SAN ANTONIO -- The Alamo Regional Mobility Authority has been studying 1604 since 2009, looking at traffic and environmental impacts of the roadway. The agency has binders full of information on the roadway.
Now the federal government has stepped in and is calling for a new environmental impact study, that could take another three years. "It's definitely a blow toward providing congestion relief on the northside, " said Leroy Alloway with the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority.
Alloway says federal officals stepped in and ordered a brand new environmental study for the improvement project from Bandera to Interstate 35, after local officals decided not to make the stretch of roadway between 1604 between Bandera and Potranco a tollway.
So now any possible expansion of Loop 1604 between Bandera Road and Interstate 35 will be on hold. Alloway estimates it will be about 2019 or 2020 before improvements will be completed.
"It's definitely a blow toward providing congestion relief on the north side, " said Leroy Alloway with the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority.
It’s a blow, because the Alamo RMA anticipated some type of construction whether it be toll roads or commuter lanes on the Bandera to I-35 stretch by next year. "Best thing we can tell the public is it's at least a three year delay, " added Alloway.
The federal government study will be looking at everything from pollution to endangered species, and traffic flow. The area from Bandera Road to Potranco is not part of federal study, so drivers will see some improvement there sooner.
Alloway says the area from Bandera to Potranco will be upgraded to look more like the rest of 1604, to include main lanes and frontage road. "Hopefully you will see construction start there by the end of this year, first part of next year, " said Alloway.
