Stretch of San Pedro to be closed 2½ days

A water pipe project is under way at Breeden and Huisache avenues. The San Pedro Huisache Phase II project is aimed at keeping San Pedro Avenue open during storms by delivering heavy runoff to an intake leading to the San Antonio River. less A water pipe project is under way at Breeden and Huisache avenues. The San Pedro Huisache Phase II project is aimed at keeping San Pedro Avenue open during storms by delivering heavy runoff to an intake leading ... more Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Stretch of San Pedro to be closed 2½ days 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Starting late next week, San Pedro Avenue between West Woodlawn and West Hildebrand avenues will be closed to traffic for several days as the flood-prone roadway near Mark Twain Middle School is excavated for drainage improvements, officials said Thursday.

As part of a $9.7 million Bexar County flood-control project, 10-by-7-foot box culverts are being buried under the oak-shaded streets of the Alta Vista neighborhood, just west of San Pedro. Utilities including water, gas and electric lines are being relocated, and century-old drains are being upgraded.

Crews are trenching now on West Mulberry Avenue heading east, and next week it will reach San Pedro, turn left and head north. If weather cooperates, the San Pedro closure is slated to run from 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13.

The box culverts — so big that all four lanes must be closed during installation — will be buried 20 feet and will extend north one block from Mulberry to near West Agarita Avenue.

From there, smaller culverts will be installed, and some traffic on San Pedro will be allowed as the project continues north to its end point at West Elsmere Place.

The county's San Pedro Huisache Phase II project is aimed at keeping San Pedro open during storms by delivering heavy runoff to an intake at Woodlawn at Ripley Avenue, which leads to the San Antonio River. Water flows to a mammoth underground system that keeps downtown and the River Walk from flooding.

The county and its contractors have held multiple community meetings to discuss the project, which has closed streets, blocked driveways, stirred up dust and noise and impacted activity at the middle school. While there have been concerns and complaints registered by neighbors, officials said the effort has been embraced.

“It's a temporary inconvenience for a long-term benefit,” said Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Adkisson.

During the San Pedro closure, northbound traffic will be routed east on Woodlawn, north on McCullough Avenue and west of Hildebrand. Those heading south on San Pedro will detour west on Hildebrand, south on Blanco and east on Woodlawn.

VIA bus routes also will be affected, but they won't follow the same long detours as cars. Officials said they don't want buses to miss many stops and must be able to make wide turns.

Northbound buses will detour east on Magnolia, north on Belknap, west on Lynwood, and then back onto San Pedro. Southbound buses will detour west on Summit, south on Flores, east on Magnolia, and then back onto San Pedro.

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jgonzalez@express-news.net