Motorists who regularly traverse the Bandera Road/Loop 1604 area will finally see some relief from traffic congestion after this weekend, thanks to a reconfigured intersection.
Meanwhile, those driving to some notable events this final weekend of Fiesta should expect some road closures.
Bandera at Loop 1604
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will implement a series of detours to open a new displaced left turn (DLT) intersection at 1604 and Bandera.
Bandera in both directions will be fully closed at midnight Friday. Southbound Bandera traffic will be diverted to the westbound 1604 frontage road. Motorists will take the turnaround at Braun Road and turn right on southbound Bandera. Northbound Bandera traffic diverted to the eastbound 1604 frontage road will follow the turnaround at Hausman Road (FM 1560) and then turn right on northbound Bandera.
If all goes as planned, TxDOT will lift the detours around noon Saturday, then completely open the intersection with new displaced left turn by early Sunday.
The DLT intersection replaces the conventional intersection at Bandera and 1604. It is the first of its kind in San Antonio; DLTs already exist in San Marcos and Austin.
When the DLT intersection opens, drivers on northbound Bandera who want to access westbound 1604 will veer left and cross Bandera’s opposing traffic at a new stoplight several hundred feet before reaching the highway. The same goes for drivers on southbound Bandera who want to access eastbound 1604. The Bandera Road turnarounds at 1604 are modified to direct this traffic onto the 1604 frontage roads.
This TxDOT video shows how the DLT works. New traffic signals and signage around the intersection will guide motorists.
TxDOT and the cities of San Antonio and Leon Valley now are focusing on how to improve conditions along Bandera from 1604 to Loop 410.
A public meeting about the Bandera Road corridor plan will be held 7-8 p.m. Monday at City Church, 9431 Bandera Road. Aside from traffic congestion, the meeting will cover issues such as land use and design, sustainability and economic development.
Fiesta road closures
There’s still plenty of partying to do this final weekend of Fiesta – and a few related street closures to keep in mind:
*A Night In Old San Antonio: It will not be until after 9 p.m. Sunday when South Presa Street between Market and Nueva streets, and westbound Nueva between South Presa and South Alamo Street, both fully reopen.
Southbound Alamo between Villita Street and Nueva will fully open after noon Sunday.
Parts of South Presa between Nueva and Arciniega Street, Alamo between Market and César Chávez Boulevard, and eastbound Nueva between South Presa and Navarro Street are either closed or have limited access during NIOSA event hours – 4 p.m.-midnight daily through Friday.
*Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square: San Saba Street from Dolorosa Street to West Commerce Street is closed entirely until 5 p.m. Monday. A fence is erected to prevent pedestrians from crossing Santa Rosa Street mid-block between Commerce and Dolorosa.
*Battle of Flowers and Flambeau parades: The city will close 10th Street from Avenue B to North Alamo Street from 6 a.m. Friday until midnight Saturday.
Tenth Street from Broadway to North Alamo is closed until 2 a.m. Sunday. Travis Street will closed from Broadway to North Alamo from 6 a.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Sunday.
*King William Fair: Neighborhood streets between the San Antonio River, South Alamo, South St. Mary’s and César Chávez will be closed 6 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m. Saturday. But South Alamo, South St. Mary’s and César Chávez themselves are open during the fair Saturday morning and afternoon.
Streets affected by the King William Fair parade will be closed 6 a.m.-noon Saturday. The parade starts on East Guenther Street at Eagleland Road, turns right on King William Street, makes a right on Turner Street and another right on Madison, then makes left turns on East Johnson and South Alamo streets before turning right on Adams Street and ending at Eagleland.
*United Way Kids Festival: Burnet Street from North Hackberry Street to North Olive Street will be closed 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
*Fiesta San Fernando: Curb lanes of streets surrounding Main Plaza are closed at varying times through 5 a.m. Sunday.
*10th Street River Fest: 10th Street from the gate entrance of VFW Post 76 to Avenue B is closed noon-midnight daily through Sunday.
*San José Mission Fest: San José Drive between Napier Avenue and Roosevelt Drive, along with East Pyron Avenue between the mission and Zerm Road, will be closed 6 p.m.-midnight Saturday.
For current and upcoming road closures elsewhere around the city, check out TxDOT-San Antonio, the city’s Transportation and Capital Improvements department, CPS Energy, and San Antonio Water System.
Excellent, especially with links.
One done!! Will “they” ever finish Austin Hwy and N. New Braunfels??