SAN ANTONIO- Could extending a dead end street be deadly? Neighbors fear traffic problems could ensue, putting drivers and students at risk, if Casa Bella St. is extended.
The small street is located on the northwest side off IH-10, north of De Zavala. The city is proposing to extend the street to Vance Jackson. District 8 Councilman Reed Williams said the city wants to extend the street to increase accessibility for emergency vehicles.
Oakland Heights neighborhood backs up to Casa Bella St. and board president Scott Cummins says he worries the extension could have negative consequences. He and many others believe the small street would become a speedway for people to cut through to IH10 and he's also concerned about Rawlinson Middle School students. The campus is located on Vance Jackson.
"It is literally 1/16th of a mile away from this intersection but there's no stop sign or stop light for a mile-and-a-half from the school so kids literally half to go through a Frogger game to get across," Cummins said.
He hopes the city will install stop lights if the project moves forward.
A few dozen people met with Councilman Williams and Public Works employees Wednesday afternoon to share their concerns. Williams said he would postpone a planning commission hearing about the project and the city would study the area around the school and the traffic before coming up with another proposal.
