Bexar County Road Widening Will Displace 3 Homes, 11 Structures

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing to widen Farm-to-Market 1518 from FM 78 to Interstate 10 in Bexar County, officials said Thursday.

In proposing the idea, TxDot officials issued a public notice toward the goal of securing input at a future public hearing on the plans.

The proposal calls for widening FM 1518 within the project limits to accommodate an additional travel lane in each direction, as well as a raised median, shared-use path, and sidewalks, officials said. The proposed project would widen the existing facility to include two 11-foot lanes in each direction, separated by a 34-foot raised median. In addition, a 10-foot shared-use path would be constructed on the east side of the roadway, and 6-foot sidewalks would be constructed on the west side of the roadway.

The project would require approximately 26.6 acres of new right-of-way (ROW) from 128 separate parcels, for a total ROW width of approximately 128 feet, TxDot officials said. As a result, the proposed project would displace three residences and 11 commercial structures, officials said.

Information about the TxDOT Relocation Assistance Program, benefits and services for those displaced, as well as information about the tentative schedules for ROW acquisition and construction can be obtained from the TxDOT San Antonio district office at the address listed below. TxDot officials said relocation assistance is available for displaced persons and businesses.

Moreover, a portion of the proposed project crosses and would include construction work within the Federal Emergency Management Agency designated 100-year floodplains of Woman Hollering Creek. "The project is not located within the Edwards Aquifer and, thus not subject to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Edwards Aquifer Rules," officials stressed. "No wetlands were observed within the project limits and no Section 4(f) properties would be impacted from proposed project activities."

TxDot also noted they are working with preservation officials to ensure the safeguarding any structures deemed historically significant. To that end, a dialogue has been established with the Texas Historical Commission representatives, TxDot officials said.

Interested members of the public are invited to request a public hearing on the project to cover the social, economic and environmental impacts of the proposed location and design for the project. Requests for a public hearing must be submitted in writing on or before Jan. 14, 2019, to:

TxDOT San Antonio District Office
4615 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, Texas 78229-0928

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Memorandum of Understanding:

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16, 2014, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.

Downloads:

• Notice Affording the Opportunity of an Public Hearing
• Notice Affording the Opportunity of an Public Hearing (Español)

Contact:

TxDOT San Antonio District
4615 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78229-0928

Email

Get Patch's Daily Newsleters and Real Time Alerts

>>> Image via Shutterstock