SAN ANTONIO – An expansion of Highway 281, north of Loop 1604, should provide relief when it’s done, but is expected to create headaches for at least the next four years.
As the city grows, Highway 281 is an essential conduit to northern suburbia.
“We are going to start construction, which causes more congestion. However, the traveling public, those that travel on it on a daily basis, relief is coming their way,” said Laura Lopez, with the Texas Department of Transportation.
Depending on how they look at it, commuters have a reason to rejoice or be upset. The Texas Department of Transportation said in May, machines will start to turn soil on a project that will overshadow all others in San Antonio this year.
The expansion of Highway 281 is an effort to build overpasses at spots including Redland Road and Encino Rio, build four lanes heading both ways, a park and ride, and even carpool lanes all the way to the county line.
"I mean, it has to be done, but it's just going to be a mess like it always has been, you know?" said commuter Christalee Martin of the impending construction.
“There's always traffic, no matter what time of day. Rush hour, not rush hour, even night time, there's a lot,” said Mike Martin, Christalee Martin's husband.
The work will overlap, but it will take four years for the first phase to be completed and another four for the second phase.
The project started off in 2005 as a toll road. Plagued by lawsuits, the toll is now gone, and for the last two years, TxDOT said it’s been able to go full throttle in planning.
TxDOT said the project is a long time coming. Some commuters said it couldn’t come fast enough.
Phase one begins in May. There is no set date at this time. Phase two begins in late 2018 or early 2019.