Drivers along I-10 and Loop 1604 were subjected to heavy traffic during the weekends of Jan. 12 to 14 and Jan. 19 to 21 due to road closures along both freeways.
The road closures along Loop 1604 are part of a larger expansion project set forth by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This project aims to expand Loop 1604 from SH-16 at Bandera to I-35. Upon completing this project, 23 miles of the highway will increase from four lanes to 10 lanes, bringing several benefits to San Antonio drivers, including improved mobility, reduced congestion and enhanced safety along the high-traveled corridor, according to TxDOT.
Furthermore, other improvements this expansion will bring to the stretch of 1604 include adding one high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction, remodeling the layout of auxiliary lanes and entrance and exit ramps and replacing the cloverleaf interchange at I-10/Loop 1604 with a five-level direct connect interchange. These improvements could decrease future travel time along this stretch of highway by as much as 80 minutes.
Loop 1604’s expansion is just one of the many construction projects around UTSA’s main campus. Along Brennan Avenue, which runs through the residential side of campus, a small portion of the road will be closed until March 29. UTSA Assistant Vice President of Design and Construction Nick Tuttle shared that the road closure is “due to nearby construction projects and increased construction vehicle traffic using that road. Construction vehicles and equipment turning radiuses require a full road closure.”
Another construction project that is taking place at UTSA is the building of Blanco Hall, which will be a new residential community. Blanco Hall is being built based on research showing that on-campus housing strengthens student connections, increases engagement in campus activities and boosts learning opportunities for undergraduates. Upon its planned completion in June 2025, this residential community will house approximately 600 first-year students and sophomores.
Off-campus projects, such as Roadrunner Creek, which is being built across the street from the Luxx Apartment Complex, are also in the works. This 21,000-square-foot retail project is being built by Santikos Enterprises, known for owning multiple movie theaters across the San Antonio area. According to Joe McChesney, Santikos’ vice president of real estate, this retail project is unique because it will be built as an amenity connection to the nearby Leon Creek Trail. Roadrunner Creek will have about 15 spaces for restaurants and other retail shops, including Smokey Mo’s BBQ, which plans to be the first restaurant tenant to occupy the retail center.
Another construction project taking place near UTSA’s main campus is University Village. On the project’s homepage, University Village promotes itself as a “998 multi-family, 114-acre project.” The Village currently plans to be located near the I-10 and UTSA Blvd intersection, with Hausman Road and the Leon Creek Trailway acting as its southern and western borders, respectively. The vision for University Village is that, upon its completion, it will feature 998 multi-family units, 112 townhome units, 320,000 square feet of office space, 119,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space and a 120-room hotel. The University Village site plan can also be found on their homepage for a visual of how the project will be constructed and where all of these amenities will be located.
Finally, a new HEB location is being built near the intersection of Loop 1604 and Babcock Road. Construction of the $20 million, 116,760-square-foot store will begin in July of this year and is expected to be complete in July 2025. According to an article from the San Antonio Express-News, Abiso Babcock LP owns 19.7 acres at the intersection of Loop 1604 and Babcock. An online brochure issued by the developer several years ago describes a shopping center called The Shops at Babcock that would be anchored by an H-E-B store.
For more detailed information regarding UTSA construction plans, visit UTSA’s Real Estate Management website. For more information explaining expansion plans for Loop 1604, visit txdot.gov.
