SAN ANTONIO – After over a year of construction, TxDOT opened the first major flyover ramp at the Loop 1604 and I-10 interchange on the far Northwest Side.
The ramp connects drivers from Loop 1604 East to Interstate 10 West to Boerne.
TxDOT marked the occasion on Tuesday by holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially announce the ramp’s opening, which was scheduled to open for drivers at 2 p.m.
“I was getting frustrated almost every day or every weekend, or on Sundays, I couldn’t even make it to church,” said Andrea Castanedo, who lives in the area. “I’m excited. I feel like I can finally start having a little bit more of a life on the weekends instead of avoiding it.”
The ramp opening is part of the Loop 1604 Expansion Project. More ramps will be constructed starting next year, but traffic congestion is expected to be reduced significantly with this new ramp available to drivers.
“I am very excited to celebrate the opening of the first flyover ramp of the Loop 1604 North Expansion,” Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg said. “This milestone signifies major progress as part of our work on the Texas Clear Lanes initiative to improve mobility and tackle congestion on the most congested corridors in the state.”
Other people who travel to the area regularly are optimistic but want to see a bigger change in their commute times.
“Just us driving over here from that area, it was one of those where we could see it was backed up, which was quite interesting given that I thought it would open up a lot more,” San Antonio resident Gisele Carriles said. “Who knows, it’s also the first day.”
“Today is a great day for San Antonio. As promised, we are opening the first flyover ramp at the Loop 1604 & I-10 interchange before the end of the year,” TxDOT San Antonio District Engineer Charles Benavidez said. “With 60% of Segment 2 complete, we remain committed to delivering improvements to drivers as they are ready with at least two more flyovers opening in 2025.”
