Major closure begins in Medical Center area

Fredricksburg Road at Medical Drive to close up to 1 week, some VIA routes amended

SAN ANTONIO – A major closure in the Medical Center area is expected to cause some traffic headaches for the next week.

The project was initially supposed to take two weeks to complete, but officials said Friday that work should be wrapped up by the end of next week.

Fredricksburg Road at Medical Drive closed at midnight Thursday night and will be shut down as bridge crews reconstruct the intersection.

The intersection was originally planned to close Tuesday night but due to weather the project was pushed back.

Officials with Texas Sterling Construction said they plan to replace the road surface with a bridge deck, allowing for road builders to construct the proposed lanes of Medical Drive at the intersection.

The project's goal is said to provide an unfettered route from Interstate 10 to emergency facilities at the South Texas Medical Center, while addressing congestion in the area.

The project will construct two lanes in each direction on Medical Drive at Fredericksburg Road, allowing through traffic to pass under Fredericksburg Road into or out of the Medical Center.

Traffic will only be able to turn right on Medical Drive during the closure and traffic already on Medical Drive will be able to travel through the intersection and continue into or out of the Medical Center. However, no left turns will be possible.

Due to the closure, VIA has temporarily amended the Via Primo Route 100. Stops that will be impacted are Fredericksburg Road and Marriott Drive, Fredericksburg Road and Datapoint, Fredericksburg Road and Data Pointe and at Fredericksburg Road and Wurzbach.

The stations at the corner of Ewing Halsell and Medical Drive will also have limited service.

VIA is encouraging any bus riders to check to see how their commutes will be affected.

Officials said in order to accomplish the work in such a short window, Texas Sterling Construction proposed a new technique that could mean having Fredricksburg Road reopened in as little as half of the allotted time of the closure. 

They will have the two weeks to finish the project or they will reportedly face financial penalties.

Officials said the cost of the project is $14.6 million, paid for by traditional funds like motor fuels tax.

Click here to find basic information about the project.

Click here to see a potential detour route.