Detours will be the norm on section of Blanco Road

Traffic barriers have been put in place for today's closing of a section of southbound Blanco Road, which is expected to last for six months. Traffic barriers have been put in place for today's closing of a section of southbound Blanco Road, which is expected to last for six months. Photo: John Davenport / San Antonio Express-News Photo: John Davenport / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Detours will be the norm on section of Blanco Road 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Starting today, southbound Blanco Road between Fresno Drive and San Francisco Street is closed for six months for construction.

Northbound Blanco remains open but eventually will close for additional work after the southbound construction is completed, said Melissa S. Sparks, spokeswoman for the city's Capital Improvements Management Services department.

Crews will be reconstructing and widening Blanco, fixing curbs and sidewalks and installing a storm sewer system in the area.

The $21.8 million project is part of the 2007 bond. Construction in the area began in September and will continue through September 2014, Sparks said. When the work is done, the intersection at Basse Road and Blanco will be realigned and straightened. Now, the two streets are kitty-cornered, so motorists can't drive directly from one to the other.

More money was allocated to improve other stretches of Blanco in the 2012 bond, but that project won't begin until this one is completed, Sparks said.

During this current closure, the city is recommending southbound traffic take one of two detours:

Drive west on Fresno to the Interstate 10 access road, drive south to Hildebrand and then head east to Blanco.

Drive east on Fresno to San Pedro Avenue and take that south to Hildebrand and east to Blanco.

For more information about the project, visit blancordproject.com online or sign up for city emails on the site.

vdavila@express-news.net