, as detailed by TxDOT. The agency says the design is aimed at improving mobility, cutting delays and making the corridor safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Progress so far
Work on nearby sections of FM 471 has already been in progress for months. KSAT reported the three‑mile expansion was roughly 65% complete as of mid‑2025 and that the broader effort was expected to finish in early 2027. MySanAntonio also noted that TxDOT updates pegged corridor progress at about 70% as of August 2025 for related segments.
Traffic impacts and what to expect
Drivers should be ready for lane shifts, temporary closures and off‑and‑on signal work as different phases of construction roll out. Law enforcement officers are expected to be stationed at key intersections, one local report observed during an earlier phase of the work. For real‑time closure information and detour maps, TxDOT directs drivers to its traveler information portal at DriveTexas and to local TxDOT district contacts for the latest advisories.
Neighbors weigh in
Far Westside residents have not been shy about their frustration with congestion along Culebra, which has helped drive the push for upgrades. Neighborhood drivers have described rush‑hour backups as “awful” and warned that road infrastructure has lagged behind rapid growth in new homes and businesses, according to reporting by KSAT. Those comments note why planners have emphasized sidewalks, bike lanes and signal improvements in the project design.
Officials and project documents indicate the formal filing for this phase is recent, so drivers are being urged to monitor the TxDOT project page and DriveTexas as the September 2026 start date approaches for updates on lane closures and detours. For the filing and registration specifics, see the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation listing and the TxDOT project information.
