SAN ANTONIO – Many San Antonians are breathing a sigh of relief now that a nearly year-long construction project on lower Broadway is over and the area is reopening this week.
“It’s amazing that it’s finally over,” said local resident Rick Gonzalez.
Lower Broadway was has been under construction since Januarystarting at Roy Smith Street near the intersection of Highway 281 and I-37, moving downtown to Travis and East Houston Streets. It now has new bike racks, trash cans and other pedestrian-friendly amenities.
“That’s something I look for when I move to certain places, like living in a city. I’m a walking man. I always walk the River Walk and it’s only a mile from downtown,” said resident Mara Eck.
Improvements extend beyond roadwork, with new crossings, landscaping, wider sidewalks, enhanced lighting and limestone benches at intersections like Jones and Broadway.
Gonzalez and Eck, who walk to the Maverick Park dog park every day, said construction has been difficult and they’re glad it’s finally over.
“It’s blocking traffic. Businesses could not open. Parking was horrible. Many things were happening here, but it had to be done,” said Gonzalez.
“It wasn’t fun maneuvering around all the construction site vehicles and stuff like that,” Eck added.
Businessmen of the region also benefit from the completion of the project.
“We’re able to connect with the neighbors around us,” said Audrey Osborne, manager of Nola Brunch & Beignets.
Osborne says parking restrictions and closures on parts of Broadway have been a concern since opening six months ago. Now, he said, they are seeing more customers and believe the space has a bright future as an extension of the Pearl’s success as a corridor to downtown.
“We’re already getting people from the Pearl because they have that little restaurant and eatery and shops and stuff. And we have a Make Ready (market) over there and little shops over there, so people visit there and then come and join us. So it’s really cool that it’s just a bigger extension of that,” Osborne said.
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