SAN ANTONIO – After a year and a half of traffic headaches, drivers can finally celebrate the official end of the Broadway/Hildebrand construction project.
The $15.5 million project wrapped up in mid-August but a ribbon cutting-ceremony on Wednesday officially commemorated the reopening of the road
"The work is done, the road is clear, businesses are ready and waiting for our residents to come back," said District 2 Councilman Keith Toney.
Jon Lindskog, owner of Cheesy Jane's, said his business had a 20- 25 percent drop in business during the 18-month construction phase. He said he was able to make up much of the difference by using food trucks.
Now, he said, business is better than ever.
"Lunch sales have just been increasing every week because it's just easier to drive by and get around," he said.
Along with extra lanes, the area now has new curbs, sidewalks and traffic signals.
"It looks beautiful. When I first came down to see how it was looking, I was very happy with it," said Isaac Ramirez, the Wash Tub's area manager.
While the curb appeal and traffic flow is obvious, the most important upgrades took place well underground. Crews went 28 feet below to upgrade water, sewer and gas lines.
A new drainage system will handle the equivalent of a "hundred-year-storm" event -- an upgrade that many said was badly needed.
"When it rained, water had nowhere to go except down the street and into our parking lots and businesses. Drivers would drive through water virtually up to their tires and sidewalks were impassable," said Toney.
The next step is to repave area streets that took a toll from detour traffic. Toney said those plans are in the works.