With a surge of over 100,000 anticipated visitors for the upcoming 2025 NCAA Men’s Final Four tournament, San Antonio’s City officials have decided to temporarily halt the ongoing construction on South Alamo Street. The objective is to ensure safety and accessibility in downtown during this major sports event.

Temporary Adjustments for Visitor Safety

The city has announced plans to keep South Alamo accessible with one lane designated for southbound traffic. Enhancements will also be made to the sidewalks, aimed at bolstering pedestrian safety with an estimated expense of $800,000 for these adjustments.

“To keep downtown safe and accessible for visitors and residents during the event, South Alamo will remain open for a single southbound lane,” noted a city spokesperson in a recent statement.

Project Background and Challenges

The broader South Alamo redevelopment project is part of the city’s 2017 bond program, which seeks improvements from Market Street to Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. The initiative includes significant upgrades to sidewalks, drainage, and utility lines. So far, this project has incurred costs of approximately $48 million but has faced numerous delays.

Disputes between the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) regarding the replacement of antiquated water and sewer mains have complicated progress. Some of these mains have been operational for over a century and were supposed to be replaced as part of this reconstruction.

Decisions Amid Deadlines

In the face of a tight deadline to prepare for the Final Four tournament, the original plan to fully replace both water and sewer infrastructure was scaled back. Instead, efforts will focus on patching the sewer line while leaving the old water mains untouched for now.

SAWS Vice President Gavino Ramos suggested that the two entities are exploring future options for replacing the mains later in the project timeline. “Those are some of the options we are looking into with the city,” he stated.

Improving Collaboration for Future Projects

In light of the issues experienced with the South Alamo project, Councilwoman Sukh Kaur has initiated a request for a thorough review of the city’s construction protocols. This proposal emphasizes the need for better accountability regarding the identification of underground infrastructure before project commencement.

A new agreement has been established between the city and SAWS aimed at enhancing cooperation on shared construction endeavors. This framework stipulates timely communication and cost responsibilities related to underground work, ensuring that projects are handled more efficiently in the future.

Support for Affected Businesses

Amidst the construction challenges, the San Antonio City Council has dedicated nearly $60 million in support for small businesses affected by both the pandemic and ongoing infrastructure projects. The latest budget allocates an additional $1.4 million specifically for business assistance during and after the construction process.